“Absolutely. Anytime. We love field trips, don’t we, kids?”
“Yep.” They both nodded.
“I’m hungry. It’s time for spaghetti,” Jesse announced.
“No, Jesse, we’ll eat when we get home. That was for Maeve.” She chuckled. “Jesse was born hungry, but I guess it’s time I get these two home and feed them.”
“You won’t stay and join me?”
“Can we, Mom?” Hailey rose on her toes.
Amanda hadn’t even considered that more than the meal, the company might be better appreciated. Where are my manners? She hadn’t meant to impose themselves on the old lady. “Are you sure? I didn’t bring this over to take up your entire day.”
Maeve got up and gestured toward the house. “Don’t be silly. It’ll be nice. Hailey, you can help me dish it up.” Hailey raced to catch up with Maeve in the kitchen.
So it was decided. Amanda stood there for an awkward moment, unsure of how to help or stay out of the way, when Hailey came back with napkins and utensils in her hands.
“Miss Maeve said we can eat out here on the patio.”
“That will be nice.” Amanda held the door open for Hailey, then went in the kitchen to gather plates.
“I thought we could use these heavy-duty plastic plates. Nothing to clean up.”
“Works for us. What can I do?”
“Not a thing. Hailey and I can handle this.”
Hailey returned, ready to be of service.
Maeve handed her a plate of baked spaghetti. “Take this one out for your mom, and then come back for Jesse’s. I’ll get ours.”
“Okay.” Hailey delivered the plate and came right back.
Maeve handed her Jesse’s spaghetti. “I’ve got the rest.”
When all the plates were delivered, Amanda and the kids gathered around the table and sat. Maeve went back into the kitchen for drinks.
“I love spaghetti,” Jesse said.
“Let’s use our good manners, okay, you two?”
“Yes ma’am.” Hailey’s and Jesse’s voices blended like a song that touched her heart, their sweet faces beaming.
Maeve stepped through the doorway, carrying a dated golden-colored glass pitcher and a stack of paper cups. The pitcher sloshed, ice tinkling against the sides as she set it down.
Amanda folded her hands, and Hailey and Jesse began singing the blessing.
She couldn’t help but notice Maeve’s eyes tearing as they sang. She knew that feeling. Their purity touched her in these moments.
What have I done keeping our life so small?
—
Amanda pulled her car out onto the old beach road. It was only a short distance to the new four-lane highway. Paws Town Square sat off to the left. She was glad to see something being revived. Maybe if it was a success, more people would start repurposing the old places rather than starting from scratch.
Whatever the old store was before it became Paws Town Square wasn’t recognizable now. It looked like an official town square, clock tower and all. The parking lot had been repurposed, too, which made sense. How much parking did a kennel need? Most was pickup and drop-off.
“Is it a carnival?” Hailey pressed her nose to the glass. “Look at the water fountains!”
“Oh my goodness. This place is really cool.” Amanda took her time through the long stretch of outdoor activities available. Dogs ran and played, their tongues hanging out and tails wagging.
“Denali would love it here.”
Jesse shouted, “Go-kart track!”
“No, that’s just a walking path.” Amanda could see where he would get that idea, the way it swerved and curved around the patches of green. “Want to take a tour?”
Their cheers rang in her ears.
Amanda pulled into a parking spot near the front doors, which looked more like the stairs of a courthouse. They went inside and took one of the maps that outlined the entire facility. There was a walking tour that was open and free to the public. “This looks like fun.”
The shops on this floor were retail specialty stores. The Barkery offered dog-friendly baked goods to share with your pet, purchased as onesies or in bulk. A store called the Yap that imitated America’s favorite youth clothiers carried custom collars, leashes, and bandannas. Toy Town featured nontoxic unbreakable toys for dogs of all sizes, including dog Frisbees for the Frisbee park outside. The spa was so fancy with its marble floors and high-shine accessories she wondered if they might take her in to get her nails done. The Veterinarian and FarmAcy took up the far end of the building, and from the looks of things, they were already doing a booming business.
Signs led to the free walking tour. From there she could see other trails active with dogs and handlers.
Amanda caught the attention of one of the workers, easily identified by the Paws Town Square logo on his shirt. “So, are all of these dogs being boarded, or is there a program for residents to bring their dogs here for walks?”
“You can get a day pass or even sign up for year-round access. Lots of people bring their dogs a couple times a week to walk them when the weather’s bad or too darn hot like it is right now. I was just outside like ten minutes. Look at me.” Sweat glistened on his brow. “Can’t blame them folks for wanting to escape the heat. There’s a few different levels if you want to use the water park or agility areas. The dogs down on that trail are all being boarded. We schedule their walks and runs throughout the day.”
“What a neat idea!” She mirrored his enthusiasm.
“Yes, most definitely. And it’s more than just dog boarding. We have programs to help bring former soldiers with PTSD to our workforce. We’ve matched pets with people, and we do some in-house canine training for companion dogs. It’s a great company to work for.”
“Wow. Sounds like it!” Too bad she hadn’t heard about this before she accepted her teaching job. “Who wouldn’t love to get paid to play with dogs all day?”
“Tell me about it. And the benefits are good too.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to catch up to an appointment. Can I
