That Doggone Baby

by Tanya Stowe

  “Of course, I’ll give you a complete refund. You can expect a check from my office in a few days.”

  She nodded. Once. Looked around like a lost, hurt child and slid the cell phone into her back pocket. Finally, she took the leash he held out to her.

  “Come on, Baby. We’ve taken up too much of Mr. Blakely’s time.”

  Was that a tremor in her voice? He couldn’t tell because she never slowed or looked back during her long, slumped-over walk across the corral.

  But Baby did. She turned and halted, almost as if asking to stay.

  Don’t do this, girl. Don’t make me feel guilty. This is the best thing. Trust me.

  Baby cocked her head and hesitated for a moment more. Then, with a little bouncy spin, she turned and pranced out the gate with her beautiful, frustrating, fashion-conscious human.

  2

  Justin flipped the corral floodlights off and stood still for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. A full moon brightened the way across the compound to his house. Built in the fifties, his ranch-style home sported a wide veranda porch, now steeped in shadows.

  He’d noticed a car still parked outside the corral when a soft shadow detached itself from a large, log chair against the wall and stepped off the porch. He groaned out loud when silver moonbeams danced off the long, blonde hair of Jaci Meadows. An off-leash Baby stayed right beside her owner as she came to stand in front of Justin.

  “I thought you had an emergency.”

  He caught a glimpse of tear tracks down dusty cheeks before she stepped back into the shadow of the porch.

  “My father has Alzheimer’s, and my mother provides most of his care. My sister panicked and sent me a text saying Dad had gone over the edge and I needed to get there immediately. By the time I reached the car, my mom texted to say everything was under control and to stay here, that the lessons were more important. And they are, Mr. Blakely. Believe me, I’m at my wit’s end. Baby and I desperately need your help.”

  At least she acknowledged her pet’s needs and seemed to recognize the damage she was doing. Would she also recognize her mistakes and take steps to correct them? Justin doubted it. But maybe the situation wasn’t quite as hopeless as he’d originally thought.

  “Ms. Meadows…”

  “Jaci, please.”

  “Jaci, by nature dogs are pack animals. They thrive with companionship and firm alpha leadership. Especially a malamute like Baby, bred to work in teams. She’s also extremely smart. She needs lots of company and attention. From what I’ve seen, I’m not sure you can provide that.”

  She nodded and the movement brought her face back into the silver moonlight. “I know I haven’t done a good job so far. But I’m all Baby’s got.”

  She launched into a tale that didn’t surprise Justin. He’d heard the story too many times about owners who took on pets they couldn’t manage. Jaci’s tale of lackadaisical owners showed more callousness than usual. How someone could abandon a gem like Baby was beyond him.

  Still, Jaci was trying to step up to the plate. He wasn’t convinced she could manage it all, especially when she explained all that was going on in her life. But Justin had to give her credit for trying.

  And Baby was special. More than special. Judging from the way she hovered over Jaci, the dog had the perfect qualifications for Justin’s project. In fact, Baby was ideal. Maybe…

  He needed to see a little more of Baby’s personality, needed to see her in action before he suggested the solution percolating at the back of his brain.

  “If you could just give us another chance, I promise…”

  “All right.”

  Justin’s sudden change in attitude obviously threw her off. She stared at him, those big eyes reflecting like deep, silvery blue pools in the moonlight.

  “Really?”

  There it was again, that slight tremor in her voice, like Jaci Meadows didn’t expect anyone…at any time…to give her a break. The sound tugged at Justin’s heart in ways he didn’t like.

  He half regretted his words, regretted even meeting Ms. Meadows and her dog. But it was too late now. He was committed.

  Stepping brusquely around her, he headed toward the porch steps. “But not in the group classes. Baby needs private attention.”

  “Oh…private lessons. Are they expensive?”

  Justin halted, ready to end this nonsense right now. “Is that a problem?”

  She gave a quick shake of her head. “No. I’ll do whatever it takes. It’s just…I need to budget for them.”

