Furever enchanted, p.6
Furever Enchanted, page 6
“Would you have believed me?”
“Probably not. I’m still having a hard time believing it. It doesn’t make sense.” Zuri shook her head. Julianna shrugged.
Julianna slipped off her sneakers and pulled her feet up onto the chair, assuming a cross-legged position.
“She really was going to get euthanized if I didn’t get her out of there. They weren’t even going to put her on the adoption floor since she had the bald spots and wasn’t eating.” Julianna’s eyebrows knit together in anger.
Sending a dog home with a mysterious ailment wasn’t necessarily the right thing to do in Zuri’s book, but she could tell Julianna really cared about all the animals. Her ethics were just questionable.
“Why didn’t you take her home?” Zuri asked.
“Oh, I have cats,” Julianna stated, as if this explained everything.
Usually Zuri’s thoughts were written right on her face and she knew she wore her heart on her sleeve. Today was no exception. Her brows knit together in confusion and she looked at Julianna pointedly, waiting for her to explain.
“The last time I tried to bring a dog home, it nearly killed one of my cats, so I don’t bring dogs home anymore,” Julianna continued.
“Not even a magical gold pooping dog?” Zuri smiled.
“Not even a gold pooping dog would make me risk my cats' lives.” Julianna smiled back.
At least something finally made sense.
“Don’t you get in trouble for just giving dogs away?” Zuri asked.
“No.” Julianna smiled. Zuri waited, but she didn’t elaborate.
“So why did the previous owner drop her off? You’d think they would want a dog who could make them rich.” Zuri asked. The coins could be worthless, but they sure looked like actual gold. After getting Gigi back to eating and digesting properly, she would have them looked at, but Gigi came first.
“They passed away. It was the police who dropped Gigi off at Tails.” Julianna shrugged and took another sip of her drink.
“Do you know anything else about them?” she prodded.
“Not much. Gigi belonged to an old woman. The police left her name and address but didn’t have much information other than that. They found her wandering the backyard. I think they were having trouble notifying the owner’s next of kin. We held Gigi for three days but no one came, so the intake staff put her on the list to be evaluated for adoption eligibility.” Julianna finished her latte and set the cup down on the table between them.
“Can you get me her address? Maybe I can talk to the neighbors or see if they found her next of kin,” Zuri asked.
“Why?” Julianna looked confused.
“Because Gigi is going to either starve to death or die from having her digestive track destroyed by these coins.” Zuri thought that was obvious, but from the open surprise on Julianna’s face, it was clear she hadn’t thought things through beyond getting Gigi adopted.
“Oh. Yeah. I guess that makes sense.” She nodded.
“So, will you help me? I haven’t had Gigi for long, but I don’t want her to die. She’s important to me,” Zuri stated.
“Yes! I’m always down to help an animal in need.” Julianna pulled her shoes back on and stood. “I’ve got to get back to my post, but I’ll text you what I can find in the system. We can go poke around her old address together. The police usually bring in at least one dog a day for us to hold, so if they come in today, I’ll see what else I can find out from them, too.”
“Great!” Zuri felt some of the tension she hadn’t realized she was holding release itself from her chest.
She was relieved she no longer had to handle this by herself, and that Julianna at least had a couple of places they could start looking for answers.
Chapter 11
“Gigi, you need to go potty.” Zuri tugged at the leash, but Gigi was not budging. The nearly regular monsoon rain had arrived a little early this evening, and having observed it, Gigi didn’t want to go for a walk.
Julianna wasted no time texting her the information on the previous owner. There wasn’t much. Astrid Drach was the woman’s name. The police were asked to make a wellness call and found Astrid on the floor of her living room, already deceased. The caller had claimed to be Astrid’s niece, but the police could never get back in touch with her and still hadn’t found another next of kin.
She was going to meet Julianna at Astrid’s house to see if they could find any clues. Since she wasn’t sure how long she would be gone, she wanted to take Gigi for a quick walk. It had been a few hours since her last potty break. Although her dog pooped gold, she still peed like a regular dog.
