by Liz Schulte
Whit Tipton, who owned Blossom By Bay grocery store, had gotten a fundraiser put together, along with an adoption party.
“We have got to put our best paw forward.” Drea marched up and down the kennel room in the sanctuary. “We all need to find a perfect home.”
“Something bad is happening. I can feel it. I just know it.” Hank the Chihuahua yipped from the corner of his kennel, shaking like a leaf. “I can feel it. I’m telling you.”
“Yeah, Doc.” Leo the lizard stepped up with his claw on the bar of the cage. “I think Hank is right. There is something going on that you aren’t telling us.”
“Mmmhhh.” Miss Cuddlywumps spoke up. “I think it has something to do with that man and Ranger.” She purred from the cardboard box in her kennel. “Do you mind flipping the box over so I can hide until the air clears?”
The chatter of all the animals started, jumbling up Drea’s head. She’d yet to tell Bear the Border Collie who was the oldest of all the animals. He had such bad hip dysplasia, Drea had fitted him with a wheelchair for his back legs. He was definitely not adoptable. No one wanted to take on an elderly dog with special needs. All they saw were dollar signs when all Drea saw was a loving beating heart.
It took Drea two trips to get all the animals to the fundraiser. The sanctuary van had been donated to them by a Blossom Bay resident as a tax write-off and she was forever grateful. It was much easier to load them up in the van and bring them to the clinic for their vaccinations and check-ups than it was to pack all her stuff up and take it to the sanctuary.
She took Bear to the clinic to hang out with Dodger. It would’ve been just too much for him and she didn’t want to stress him out.
“Thank you for doing this.” Drea stood at Priscilla’s food booth where she had made and donated all the sales to whatever Drea needed for the sanctuary or for finding homes.
“I put a little extra dose of sympathy in each dish and cookie. Plus, a little extra cuteness and fun in the dog’s liver brownies.” Priscilla winked, taking full advantage of her gift. “Everything is going to work out.”
Drea loved how confident her sister was, but she wasn’t so sure. Whit had really outdone himself and Mother Nature’s contribution couldn’t have been better. The sun was shining and there was a slight breeze off the bay that kept the animals nice and cooled. Drea had threatened them with their lives if they acted up. They all loved her so much, she didn’t have to keep them in their cages. They were so well behaved; they could walk around the designated area Whit had marked.
He let them set up on the right side of the parking lot closest to the bay, so tourists who were at the beach came up to check out what all the animals were doing. Even if the sanctuary wasn’t closing, Drea would love to see these animals go to their forever homes.
“Drea!” Priscilla called from her booth and nodded to the front of the grocery store. Clint looked up from petting one of the dogs and stood up.
Drea looked over and Holt Major was the last person she expected to see. He had a lot of nerve showing his face in Blossom Bay.
“I can’t believe you are showing your face around here.” Drea’s words stung Holt to his core.
“I know I’m the last person you want to see, but I need you.” He ran his hands through his hair. She’d never help him for him. “I mean Ranger needs you.”
“You get in your car and leave.” Drea pointed to his car and she turned on her toes to go back to what looked like a dog park in the parking lot of the grocery store.
“Ranger is in the car and my vet can’t help him. Please, Drea. Please look at him.” He hoped his plea for Ranger would get her to look at his beloved dog. “Ranger needs you.”
She stopped and waited for a second.
“Please,” his plea was almost a whisper. He watched the back of her shoulders draw up with her inhale and fall down with the exhale.
She turned back around and stalked back over, passing him without looking at him. He understood she was mad at him. He was mad at himself. If he’d known the impact his client was going to have on the small, close, cozy community, he’d have never taken this assignment.
“Okay, buddy.” Drea climbed in the back seat of the car. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, Drea. I’m having a hard time going to the bathroom and my stomach hurts.” Ranger groaned and his belly tensed when Drea pushed around on his undercarriage.
