We proceed through another doorway and find a wall of kennels, two high. They’re all separated by a metal frame for stability, with smaller dogs on top. “So why don’t you take a walk along this wall and let me know if you’d like to see any of the dogs. There’s a sign on the front that tells you their breed, age, and name,” Landon instructs, stepping back and giving me space.
I slowly walk along the wall, checking out each dog, including the smaller ones. I can’t help but smile. There are pups of every shape and size, every color and breed. Some lounge and sleep, while others are spinning in circles in excitement at seeing a person. Tails wag eagerly and a few even bark when I approach.
A medium-sized dog with big floppy ears gives me those puppy eyes, and a bark of laughter slips from my lips. “Bucky has the face down pat,” I say over my shoulder to Landon, who lingers off to the side.
“Oh, he does. He’s been here about two months, but I know his day is coming soon.”
I nod and keep walking, recognizing this decision is much harder than I expected. I suddenly realize if I were able to take them all and give them a loving home, I would. In a heartbeat. Unfortunately, that’s not an option for me, so I keep walking until I reach the empty kennel at the end.
Suddenly, a loud bark pulls my attention behind me. When I turn, I see a large mix breed dog, wet from a bath, sitting in the middle of the floor. He’s on a leash with a shelter volunteer next to him, trying to dry him off. A smile instantly spreading across my face, my heart galloping around in my chest.
I squat down on a knee, and something flashes in that dog’s eyes. He takes off like a bullet from a gun, pulling free from the volunteer, and running right for me. He hits me with a wall of wet dog hair and rains kisses down all over my face. I don’t even know when I started laughing, but I am, petting this big, hairy dog with a tail so wild it would probably hurt if you were hit by it.
“Royce, meet Jack,” Landon says, as he walks up beside me and reaches for his leash. “He was just enjoying a bath and apparently couldn’t wait to be dried off to say hello.”
My face hurts from smiling so widely as I scratch behind his ears. “Landon, I think I’d like to take Jack home with me today.”
Chapter Six
Quinn
I start to wonder if this meeting will ever end. After I’ve given my principal’s report, I sit back as they go through different committee reports and school correspondences, including the latest financial statement. We’re a private K-12 school, funded through tuition, fundraising, and grants and have been very fortunate to have maintained a balanced budget for several years. Of course, it helps having alumni benefactors who’ve left money to the school in trusts and wills.
When the meeting finally draws to a close, a few board members come over to talk. As anxious as I am to get out of here and throw on a pair of lounge pants, my attention is required here. I spend a few minutes chatting with Mrs. Louise Seymour, a retired faculty member of our school, as well as Mr. John Billingsly, the president of the board. Both are anxious to start working on a plan to upgrade the old wooden bleachers in the gymnasium with something a little safer and easier to retract. It’s an expense that will be great but needed.
“I’d like to present estimates to the board next month, Quinn. It’s something that’s been on our list of future repairs, and now that the school heating project is complete, I feel this is a worthy next plan for our fundraising efforts,” John says as he adjusts his tie.
“I agree. I can start working on gathering estimates and have some available for the board at our next meeting,” I confirm, making a note in my planner.
“That would be great,” he agrees, offering a hand to shake.
When he walks away, Louise gives me a smile. “You’re doing a fine job, Quinn.”
Louise was the outgoing history teacher when I was hired as her replacement at Grace Private School. We were able to work together throughout that summer, her offering precious guidance to a young educator, straight out of college. I learned so much from her and often leaned on her for advice regarding lessons and projects. I was a very hands-on teacher and loved bringing history to life in the classroom setting. She was also the one who recommended me to the board for the principal position three years ago.
I had a newly earned master’s degree in education and eager to use it. When our principal received an offer at a larger school upstate, he left big shoes to fill within these school walls, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge. It’s definitely a much more rewarding job than even I could have anticipated.
“I think the meeting went well,” Louise says, her voice still holding the hint of authority it had in her teaching days.
“I agree.”
“You’re doing an exceptional job, Quinn. I’m proud of you,” she adds with a warm smile.
I’ve always looked to Louise for the advice in this field. My own mother is a homemaker, while my dad works as a mechanic. Neither really knew much about my profession of choice, even though they’ve been supportive my whole life. That’s why I gravitated toward Louise when it came to matters of my career.
“It’s been a joy to serve the board and students in this capacity. You know, after I enrolled in those night classes for my master’s, a few times I wondered if I was making the right choice. I mean, did I really need to accumulate more debt in my early thirties when I still had some from college? But now, even with that mountain of student loans, I’m so thankful I proceeded with the schooling. This is definitely the job for me,” I state openly.
Louise just smiles that familiar, warm grin, reaches over, and squeezes my arm lightly. “Like I said, I’m proud of you, Quinn. You are absolutely the right person for this job,” she says, causing a hard lump to form in my throat.
“Thank you,” I whisper, emotions grabbing hold and refusing to let go.
“I should be on my way, dear. Maybe we can meet for lunch soon?”
“I’d love that, Louise. I’ll call you first of next week to set it up?”
“Sounds wonderful. Take care, dear,” she says, as she pulls me into a hug. It’s familiar, her rich floral perfume tickling my nose and making me smile.
I watch as she exits the meeting room, followed by the few lingering board members. When I’m finally alone, I breathe a deep sigh and kick off my kitten heels. It’s been a long day, working over thirteen hours, only breaking long enough to grab a takeout crab salad from the deli down the street. Then it was right back here, preparing for tonight’s meeting.
It only takes me about twenty more minutes to wrap everything up and shut off the lights. I make sure my office is secured, slide my shoes back on my feet, and head out the side door that leads to the staff parking lot. As I’m walking to my car, my phone chimes with a text in my purse. My guess is it’s one of two people, and the thought of it being from Rigsby has my heart fluttering in my chest like a butterfly. I force myself to leave my phone where it is until I’m secured in the cab of my car. Then, and only then, do I pull it from my bag and click on the message app. The moment I see the name, I smile.
Rigsby: I have someone I’d like you to meet.
Me: Is that your intro, and then BAM, dick pic?