While their back patio was covered and the dog had free range of the yard when it was cool enough outside, to her knowledge, Gigi hadn’t ever gone to the bathroom back there. Laying on the dirt near the wall was her main pastime while out there. Unlike most other dogs, she seemingly didn’t want to potty where she rested, even if it was outside. Zuri wasn’t sure if this was another Chow Chow thing or just a Gigi thing.
Desperate times called for desperate measures. She grabbed her keys from the hook by the door. The resulting jingle grabbed the dog’s full attention. Suddenly Gigi was a lot more cooperative, making her way to the car. She probably thought they were going to the Riparian Preserve, Zuri realized.
“Do you seriously think it’s not raining at the park?” Zuri laughed before closing her umbrella, opening the car door, and letting Gigi into the back seat. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to take her to her favorite spot, even if it wasn’t raining. They drove around to the other side of her complex instead, and Zuri parked on the street in front of a neighbor’s home. Gigi got out of the car and when she realized they hadn’t gone far, she looked at Zuri accusingly. Before she could get back in, Zuri closed the door and opened her umbrella.
“If you want to go home, you’d better go potty and walk fast.” She smiled.
Gigi huffed in annoyance, but they quickly made their way back to their house. Despite her initial disdain for the rain, Gigi took her time in the grassy area by the pool and did her business. Relieved, Zuri got Gigi back inside and dried her off with a towel before walking back alone to get her car.
This was the most ridiculous thing Zuri had ever had to do, but if it worked, it worked.
Chapter 12
Zuri stood in front of a large, white Colonial-style house, leaning on one foot and then the other. There wasn’t much chance of them getting answers here, at Astrid’s home, but they had to try. Julianna was supposed to be here. She was late. A few more minutes ticked by before she finally jogged up to Zuri on the sidewalk in front of Astrid’s home.
“Did you run here from the shelter?” Zuri questioned.
It would have been at least a twenty-five-minute drive, not a walkable or runnable distance, especially in this heat. Even after the brief monsoon shower, the setting sun wasted no time setting the city ablaze again. If she had said something, Zuri would have stopped to pick her up.
“No, not the shelter.” Julianna heaved. “I live nearby.”
A light bulb turned on in Zuri’s head. If she lived in this neighborhood, or even one of the surrounding ones, it was no wonder she could spend all her time volunteering. The sprawling houses in this area were not middle-class or affordable. These were the type of barbie dream houses she used to imagine living in as a child, before she knew how much they cost.
Before she could ask any follow-up questions, Julianna strode up to the front door and began knocking. Loudly. She waited a beat and then began banging on the door even louder.
“Who do you think is in there? Didn’t you say they couldn’t find the next of kin?” Zuri reminded her.
Julianna continued to eye the door suspiciously before skipping back down the stairs to the sidewalk in front of Zuri.
“What are you girls doing?” A petite, older Asian woman rounded the corner with two small Yorkies. She wore a wide brimmed white hat, and a matching pink linen shirt and skirt set in a floral pattern.
“Do you know the woman who lived here?” Julianna turned to the approaching woman, smiling brilliantly.
“Astrid?” The woman raised an eyebrow. “I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but she was a mean old witch.”
The woman’s dogs sniffed at their feet as the woman got closer. Julianna knelt and began petting and cooing at the dogs, who seemed to appreciate her attention.
Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, arms crossed over her chest, Zuri stood awkwardly off to the side. She adored Gigi and larger dogs, but small dogs just reminded her of her mom and her impulsive tendencies. They weren’t her cup of tea.
“What are you doing at Astrid’s place?” the woman asked again. She seemed more curious than accusatory.
Zuri cleared her throat. “I adopted her dog. We were just wondering if any of her relatives were around to ask if they had any information about her. The dog.”
“Her dog?” The woman cocked her head. “Which one?”
