Project Valentine (A Homespun Romance) Read online

  As the woman left without a backward glance, Jessica's gaze shifted to Arthur. Guilt throttled her like a choke chain.

  "I couldn't let her have you," she said fiercely. "A life like that would be worse than...." she swallowed hard, "worse than...."

  Jessica sighed. As usual she was guilty of leading with her heart. The mother-hen syndrome made her want to protect the whole world.

  She'd probably scotched Arthur's only chance of having a home.

  "Want to pack it in?"

  Jessica looked at Jose Garcia and then around her. She was the only volunteer left of the twenty that had been there since eleven that morning. It was four o'clock. Nineteen animals had found new homes. The last one stretched his forepaws, gave an enormous sigh and put his head down. His unquestioning acceptance of whatever lay in store for him rekindled Jessica's fierce resolve, fanning it to blaze proportion.

  "No," she said firmly. "There's still an hour left."

  Under her stubborn stare Jose Garcia's eyes dropped. He wasn't going to get into another argument with her. There was no doubt what the result would be. He could see the edge of pain in her eyes, the shadow of self-doubt. He cleared his throat noisily. For her sake he would give her the time she wanted. She needed it to accept the truth. No one wanted that dog.

  Jessica blinked the tears away. She wasn't going to give up yet.

  Concentrating on the thinning crowd she picked out people who looked suitable and began sending out desperate telepathic messages to them. Come here. Look into those soulful eyes. Do you know the difference a dog can make in your lives? There seemed to be a breakdown in her ability to communicate mentally. No one stopped.

  Jessica took Arthur for a brisk fifteen minute walk outside at four thirty. She was almost back to her spot when she noticed a familiar broad back approach Jose Garcia. Heart in mouth Jessica picked up her pace. There could only be one reason they had returned.

  "There was a teenage girl here earlier, about this high." Indignantly Jessica noted his raised hand put her closer to four feet than five. "Dressed in really bright clothes, talks a lot." Red hot color surged to her face. "She had a Great Dane with her. We were wondering if the dog's found a home."

  "Looking for me?" Jessica's voice dripped honey. Laced with a lethal dose of arsenic.

  He didn't look a whit abashed. Swung around and treated her to one of his gimlet glances.

  "Ms. Woods," inserted Jose Garcia helpfully, hitching up his pants, "is very knowledgeable about dogs. We are lucky she could help us today."

  Jessica smiled her gratitude at the portly man, and then looked coolly at Molly's father. Karl Wagner didn't look the least bit put out. One lofty eyebrow was his only reaction to the news she wasn't a teenager.

  "You're still here!" Molly beamed. The smile slipped as she looked at Arthur, "Doesn't anyone want him?"

  Jessica swallowed hard and mustered every drop of composure she had. Arthur's life was at stake here. That took precedence over wounded pride, "Not so far."

  "Molly I'm going to pick up my book." Karl Wagner's words extinguished hope completely. "Do you want to stay here?"

  Molly nodded. "Yes, please."

  Why had he come back if he wasn't interested in Arthur? Jessica didn't glance up as she sensed him walk away. Jose Garcia retreated to his folding table and began shuffling papers. A quarter to five. Her heart plummeted.

  "How old is Arthur?" Molly asked.

  "About two years old, they think."

  Talking would help speed the remaining time. Tomorrow she would think up some new way of helping Arthur. All she wanted to do now was go home and have a good cry. Maybe it would lessen the pressure in her chest. It had been a rotten day from start to finish.

  "Human years?"

  "Human years," agreed Jessica. Considering each human year was seven years of a dog's life Arthur was fourteen. In his prime. "Great Danes age a little faster than other breeds though. Seven human years might be old for this breed, still young for a Labrador, or another breed."

  "Aren't some people mean?" Molly patted Arthur's head. "If you belonged to me, I would never leave you behind." The girl's hand suddenly stilled. She turned to Jessica face riddled with excitement, "Can I have him?"

  "Not unless your parents want him too," Jessica said firmly.

  Molly didn't reply. There was something about the faraway look in her eyes that Jessica could only classify as a Napoleonic gleam. In one as young as Molly it could mean anything.