  “Good answer, Ms…Jaci. I don’t have time for owners who don’t figure their pets needs into their budgets. I won’t charge any more than you’ve already paid for the lessons. Besides, I doubt we’ll need more than a few sessions.”

  He stepped onto the first step leading to the porch. “My first opening is three days away…Tuesday at ten in the morning. Will that work for you?”

  “Yes. I’ll have to work later that night but I can juggle my schedule.”

  “Well, don’t juggle it too late. Baby’s a big dog. She needs lots of exercise. Your homework before we meet again is to make sure she gets at least a half-hour walk every day. More if you can manage it but at least a half hour. Agreed?”

  She nodded. “Half hour. Got it.”

  “Good. I’ll see you at ten on Tuesday.”

  She nodded again, sending her silky hair rippling in the moonlight. “Ten. We’ll be here on the dot.”

  Turning, she headed toward her car. She wobbled across the uneven ground of the yard, almost tripping in her high boot heels. “And Jaci?”

  She paused and turned.

  “Wear some appropriate shoes. You can’t work with an animal in those heels.”

  “I…I’ll try.”

  Justin halted again. “Trying won’t work. You need to be able to move.”

  She paused with her head above her open car door. “I need to eat too, Mr. Blakely, and I can’t afford new sneakers until my next paycheck. Baby chewed up my last two pairs.”

  Justin shook his head and pushed through his door.

  Serves me right. I’ll bet she spent her last dollar on that flouncy top that hugs her in all the right places.

  Justin caught himself up short and shook his head.

  I need to have my head examined.

  ****

  Jaci pulled the key ring out of her pocket and flipped through them for the key to her mother’s house. Mom always kept the front door locked to prevent Dad from slipping out. In the dusky evening light, it took Jaci longer than usual to find the right key on the over-filled ring.

  Nothing new there. The amazing thing was that Baby sat perfectly still while she searched.

  True to her word, Jaci had made it home every day before dark to take Baby for her walk. The first day it was all she could do to walk for the full half hour and not wrap the leash around Baby and hang herself.

  The second day Baby was prancing and waiting for her at the door. Even though she was excited, the dog trotted right beside Jaci for almost an hour. The excursion had gone so well, Jaci decided to walk the two-mile distance to her mother’s house. She’d been busy, and hadn’t had a chance to check in with her mother since the false alarm on Saturday.

  She slipped the key in and opened the door. Just inside the threshold, she clicked the leash off Baby’s collar.

  “Mom! It’s me!”

  “Back here.”

  Baby trotted toward the kitchen. Her mother loved dogs. She and Baby had bonded instantly. The few times Jaci had brought Baby to the house her mother’s eyes had lit up with pleasure. Her dad, however, seemed fearful of the huge malamute and refused to stay in the same room with her.

  With that in mind, Jaci planned to say a quick hi and then turn around and head back home before it turned dark. Baby beat her to the kitchen and she heard her mother’s pleased exclamation.

  “Well, hello, you beautiful thing! What a nice surprise.”

  Jaci entered to fin
d her mother bending over Baby, ruffling the fur along her neck. Then her mother stood up straight, revealing a huge purple bruise beneath her left eye. Jaci gasped, and one hand flew to her mouth.

  “Mom! What in the world…”

  Her mother’s hand shot to her eye. “Oh, this. I forgot you hadn’t seen it.”

  “What happened?”

  “A car backfired or something outside. It startled your father. I was trying to calm him down and he swung around and connected with my eye.”

  Jaci halted her forward motion. “What do you mean swung around? With his fist?”

  Her mother ducked her head. “He didn’t know what he was doing, Jaci. He didn’t even know it was me.”

  “What do you mean he didn’t know you?”

  Her mother slid into a chair. For the first time, Jaci noted the dark circle beneath the other eye. “I’m afraid his disease has progressed to the point that he doesn’t know me most of the time.”

  Coldness swept over Jaci and she slumped in the chair opposite her mother. Her father rarely recognized Jaci, her sister or his grandchildren, but most of the time, he knew her mother. If he’d lost that connection, then there was little left of the man she called Dad.

