Hayden, page 1
Hayden
International Bestselling Author
Olivia Marie
Copyright 2019 by Crazy Ink
Edits by Samantha Talarico
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
PROLOGUE
You can’t predict how your life will turn out. The plans we so carefully laid out could change in the blink of an eye. What you did with that is up to you. You could take what is given to you and make it the best you can, or you can hide yourself away from the world and watch as life passed you by.
I had never been good at standing out, but that was something I had no control over anymore. It was a choice I didn’t get to make and now, the life I knew was gone and in its place stood the shell I no longer recognized.
If I wasn’t able to pull it together soon, I would lose more than I had that day.
CHAPTER ONE
“Hayden, there you are. Good,” my boss Tracy yelled barreling toward me with her hands full of blankets. “We had a puppy mill shutdown today. Great news. Horrible timing. I have to find places for all forty-two dogs, and we are bursting at the seams already.”
“Forty-two?”
It wasn’t uncommon for us to get in a large number like that. Being out there just outside of the city, big busts like that were all too normal. The problem was, we just had another the week before. That would put us almost a hundred dogs over what the shelter could handle.
“Yes. I called in Rachel and Adam to help out for the next couple of hours.”
“What do you need from me first?”
“We got to most of the bigger dogs before the call came in. I need you to walk the last three on the back side, please. Oh,” she said turning to walk away with her armload of comfort. “Make sure they all have water and that the puppies haven’t made messes again.”
“On it.”
Heading to the large dog side of the shelter, I passed by crate after crate of terrified smaller dogs and puppies. Hugging the backs of the plastic kennels, they cried and shook. Most had never seen love or knew people could be good. Living lives in wire cages only to be bred over and over was the poor life they knew.
It broke my heart every time an animal came in with a background like that. Any sign of not having love made me want to pour my all into that one. I knew I would be pulling in extra hours even without pay because they were more important than the little money I made working there.
I made my way to the last of the kennels and stared at the beautiful creatures inside. Taz was a blue heeler mix and as wild as they came, but he had a lot of puppy in him yet. Minnie was anything but. The Labrador newfie mix came in at just under ninety pounds. She was mellow though and would be perfect for a family with children.
The last kennel in that row held the timid but loveably broken Oscar, a beautiful year old black and white border collie. He was dropped off by his owners two weeks ago because he needed medical attention and they refused to get it for him. It wasn’t an uncommon reason for a pet to be surrendered. The horrible part was finding out why he needed it in the first place When they did the x-ray on his hind leg, it was clear it wasn’t an accident that caused the tear in his knee.
I came in a few times a day to check on him when I wasn’t working. I had been the only one allowed to touch him so far. I wanted to bring him home with me, but the apartment I was renting only allowed service dogs. I needed to move to bring him home where he belonged. Four more weeks and that was exactly what I planned to do. He would be ready to leave by then and I would be in the new house. Until then, I would make sure he knew I would never leave him like his other family did.
It was an hour later when I got to Oscar. After taking the other two out, Tracy needed me to help set up the temporary kennels and bathe the new dogs. As many times as we had done that, we had a system, and all the dogs were cleaned up and rearranged in no time.
“I don’t get it,” Adam said when he wrapped the last little white dog in a towel. “They are always the sweetest dogs despite what they went through. How can people do it?”
“I don’t know. It’s what makes us different. We can’t think like they can.”
Adam was a giant at six foot five inches. His jet-black hair was curly and always looked like he just rolled out of bed. With his beard and tattoos, he could have passed as one of the monsters that fought the poor dogs. Until you looked into his eyes. There, you would melt. His heart shone through them and it was clear how big of a teddy bear he was. His boyfriend stood five inches shorter than him. His short, clean cut blond hair and black eyes were the complete opposite of Adam’s. Jack would do anything for him though and had. He was one of the people who surrounded themselves with animals and welcomed dog number four into his home last week. In many ways, I envied them and what they had.
“I know. I still hate it though.”
“I do too, Adam.”
“You can go. I will get the last of them settled before I head home,” he said to me and gently rocked the dog like a baby.
“I have to take Oscar out first.”
“How many weeks before you get him?” His smile reached across his face, and I couldn’t help but return it.
“Three weeks and four days.”
“But who’s counting?” he asked and laughed.
“Clearly not me.”
“Clearly. Jack and I can help you that day if you need it.”
“Thanks. I would love that.”
“Awesome.”
I turned away from him and made a mad dash for my boy.
I could hear his cast thumping on the floor before I saw him. He always knew when I was coming for him and as much as he needed not to, he couldn’t help but dance in excitement. I knew the feeling though. My heart sped up as I got closer to his kennel and by the time I reached him, we were both grinning.