  The father was coming out of the book store. Jessica's stomach muscles clenched as he neared them. War was about to be declared. And she was on the wrong side this time. She kept her gaze riveted on Molly and Arthur.

  "Hi Uncle Karl!"

  Jessica's stomach muscles quivered. Uncle Karl.

  For a second the world tilted. Colors whirled around her. Red: the explosion of shock, green: the unbelievable happening, golden yellow: promise of happiness.

  "Molly we have to go now or we won't have time to get your present."

  Molly didn't budge. She tilted her head and Jessica was reminded of a frigate going to war.

  "Uncle Karl, I want this dog."

  Surprise dropped Jessica's jaw at the same instant Uncle Karl's dark brows snapped together. It was a minute before she absorbed the import of Molly's words.

  "What did you say?"

  "I want Arthur."

  "You can't have this dog. He's huge." Uncle Karl glared at the world in general, her in particular.

  He thinks I put the idea into Molly's head.

  Jessica tilted her chin so quickly her earrings swung to and fro as she glared back at him. Of all the nerve! He jumped to conclusions faster than she did.

  "I know he's huge," Molly's matter of fact voice snapped the thread of tension. "That's what I like about him."

  The well cut lips tightened ominously as he said firmly, "You can't have him. Henley Apartments don't allow dogs, remember? Where would you keep him?"

  "At your house?" The guileless smile took Jessica's breath away. Molly was clearly a tactician of tremendous skill.

  "Molly, I don't want a dog." Jessica's heart sank. He sounded stern and implacable. Maybe she'd been mistaken about the kind mouth. "Even if I did, I wouldn't pick one this big."

  "You said I could pick out a present for Valentine's Day at the Mall." The sigh, the dropped lids conveyed disillusionment perfectly. Molly shrugged with adult indifference. "Well, if you can't keep your word, I guess you can't."

  Move over Sarah Bernhardt. Molly's here now.

  Her uncle looked as if someone had flung a glass of iced water in his face.

  "Wha...?" Realization dawned and he said defensively, "I promised you a present, not an animal the size of a house."

  Molly's mouth tightened exactly like her uncle's. Jessica's insides shouted up a storm as she watched the pair.

  "Grownups know best about these things," she inserted gently.

  The remark earned her another fiery look from Uncle Karl. One would think she was championing Molly's cause. She was in her heart of course, but for Arthur's future it was more important to have everybody want him.

  Molly didn't say a word. She didn't have to. Her expression clearly implied her opinion of adults who didn't keep promises.

  One hand raked through the thatch of black hair reducing it to disorder. He was definitely not happy about this turn of events.

  "Molly, when I mentioned a gift, I meant something you could keep with you, like a doll, or a dress." His face blanched as Arthur stretched. "Or a Blu Ray DVD player for your room?"

  Jessica's mouth twitched. He must really be getting desperate.

  "You gave me a DVD player for Christmas, remember?" Molly said reasonably.

  Frustration increased tenfold on his face, "So, I did. Well, how about a cell phone of your very own? You'd like that wouldn't you?"

  "Maybe when I'm a teenager," the terror said kindly, "I'm only eight. Let's go home, Uncle Karl. I'm very tired."

>   He took a step forward, stopped, stared from Molly to the dog. A gamut of emotions chased across his face.

  "I'm a dentist. I don't know anything about dogs. I don't have time for one."

  The litany didn't seem directed at human ears.

  A dentist. Jessica's pulse accelerated. Based on what hers charged every time he asked her to open her mouth, money certainly wasn't one of Uncle Karl's problems. And that mouth. She checked again quickly. Yes, there was hope. Excitement spiraled within her.

  Come on, Molly.

  "You'll only have to keep him till we get our own house," said Molly reasonably, "Dad said it wouldn't take more than five to six weeks for escrow, and they've promised me a dog." Turning to Jessica she said, "We've just moved from New York to be near Uncle Karl. That's how come we are in an apartment."

  She'd neatly piled one more layer of guilt on her uncle's shoulders. Jessica dared not look at him. The U.N. had desperate need of diplomats like Molly.