  She reached across the table and grasped her mother’s hand. “This is why Linda called me, isn’t it? Why did you tell me not to come?”

  “It was over so quickly. There was nothing you or Linda could do. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt me.”

  “Of course, he didn’t intend to, Mom. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen again. You know the doctor said to contact him immediately if there are any signs of violence.”

  Her mother patted her hand. “I know. I already have an appointment to see him tomorrow.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re far too busy. Your dad and I will manage just fine.”

  Jaci hesitated to say that Dad would not participate in the project. Mom hadn’t had any help from Dad in a long time. The days of them working and decision making together seemed to be over. But Jaci doubted her mother was ready to confront that truth just yet.

  “Well then, Baby and I are staying the night. You look exhausted. You need to rest if you’re taking Dad into the doctor’s office tomorrow.”

  Jaci knew the stress and strain involved in an outing. Shaving, showering, dressing her dad...every normal, daily activity became a major undertaking that taxed her mother on a good day. Judging from her mother’s haggard appearance, she hadn’t had one of those in a long while.

  “Don’t be silly, Jaci. You have to work in the morning. You need your sleep.”

  “We’re not going and that’s that. Now, do you want the early shift or the late one?”

  Her mother’s lips parted as if she was about to protest but she took one look at Jaci’s face and paused. “Well, if you’re determined.”

  “I am.”

  A slight smile drifted over her mother’s features. “I’d love to lie down right now.”

  Jaci grasped her hand. “Don’t just lie down. Take a nice long hot bath. Put on your pajamas and crawl into bed. Baby and I will take care of everything else.”

  “All right.” Pushing wearily to her feet, her mother started toward the stairs. “Remember, your father is experiencing sundowner’s symptoms. He wakes up after dark and likes to wander.”

  Remember? Jaci didn’t even know her father had been experiencing this late-stage symptom of Alzheimer’s. No wonder Mom looked so exhausted. What other progressive signs had she forgotten or deliberately failed to relate to Jaci and her sister?

  “I usually wake up but I’m so tired tonight…”

  “Mom, I’ll take care of it. You just rest.”

  Her mother gave her a whole list of instructions before she finally went upstairs. Jaci followed and peeped inside the room where her dad was sleeping.

  His large, six-foot-two frame was huddled under the covers. He’d always been a big man, muscular and tall. The disease had caused some degeneration of his muscles, but apparently, he still had the strength and power to give her mother a black eye.

  When he’d first been diagnosed, Dad was concerned that the everyday, physical care of his bulky frame would be too much for his petite wife. He’d made them promise—her mother, Jaci, and Linda—that they wouldn’t let his disease destroy her mother’s health. They’d all agreed…including her mother. But so far, Mom had refused even to discuss it.

  Now Jaci wondered if she had deliberately kept the truth about Dad’s condition from them. If they didn’t know, they couldn’t talk her into making the difficult decision to have him committed to full time care.

  Jaci crept back downstairs. As soon as she heard the shower turn on in her mother’s bathroom, she dialed her sister’s number.

  “Hi. I’m at the house with Mom and Dad. I had no idea things were so bad.”

  “I told you but you didn’t listen.”

  Jaci cringed, but tried not to otherwise react to her sister’s acerbic tone. It wasn’t personally directed at her. After Linda’s husband of twelve years had what he called “a mid-life crisis” and took off for parts unknown, she was saddled with the care of their four children. Linda’s tone had changed in direct proportion to the difficulties she’d handled in the last year. Now the attitude seemed like a permanent part of her make-up.

  “I think Mom’s been hiding his real condition from us, Linda.”

  Her sister released a tight sigh over the phone. “It wouldn’t surprise me. Nothing would surprise me after what’s happened in the last two days.”

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  “Paul’s back in town.”

  “Paul…your husband Paul?”

  “Of course my husband, Paul. Do you know any other Paul who could send my temper skyrocketing? He phoned two days ago and told me he wants to see us. Of course I said not in this lifetime.”