“I got home from work last night and Ranger had gotten into all of my garbage cans. He’d never done that before.” Holt was so worried about Ranger, but seeing Drea and being near her comforted him.
“Ranger, did you eat something you shouldn’t have?” Drea put her ear down to his belly and listened before she pushed around his abdomen again. She looked up at Holt. Fear, shear and stark in her eyes put chills all over his body.
“We have to get to the clinic immediately.” Drea knew Ranger was on borrowed time. “His colon is knotted and he has to have surgery to correct it or his body will get septic and start to shut down.”
She knew it was news that Holt didn’t expect and she could see the worry on his face. It was critical for them to get him to the clinic for emergency surgery, especially if he’d been this way for almost twenty-four hours.
Holt jumped in the front seat of the car and sped off toward the clinic.
“Ranger.” Drea watched as the dog lay in pain.
“I wanted him to see you again. If I die, just know that my human is in love with you and he’s never felt this way about another woman. He’s sick over what has happened with the sanctuary.” Ranger moaned. “He quit his job, he was so upset.”
“You quit your job?” Drea’s mouth dropped.
“How did you know?” Holt looked in the rear view mirror at her. She looked away.
She bent down and continued to soothe the sick dog, but Ranger insisted on talking to her.
“Please love my human. You would be so good for him. He would never hurt you. If I die, I will die knowing that you honored my last dying wishes.” Ranger whimpered.
“You are going to be okay.” Drea assured the dog. What he was saying was just too much. She had to concentrate on getting him into surgery. She didn’t have the heart to tell him that she couldn’t return the feelings she was also having for Hank because she’d never be able to live without her family gift.
Dodger and Bear watched from the floor as Drea worked her magic. Thankfully she got Ranger on the table, opened up and corrected his colon just in time. With a little medicine and some tender loving care, Ranger would be back to his old tricks in no time.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate your help.” Holt sat next to Ranger waiting for him to wake up from the anesthesia.
“No problem. I have an obligation to the animal population, not you.” Drea knew her words were harsh. She knew his feeling for her even though he’d never told her and even though she’d never be able to act on them.
There was no way she was going to be able to choose love when she was so important to the animal population. That was a bittersweet curse she was going to have to live with. It was something that she was fine with until Holt Major walked into her life and then ripped her life apart.
Holt didn’t respond to her harsh words. He simply looked over at Dodger and Bear.
“Whose dog is that?” he asked and put his hand out for Bear to sniff.
“He is one of the sanctuary dogs that has special needs. He has bad hip dysplasia and I got him hooked up with his wheelchair so he could live out the rest of his life more comfortably. Without the sanctuary, most of these animals aren’t going to have a home, since most won’t be adopted.” Drea knew the words would hurt Bear, but she had to be honest about the future. “Your client single-handedly gave all of those animals a death sentence. I hope you are happy with yourself.”
“Mr. Big?” Bear perked up and looked between Holt and Drea.
“Mr. Big would not have let this happen.” Drea didn’t know Mr. Big’s so
n, but she did know him and he’d never let the animals go homeless. “I know this property is worth a lot of money, but it’s still not right.”
“I would’ve loved to have come here as a tourist and gotten to know you, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.” Holt’s voice cracked. The weariness in his brown eyes deepened.
“Wait. Is Mr. Big dead? Did he cross the rainbow bridge?” Bear barked and barked. “Remember how he’d spend so much time with me?”
Drea looked at Bear.
“He spent hours talking about when he was dead and gone that we didn’t have to ever worry about not having a home.” Bear jumped to his front legs and wheeled over to the door of the surgery room. “He told me he knew I was smart and had a special bond with Blondie.”
Drea smiled. Mr. Big always called her Blondie.
“And he said that when he died, I was to show you something.” He danced on his paws. His wheel moved back and forth.