  Pulling a wallet out of his hip pocket her uncle held out a five dollar bill to Molly, "See the ice cream place?" he enquired pointing to a spot two stores away, "treat yourself to a cone and then sit on that bench, till I call you." He pointed to a wooden bench surrounded by artistically massed greenery, out of hearing range. "I'm going to call your parents and then make a decision."

  Molly nodded angelically and set off.

  Jessica braced herself as the angry giant returned after the phone call. She could almost see the smoke bellowing from his nostrils.

  "As I said before," he threw at her repressively, "I don't want a dog."

  Behind her Jose Garcia snapped a case shut and cleared his throat. Arthur's time had run out. She'd failed after all.

  "If I do this, it will be for Molly."

  Surprise jerked Jessica's head up.

  She had to repeat the words to herself to be sure she'd heard them right. Molly's parents must have agreed to her having Arthur. Ignoring the herd of butterflies performing acrobatics in her stomach Jessica smiled widely, "You won't regret it."

  He looked at her flooded eyes and a spark shot out of his eyes as he smiled. The first real smile he'd given her. Not rescuing-angel smile, not kind-and-caring smile. This was big league. Man-woman. Joy slipped out of Jessica's heart, wrapped them in a layer of emotion so thick the rest of the world faded away. Karl Wagner's glance slipped to her mouth. Time missed a beat.

  A loudly cleared throat startled Jessica. Jose Garcia was getting restless. It was past five o'clock.

  She bent to pat Arthur. It was as good a way of hiding her hot face as any. No one had ever told her a smile could induce cerebral paralysis.

  "Tell me what you know about the dog's history."

  "He was found two weeks ago, starving, abandoned." The well molded lips tightened. Jessica was reminded of the way he'd dealt with the two delinquents. Karl Wagner had no use for cruelty. "He's two years old and in excellent physical condition. Great Danes are very good with children, very amenable. He won't be any trouble." Honesty took over. "Any dog does require a certain amount of care and attention." A quick glance at his face as he looked toward his niece wasn't encouraging. There was still some indecision there. Scared that he was slipping through her fingers, Jessica laid her hand on his arm. "Would you like to pat him?"

  He looked down pointedly at the hand resting on his forearm. Conscious of nails bitten to the quick, of being carried away, Jessica snatched her hand back.

  Going down on his haunches Molly's uncle put his hand out to the dog. Arthur lifted his head and stared at him, then gave a mournful sigh and settled down on his front paws.

  "It will take a while to gain his trust and affection. He's been badly hurt by his last owner's desertion." There was nothing she could do about the tremor in her voice when she thought of how Arthur had been left. It earned her another sharp glance.

  "Uncle Karl, have you made up your mind?" Molly was back, dripping ice cream cone in one hand. Evidently she didn't feel her uncle had to be obeyed to the letter.

  His hesitation reminded Jessica of a thoroughbred balking at the gate.

  "I don't know much about dogs," he said cautiously, like a man who had to feel his way out of a sticky situation.

  "There isn't that much to know," Jessica said quickly, "they are a lot like children. You learn as you go along." It sounded like a power statement. Her mother always said that. "He's house broken so he definitely won't give you any trouble in that area. Besides if he has a dog house in the yard and the use of the garage when the weather's bad, he needn't come into the house at all." Molly's uncle could afford to hire help. "You could pay a teenager to walk him during the week, if you didn't have the time yourself. I know a friend's daughter who charges a dollar fifty a day for walking an elderly neighbor's dog. She also cleans the dog's dishes and sets out his food."

  Something flickered in Uncle Karl's eyes. Disinterest? Jessica wished she'd something more to hold him with. One inch long eyelashes. Legs like the model's. Fear inserted a quaver in her voice, "He'd be a fine friend."

  "I'd take care of him Uncle Karl," Molly clung earnestly to his large hand. "I'll give him a bath every week and you can have all my pocket money for feeding him. Mommy says she'll pay me more if I keep my room clean. I'll clean every day and give you that money too. You only have to keep him till we find a house. It won’t be for long. Please? Pretty please with macadamia nuts on it?"

  So he liked macadamia nuts. She would ship him ten pounds every month. If only he would take Arthur.