  “Not in this lifetime?”

  “Jaci, please stop repeating me like a parrot. It’s crazy annoying and I’m already close to losing it.”

  “Sorry. I’m just in shock.”

  “Tell me about it. I feel as if I’ve been walking in a fog since he called. Until today. Now I’m flaming. I wouldn’t let him see the kids so he showed up at their school.”

  “Tell me he didn’t do something crazy.”

  “No, he just wanted them to know he was back. Of course they went ballistic and now I look like the bad guy for keeping him from them. There’s a major revolt going on in my house tonight.”

  “Oh, Linda. I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”

  “There is, Jaci.” Her sister’s tone softened for the first time. “You’re taking care of Mom and Dad. That takes a load off my mind. Listen, I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Linda hung up before Jaci could even say goodbye. She stared at the silent cell phone. A clock chimed in the house, but nothing else stirred. The dead silence covered Jaci like a dark, heavy blanket. Dropping the phone on the couch beside her, she fell to her knees and started to pray.

  3

  Still groggy, Jaci raised her head off the couch where she’d fallen asleep. She could barely make out shapes in the dark room.

  Baby whimpered then jumped to her feet and hurried toward the door, paws and nails scrabbling against the wood floor.

  The deadbolt on the front door pulled back and opened. Jaci jerked to her feet. Her dad pulled the portal wide, preparing to step out. If he made it out the front door, she wouldn’t reach him in time to stop him, and she’d never catch him.

  “Dad! Don’t!”

  Jaci leapt forward but Baby beat her to the punch when she stepped between Dad and the threshold.

  “Get out of my way.” He tried to push through Baby and almost made it. But then, Baby barked. The sound was sharp and controlled but it was enough to cause Jaci’s father to jump back, bumping into the small table pressed against the stairs.

  Jaci clos
ed and locked the dead bolt with a firm click, and then rushed to her father’s side. He seemed disoriented and a little unbalanced. She grasped his arm and helped him upright.

  A light flicked on the stairs above them. For one infinitesimal moment, Jaci thought she saw a light of recognition in her father’s eyes. Then it disappeared.

  “What happened?” Her mother hurried down the stairs, her dressing gown swishing with each step.

  “I dozed off and didn’t hear Dad come down. Fortunately, Baby did.”

  Her mother bent quickly and rubbed the dog’s perky ears. “Thank you, Baby. You’re a life saver.”

  “I’m tired.” Dad didn’t seem to remember what had just happened. Ignoring Jaci, he moved toward the stairs.

  “Come on, old fellow, let’s get you settled.” As they moved up, her mother spoke over her shoulder. “You can rest now, Jaci.”

  “It’s all right, Mom. Baby and I will be here for the rest of the night…and maybe for every night after.” She said the last under her breath. Her mother wouldn’t approve but Jaci and the best-ever-watchdog would be spending the night until they found help to care for her father.

  Settling on the couch, Jaci called Baby over, wrapped her arms around the big malamute’s neck and whispered, “Thank you, girl. You’re the absolute best. If I had a pair of flip-flops I’d even let you chew them up.”

  Baby let out a huff that sounded almost disgusted.

  “Oh, is that right? You’re too good for flip-flops now? Well, maybe we can find a bone then.”

  Laughing, she buried her face in Baby’s soft fur.

  ****

  Justin couldn’t believe the improvement in just two short weeks. Baby and her owner moved around the corral as if they’d been working together for months. Jaci followed his directions perfectly. She had a bounce to her step and a sparkle in her eyes…one that hadn’t been there when they’d first met. Most surprisingly, she didn’t pick up her cell phone even once.

  Baby did well too, but this time around, Justin was more impressed with the changes in her owner. Jaci must have also had a windfall. She’d purchased new running shoes.

  After an hour of watching her bright smile, Justin had a much better opinion of the winsome blonde. When he called the lesson off for the day, she trotted over to where he leaned against the fence.