“Holt,” Drea really looked at him for the first time since he’d brought Ranger to her. “Ranger is going to be okay, but I need you to go with me to take Bear back since my car is still at the sanctuary since I drove the van to the adoption party.”
Drea made sure Ranger was in no danger as he slept off the anesthesia. She figured he’d be too drowsy to even move if he did happen to wake up in the next few hours. They’d be back before that.
Holt and Drea were silent the entire way to the sanctuary. Bear was on one side of the back seat with head hung out the window while Dodger was on the other side.
Priscilla and Clint were just getting back from the adoption party and putting the animals back in the kennel room. Just like Drea thought, all the cute small and young fur babies were adopted while the old timers weren’t.
“Come on.” Bear took a slow trot toward the building.
Holt went over to help Priscilla and Clint.
“In here.” Bear pawed at the cat room where Miss Cuddlywumps was already nestled on the top of one of the climbers.
Drea opened the door and she followed Bear in.
“She’s not going to like it, but you have to take apart the climber she’s on.” Bear even shuddered at the thought. Miss Cuddlywumps didn’t like anyone messing with her climber.
“Don’t you even think about it, Bear.” Miss Cuddlywumps hissed. “My arthritis is acting up from being outside all day on my feet.”
“I’m telling you, when he built this, he told me to tell you to take it apart. I don’t know why or what’s in there, but he insisted. His dying wish he told me.” Bear inched toward the hissing cat.
“I don’t think you have a choice.” Drea picked up the ornery cat. “I promise I will get you a bigger and better one, plus a long massage.”
“Fine.” Miss Cuddlywumps went over to the cardboard box in the corner after Drea put her down.
Drea didn’t waste any time putting the cat climber on its side. The base of the climber was screwed on, so she turned and turned it until it fell off. It was there that she found a plastic Ziploc bag taped on the inside of the base.
Holt took off as fast as he could toward the cat room when he’d heard the blood-curdling scream. He knew it was Drea.
“Are you okay?” He ran over to her. She was doubled over on her knees, gripping a piece of paper. He bent down next to her and put his arm around her.
He noticed just how perfect it fit around her and how natural it felt for her to be there in his arms.
“I’m perfect.” Her tear-stained face looked at him. His heart melted. He could just die by how much he’d hurt her by representing Mr. Big’s son. He had to quit his job. He was so angry with what Mr. Big’s son had him do that he couldn’t work for a company that didn’t care about anyone or anything other than money.
He’d gone back and told the new owner how he was displacing all those animals, but his boss didn’t care. It was then that Holt knew he couldn’t work for the man anymore, even if he never saw Drea Daily again.
She held the piece of paper out to him. He took it and read it. He stood up and reread it.
“This is what we need.” Holt smiled. “When my boss said he was going to take the property and put the resort in after his father died, we scoured all of Mr. Big’s legal documents to make sure he didn’t donate the land. He donated everything but this land. Now we have what we need for the sanctuary to stay.”
Drea stood up. Holt lifted his hand and wiped the tears flowing down her face. He couldn’t help himself. He drew her to him and gave her a kiss he knew was going to curl her toes.
The sand was especially hard under her shoes today. Or maybe it was her thumping out the anger in her body with each stride. A couple of nights ago, she’d let her emotions get the best of her and let Holt kiss her when she found out the property the sanctuary sat on was donated to Blossom Bay upon the death of Mr. Big. It was a legal document Mr. Big had some random lawyer draw up.
It was not just any kiss. It was a kiss like no other. Magical in fact. One that was so passionate, tender, tough, and sweet at the same time that she’d never be able to forget it.
“I’m going to beat you!” Dodger barked as he rushed up the hill toward the inn. He was right. He was already gobbling up a couple liver brownies when she made it to the kitchen door.
“Look what I made you.” Priscilla held out a bag full of Spiced German Cookies. “These are bound to cheer you up.” She handed Drea another bag. “These are for Dodger to take home.”