Zuri looked down at Julianna, a question in her eyes.
“The police only brought one dog to the shelter.” Julianna stood.
“That woman was always bringing animals into that house. Animals went in and I never saw them come out.” The woman shook her head.
“What else can you tell us about her?” Julianna asked.
While Zuri didn’t enjoy being on the receiving end of an inquisition from Julianna, she was grateful for Julianna’s skills now.
“Not much. She wasn’t very social.” The woman shrugged. “I have a stall at Old Gold. It’s an antique store. I saw Astrid talking to the owner a few times. She might know something. Here, my card has the address on it.”
She pulled a business card out of her skirt pocket and handed it to Julianna. Zuri leaned over Julianna’s shoulder to read the card.
Rose Lin
Genuine Antique Jewelry
Old Gold #12
2222 S Main Street
“So you never asked her what happened to the animals?” Zuri asked softly. She looked up at Rose hesitantly.
“I did once, when I noticed her bringing in a little Yorkie, like my two here.” Rose reached down to pick one dog up, holding it close to her heart. “She said they were her treasures, and they brought her wealth. Said nothing else. Never laid eyes on the little dog again.”
A bunch of dogs. Never to be seen again. They brought her wealth. Zuri felt her body go rigid. Her teeth ground together as she clenched her jaw. A coincidence? She thought not.
“Well, I have to get back inside. I have to get to the gym. I’m glad one of her dogs got a nice home.” She smiled at them before moving past them and down the street to the house next door, over a hundred feet away.
Julianna stood and turned to Zuri, who stared blankly at the sidewalk, hands in fists at her side.
“Let’s not panic just yet. We can visit that antique store and check if the owner has any information.” She pulled out her phone and did a quick google search.
“It looks like they’re closed until 11 a.m. tomorrow. Let’s meet there when they open?” Julianna looked up at Zuri.
“Yeah. Let’s do that.” She sighed. “Do you want a ride home?”
“No, it’s okay. I think better when I’m moving.” Julianna looked away, avoiding Zuri’s gaze.
“See you tomorrow then. At eleven.” She emphasized the time before walking to the driver’s side of her car, which was parked on the street. Julianna waited and waved at Zuri as she pulled out onto the street before turning back down the sidewalk the way she had come.
Chapter 13
Sunday
Old Gold sat in a long chain of similar, white brick buildings that ran down the length of the street. It was a mix of local and chain shops and restaurants. The walkway was covered, more to protect shoppers from the sun than for days like today with unusual daytime rain. The summer monsoon season was intent on surprising them. Climate change.
Zuri didn’t like the rain, but she appreciated the cooling effect that came with it, bringing the usual triple digit heat down to the eighties. The rain would make it nice outside, if only for a few hours. She got out of her car and scrambled up to the door, flanked by two large glass display windows. The lights were off, and the doors were locked. It was 11 a.m. sharp, but there was no sign of anyone coming to open the shop. With the exception of her small sedan, the street parking in front of the shop was also empty.
The display windows held an abundance of items, from rocking chairs to knitted blankets. Jewelry shined and stuffed animals watched her with beady looking eyes. She stood waiting in front of the shop, watching as people came and went into the shops next door and across the street.
At 11:05 a.m., Zuri’s phone buzzed.
Julianna: Sorry. Running Late.
At least she had texted this time. Sighing, she started typing her reply. She really didn’t like it when people were late. It was so inconsiderate and rude, as if their time was more valuable than hers. In any case, there was no reason for her to come now anyway.
Zuri: They're closed. No one is here. Will have to try again later.
She hopped into her car and drove home. Gigi would be glad she was back so soon. The first time she left Gigi alone, Gigi looked up at her from in front of the door, clearly appalled that Zuri was leaving without her. Zuri hadn’t known what to expect when she returned. The dog seemed to tolerate her presence, but she didn’t ask for much. When she got home, Gigi greeted her enthusiastically. Or at least what counted as enthusiasm for Gigi. There was no barking or jumping. She just met Zuri at the door and wagged her tail, delighted that she had returned.