“Hey, buddy. Ready to try that walk today?” He never barked, but his tail swooshed back and forth waiting for me to open the kennel door. As soon as it was open far enough, he ran to me and buried his face in my hands. I hated listening to him cry and wanted to take him with me sooner.
Clipping him to his leash wasn’t always easy when he was that excited, but as soon as it was on, his manners kicked in. I knew his last owner hadn’t trained him to behave; he was one of the special dogs that knew how on instinct. It only added to his charm and if people saw past the cast on his leg, I would have been in trouble.
Our walks were slow, and we never went far from the shelter, but it was something we both needed. The silence was peaceful, and it was our time to bond. More times than not, I felt like he knew me better than anyone even if he was only a dog.
We took the normal route up the hill and to the park. There was a small dirt trail that was easier for him to walk on. Making one loop around the lake, we turned to head back. It was the part of the day I hated the most.
“You’re still here?” I asked Adam and Tracy when I came back with Oscar.
“Yes. One of the smaller puppies isn’t sounding good. I’m waiting for the on-call vet to get here and look at her,” Tracy said. I could hear the struggle of the pup behind me as she tried to breathe.
Peeking into the crate, I saw a tiny black puppy curled around the teddy bear I was sure Adam had put in there with her.
“And I am waiting to see if I need to take her home for more one on one care,” Adam said.
“Careful. That is how you ended up with the last one,” I said and laughed.
“Well, I won’t keep her, but staying here won’t make her better.” He scowled at me before crossing his arms and sitting in the chair on the other side of Tracy’s desk.
“Yep. I’ve heard that before too,” Tracy said and winked at me. “How is he doing on the walks? You never let anyone else take him.”
“He is getting there. It’s slow to heal, but he is getting quicker around the lake.”
“All good things. Hopefully he will be ready about the time you are ready to take him home,” Tracy said.
“That’s how it starts. My first dog was a ‘he only needs a good home and only likes me’ situation.” Adam waved his finger at me, but I saw the fight to hide his smile in his eyes. He loved the fact I had found my first dog.
I needed the next few weeks to hurry. I wanted to take my boy home. They all deserved better than kennels, and I would make that happen for him.
CHAPTER TWO
The following Saturday was a madhouse at the shelter. All the dogs that had been cleared health and behavior wise were ready for adoption. The website to the shelter had put up applications for them on Thursday. They had over two hundred from all over who turned them in. Saturday would be meet and greets along with making sure the dogs were a good match for the people who passed the background check.
It was an all hands on deck day and we had every staff member and volunteer on. Despite the chaos, it ran smoothly because we all knew our places and what jobs were expected. With all the potential adopters coming, we started the day at seven. Tracy beat me there by only a minute and I saw her walk into the building as I pulled into the parking lot.
“You ready for this?” she a
“I hope so. These big events always zap me, but if we can find homes for a few it will be worth it.”
“I know. I’m happy we have a few more volunteers this time too.”
“Same.”
The last time we had a big adoption day like this was five months ago. We were understaffed and more people showed up than we expected. Knowing what we needed to do this time, it was lined up and I felt better prepared for the amount of people we would get in that day.
“If I give you some money, could you go to the store and get a few dozen donuts? I have coffee and brought juice, but I think if we start the morning meeting off feeding them, they will all be happier that we got them here so early.”
“I can do that.”
Rummaging through her purse, she began to take outchapstick lip gloss, car keys, hair ties, a chip clip, doggy bags, and a blue striped rubber duck before coming out with her wallet. For as organized as she kept the kennel, watching what came out of her purse always made me laugh.
“What?” she asked when she looked up with the money in her hand.
“How do you keep so much junk in that small bag?”
“It’s not easy, kid.”
Laughing at her, I shook my head and headed out the door. I would need to be back before seven and it was an easy thirty-minute trip there and back. That gave me about ten minutes to grab the donuts, pay, and go.
I pulled into the parking lot with five minutes to spare. The store was still dead that early in the morning, so I was able to grab two boxes of assorted donuts and go.
“That was fast,” Tracy said.
“Oh yeah. Donuts,” Adam sang behind me.
“All you think about is your stomach,” I teased.
“Not all,” he said back and shoved the glazed donut in his mouth.
“Okay. I wanted to talk to you two and Rachel before the others got here, but Rach is running a few minutes late. I have the board here with what I need them to be doing to get us ready by ten. I am putting each of you in charge of a small group. Adam, you will take the puppy pens. Feed, walk, and clean them. I will have Rachel do the cats when she gets here since she loves that room. Hayden, I need you in the dog room. You know them all so well you can get them what they need faster than the rest of us can. I will line up the applications per dog and go from there.”
“Sounds easy enough,” Adam said. Bits of donut flew out of his mouth and he quickly covered his face to hide the fact there was custard filling in his beard.