“Doubtful these will make me feel better.” Drea took the bag. “Dodger will love you forever.”
“Tell me what happened with Holt?” Priscilla continued to work around the kitchen. She never let Drea wallow. And she didn’t encourage it.
“He took the document and found the attorney. Mr. Big had told him what he wanted done with the property upon his death and he didn’t want to tell his son, who Holt worked for because his son would’ve never approved and would have fought tooth and nail for it. Mr. Big figured that once he died, his son couldn’t bully his way into getting the property so he went to this lawyer and hid the document. Thank God for my gift.” Drea bit down into one of the cookies. “If it weren’t for Bear, we’d never known about Mr. Big’s wishes or the document.”
“Then why are you so upset?” Priscilla asked. “You have the sanctuary, your gift, and the guy.”
“Not the guy.” Drea shoved another cookie in her mouth.
“Why not the guy?” Priscilla stopped and looked at her younger sister.
“How on earth could I abandon the special gift of helping the animals just for love?” Drea’s eyes narrowed. Her sister knew the rules.
“Not if it’s true love.” Priscilla walked over to Drea. “True love trumps the exclusion of the gift.”
“But Mom always said—” Drea started but Priscilla interrupted.
“Mom always told you that you couldn’t have both because you didn’t understand what true love was until now.” Priscilla put her hand on Drea’s arm. “Do you remember that guy you brought home from vet school? You thought you were in love with him until you found him making out with that tourist down on the beach after the two of you had a long day of sun, sand and drinking.”
“So you mean,” Drea stuttered.
“I mean the true love that you feel for Holt, and if he is the one, you can have both.” Priscilla smiled.
“Then why aren’t you in a relationship?” Drea asked.
“I don’t want to be.” Priscilla looked out the window. “I guess you better go to him.”
Drea looked over her sister’s shoulder and out the window. Ranger was in the back yard playing with a stick.
Drea didn’t need to figure out where Holt was. She had a hunch.
Ranger and Dodger ran alongside Drea as she leapt over the dead, fallen tree trunks in the wooded area. She tried to get Ranger to stay because he still had the fresh stitches from the surgery and not enough time to heal completely.
“I’ve always wanted a bro
ther,” Ranger panted.
“Not me, but I do want a dad,” Dodger barked.
Drea did her best to ignore them. Telling Holt about her feelings was going to be welcomed with open arms, but trying to explain to him about her gift was entirely a different problem all together.
“You are just in time.” Holt was sitting on her tree stump with his legs crossed on the cliff overlooking the bay. “But we are going to have plenty more of these mornings.”
He stood up and faced her.
“I knew I was in trouble the first time I saw you. Then the second time here, I knew I was a goner.” He reached out and ran his hands down her arms until their hands clasped. “When you showed up at the sanctuary for the meeting, I honestly thought I had lost you. I did my job but went back and quit. Even if I couldn’t have you for my own, I couldn’t be true to the man I am in that job. You showed me what unconditional love is. The love you have for animals surpasses any amount of money.”
He drew her closer, bending his head down for his lips to meet hers.
She put her hand on his chest to stop him.
“I have something to tell you that might make you rethink all of this.” Drea looked up, drowning in his brown eyes.
“I love you, Dr. Doolittle.” He smiled. “I knew there was something magical about you. Priscilla confirmed it. We are going to make a great pair. I’m going to marry you and run the sanctuary while you continue talking to the animals.”
Dodger and Ranger barked in delight, bouncing up and down on their paws. The sun popped up over the horizon, giving them a fresh start with the new day.
Holt sealed the deal with a kiss.
Recipes from Romance By The Bay
Please enjoy these recipes from Romance By The Bay. Let Tonya know if you made them by dropping her an email at [email protected]
Enjoy making these Liver Brownies for your dog. Kappes Krew Recipe member Peg Halley submitted this recipe and Priscilla Daily loved making them in Romance By The Bay.