It was nice having someone to come home to, having someone happy to see her. Though it hadn’t been long, she knew if Gigi was gone, her once-perfect sized house would feel empty and too big for her alone.
Another rumble from the sky sent a shiver down Zuri’s spine as drops of rain beat down on her windshield.
She wouldn’t let anything happen to Gigi. She turned her windshield wipers on. They were going to fix this.
The storm passed quickly. A few non-threatening but nonetheless moody clouds remained. The day was determined to be gray. She decided to take full advantage of the slightly cooler weather and brought Gigi to the Riparian Preserve. The unpaved sections of the path were a little muddy, but it was nothing they couldn’t handle.
The ponds had water in them, and although their levels were still low, the water and plants helped to keep the area slightly cooler than the rest of the city as well.
Gigi was thrilled to be at her favorite place. Her tail wagged, and the leash went straight with little to no slack as she tugged, urging Zuri to walk faster.
It was really a testament to how much she already loved Gigi that she had brought her back here. Normally, walking with Gigi was very chill, even relaxing. This was the opposite. Her arm would be sore tomorrow. She had to dig her heels into the ground to keep Gigi from pulling her into a bush.
“Slow down,” Zuri pleaded.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw a text from Julianna, asking if she wanted to go back to Old Gold.
Before she could respond, a rabbit darted in front of their path. Gigi lost her mind, pulling on the leash so hard and so fast that Zuri dropped the handle. No longer held back, the dog ran off, full speed in her pursuit.
“Gigi!” She chased after her, stuffing her phone back into her pocket.
Her hand still stung, but she needed to get Gigi back on the leash before she got lost in the bushes or the reservoirs. Although it felt secluded, there was also a busy road nearby, with only foliage to keep it fenced off.
Gigi stopped in front of a large section of bushes and bit at the branches, as if her teeth had transformed into a machete. A rabbit darted farther into the brush, causing her to lunge forward, sticking her head low as Zuri grabbed her harness.
She pulled against Zuri’s hand and tried her best to follow the rabbit. Neither of them saw the small cactus hiding low to the ground until it was too late. The force of Gigi’s movements drove several spikes into her face. The shock of the needles finally made Gigi lose her focus on the rabbit and she allowed Zuri to pull her back onto the path.
Although Zuri had lived in the desert her entire life, this was her first time dealing with cactus spikes. She didn’t know if she should pull them out or let a veterinarian do it. With everything that had happened in the past couple of weeks, Zuri was relieved they weren’t far from Dr. Rodriguez’s office. They had shorter hours on Sunday, but hopefully they were still open.
Chapter 14
“We have to stop meeting like this.” Dr. Rodriguez smiled at Gigi, who was laying down bravely on the exam table as the doctor removed the cactus spikes from her face. Well, sort of bravely. The corners of her mouth dipped down and her dark brown eyes looked up at Zuri pleadingly.
“Thanks for seeing us on such short notice. Again.” Zuri stood on the other side of the table, doing her best to keep Gigi calm and still.
A few patients canceled because of the weather so Dr. Rodriguez could see them quickly. Although the rain had stopped earlier, it was still the sort of day that made you want to stay home. One more thing to be grateful for.
“I hope you got her insurance. If not, I strongly suggest you get some.” Dr. Rodriguez said it casually, but Zuri could tell she was serious.
“I mean, I’m sure you did. Or if you didn’t, that’s also fine,” Dr. Rodriguez added hurriedly. Her cheeks turned a rosy shade of pink and her mouth went from a small smile to a thin line.
Zuri wasn’t offended this time. She knew the doctor was just looking out for her and Gigi. But even if she had been, she wouldn’t blame Dr. Rodriguez for judging her this time. Losing her grip on the leash was incredibly stupid. It was an accident, but if she had been more careful, none of this would have happened.