“It should be. You two know what to do. Any problems you can’t handle, come see me. Otherwise, I need you to handle the small things that will come up during this.”
Tracy was on top of all the things always. It wasn’t in her to not be able to see a problem and fix it as fast as she could. The way she orchestrated it all never made you feel like you were told what to do; she had the true leadership qualities I wanted but lacked.
I was much better about taking the order than giving it. I could joke around with them about some things, but to be in charge of all she was terrified me.
The groups of volunteers began to pile in the same time Rachel got there. It was a straight up chaotic mess for about five minutes.
After getting their assignments, we broke off into the groups Tracy had assigned. I had three others there to help me with the second largest population of the kennel. The cats were always number one as far as how many we had at one time.
“Lanie and Jasmine, I need you to get their food ready and make sure their water bowls are cleaned out and filled with fresh water. This is going to stress some of them out and I wanted them taken care of before the noise and people show up. Tamra, can you potty and clean kennels with me?”
“Sure I can. I don’t mind doing that at all,” Tamra said and practically skipped in front of me.
“I will take the first and last rows if you can take the middle two.”
“Sounds good. Let’s go.”
It took us almost the full three hours to get all the work done that needed to be done before the adoption event opened. Looking outside an hour before the doors opened for the day, I saw the line of people ready to meet their new best friends. It was the days like that, even through the craziness, I loved my job the most. It was worth it all to see a new family adopt an animal that wouldn’t have made it otherwise.
“Ready?” Tracy asked coming up behind me. I jumped when her hand hit my shoulder. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Didn’t see you coming up.”
“Because you are a million miles away today. You alright?”
“What if someone wants Oscar? Do I let him go so he doesn’t have to sit here another day, or do I wait because I know I am good for him?”
“You ask me this every day. Tell you what. I will take him home with me at night and bring him back to see you during the day until you can take him home. It’s only for a few weeks anyway.”
“You would do that for him?”
“And you. I know where he belongs. It isn’t with another family. It’s with you.”
I hugged her and tried not to cry.
“Go put a hold tag on him before someone does put in an app.”
“Going.” I ran to his kennel with the bright green tag that said adoption pending on it. “Soon, baby boy.”
I made it back out there and was ready for the doors to open knowing he was safe and would be mine.
“Ready, kiddo?” Adam asked when I came back out to the main lobby.
“I’m ready,” I said and gave him a real smile.
“Good. Here we go then.”
“Yep.”
“You’re all smiles. Why?”
“Oscar has a hold tag. Tracy is going to take him home for me until I move.”
“Congratulations. We have to celebrate later.”
“We’ll see. This will wipe me out.”
“You’ll do fine.”
“Thanks, Adam.”
Tracy unlocked the doors and Adam gave my hand a small squeeze. It was time to make this great day perfect. Our goal was fifty of the one hundred and three dogs we had in the shelter to be adopted that day. I had my fingers crossed we would hit that and then some.
CHAPTER THREE
The lines of people to meet the dogs never seemed to end. It was a steady stream of humans with all the noise and disruption that came with them. I knew it was important for the adoptions to let them in like that, but it always felt like an invasion of my only safe space. I counted down the minutes for them to leave and to be able to get back to being alone with the dogs.
Not my real friends, Tracy and Adam were as close as I had. We didn’t hang out much outside of the shelter, but I knew they cared a little.
I moved here two years ago to get away from my parents. They were controlling to the point I was inspected before leaving the house each morning and again when I got home. I couldn’t fully blame them though. When my sister got into drugs and then overdosed in their bathroom, they freaked out a little. It wasn’t that they didn’t care; sometimes I thought they cared too much. Being shut away from everyone from the time I was twelve to when I moved out made it painfully awkward to be around people. When I found a job that worked with animals, it made all the other things easier.
I made myself invisible to everyone by becoming a master at hiding in the shadows. The days like adoption events only made my reservations of people that much more noticeable. It took all I had to get through them and after, it wasn’t unusual for me to collapse in one of the kennels curled up with a dog.
Adam and Tracy tried but never fully understood it. They were both outgoing and social in every group you could have thought of. They thrived on the interactions of other people where it made me physically sick.
Adam was boisterous and could friend anyone immediately. None of his relationships were fake like some; he truly loved everyone he met. His partner was more like me and reserved. Adam and Jack balanced each other perfectly. They were the couple that would make it to the end.
Tracy was a lot like Adam, only she had her core group of friends that she stuck with. She was friendly with everyone, but those she held close were her family. I think she was the way she was because she grew up in foster care. She had never gone into details about what happened to her parents, but she wasn’t with them after the age of four. She knew her mom was black, and her dad was white, and they were teens when they had her, but that was all she ever told me.