  Each moment of silence was a weighted force crushing hope. Jessica's heart sank. Maybe she'd been wrong about the mouth. Maybe the thought of the expense of paying someone to care for the dog was too much for Molly's uncle. The fact that he had money didn't necessarily mean he wanted to spend it.

  Behind her Jose Garcia was packing up, a definite hint that he couldn't let her have any more time. Five fifteen. Desperation clutched at Jessica's throat.

  "If lack of time is all that's worrying you, I can come by every evening, walk him, and put out his food," she said urgently. It was the least she could do for Arthur.

  "You won't have to do a thing, Uncle Karl," Molly seconded seriously, "Jessica and I will do it all."

  Jessica crossed her fingers behind her back.

  "I'll give you my number," she reiterated seriously, "That way if you ever need any help with him, you can call me. I have quite a bit of experience with dogs."

  Her eyes were fixed on Molly but her words were meant for Karl. Please, she appealed again to the powers that be, oh, please! Don't let him back out now.

  A long pause and then just as her heart began to scrunch up with the pain of disappointment she heard him say, "We'll take him."

  Her smile almost split her face. Molly squealed and wrapped herself around her uncle's waist. Jessica struggled with the impulse to follow suit.

  "I'm going to call you Arthur too," Molly announced surprising Jessica, "You belong to me now boy. You're never going to be lonely no more."

  No one noticed the double negative.

  Success was an unfurling rose, happiness the early morning dew on it. Tears of relief flooded Jessica's eyes again. Arthur had a home and a new owner whose heart matched his size. Karl Wagner, she was sure, would eventually grow to love the dog.

  Jose Garcia came up to them, the beaming smile on his face indicating how much he liked happy endings.

  "Jose Garcia with the L.A. county humane society sir. If you're sure about wanting the dog, I'll explain about costs and shots and so on."

  The humane society had a minimum charge of twenty dollars for the dogs adopted, based on the premise that people were more careful with something they paid for.

  "Karl Wagner," Molly's uncle shook the official's hand. "Yes I'm quite sure."

  Surreptitiously Jessica put a hand up to the corner of one eye to blot a tear. Stealing a glance upwards she saw Molly's uncle watching her and blushed. He looked at her for a long moment before follow
ing Jose Garcia to the folding table to take care of the paperwork.

  Jessica took a deep breath. The man's eyes were a lethal weapon against which she had no defense.

  "Dogs are a big responsibility." Jessica dragged her mind back to the present, launched into the speech they had been asked to include in their sales pitch. "It wouldn't be fair to take Arthur if you don't intend keeping him. Dogs get attached to people and if they're abandoned, they're heart broken."

  "I know." Molly nodded seriously, "My grandma is from England. She told me about Greyfriars Bobby, the dog who stayed on his master's grave for years and years. I won't ever give Arthur up."

  "Does your uncle have a big yard?"

  Molly nodded again. "Do you know where Jacaranda Meadows is?" she asked Jessica. "It's a new development right off the sixty freeway, about ten minutes from here. Uncle Karl bought a house there. He has a huge yard plus half a hillside,"

  Jessica blinked. Jacaranda Meadows was only five minutes away from her apartments. She'd gone there last year to look at the model homes when the development had won national acclaim as best master- planned community of the year. The estate homes with view lots were spectacular. Arthur was definitely moving up.

  "Will you come and help us pick out his things?" Molly asked. "I don’t know what he needs."

  The hair on Jessica's nape warned of Karl Wagner's return. She turned to watch lean strong fingers fold a piece of paper and put it into a leather wallet. Had he heard his niece's request?

  "We have to get a dish and some food, Uncle Karl," Molly informed her uncle. "Hurry before the pet store closes."

  "I'm ready Molly."

  "Will you come and help us?" Molly asked again.

  Jessica looked at Karl Wagner. Now that the decision was made he seemed reconciled to having Arthur. That was good. Given time he might even begin to care for the dog.

  "I can sit in the car with Arthur," he said, one side of his mouth quirked upwards, "and you two can pick out whatever he needs."

  Jessica hesitated. It was as much of an invitation as she was going to get from him. She squared her shoulders, said crisply, "There's a store quite close by. Let me give you directions. I'll meet you there."