by J. J. Howard
I sat down across from him in the living room. “Not that great, actually. We had kind of a setback.”
“The lost dog? Your mom told me about it. But, Kat … I do wish that you had told me.”
I nodded but didn’t look up at him. I was playing with the tassel on one of Mom’s decorative pillows.
“Kat?” Dad prompted.
“It’s hard to talk to you sometimes,” I finally managed to say. “When you’re away.”
“Oh,” Dad said after a pause. “I can understand that,” he went on. “It’s hard for me, too. Especially to hear about things going on in your life and not be around for them.”
“I get that,” I said.
“Kat, I was glad to see the play you girls worked so hard on. But it’s not the real reason I came back.” He let out a breath before going on. “Your mom told me about you firing Lucy.”
My head flew up. “She did?”
“Yes. She did. Your mom said something to me on the phone, and, Kat, it was like a knife to my gut. She said that she was afraid that you were turning out to be too much like me.” Dad’s eyes looked kind of bright. I’d only seen him cry a handful of times. It felt strange to see him so upset and to hear him talk so honestly to me. “And that’s when I called my boss and said I wanted a demotion.”
“What?” I asked, feeling my eyes widen in surprise. “You did?”
Dad nodded. “The amount of travel I’ve been doing came along with the promotion I got two years ago. So, I asked for my old job back, and she said yes.”
“Dad, are you serious?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It kind of sounded like Dad had come to the exact same conclusion that I had: deciding to choose the people he loved over his business.
“Totally serious,” Dad said. “It’s only a small pay cut, and the best thing is, I’ll be home a lot more now.” Dad looked and sounded relieved.
Once the shock wore off, I launched myself at him and gave him a huge hug.
“Good news?” Dad asked.
I wiped at my eyes. “Yes. These are happy tears. Good news. Very, very good news.”
* * *
The next couple of weeks were full of good things. Dad was home, and not going on another trip for six weeks, which was basically forever—and it was a short one, like he used to take in the old days. Lucy and I were best friends again, and Taz wasn’t mad at me anymore, either. And Declan and I were, well, I supposed we were boyfriend and girlfriend now. Although we hadn’t said the words out loud, we held hands in the hallway, sat together every day at lunch, sometimes walked Sparky together after school, and texted in the evenings until one of our parents took our phones away. Taz and Lucy were totally supportive of the relationship—Lucy wasn’t even remotely jealous, only excited for me. And Taz said, “Just don’t start kissing in front of us at any Four Paws meetings.”
Even without my presentation at the Tenants’ Association meeting, Four Paws business seemed to be doing pretty well again. Now that the play was over, Taz had time to create new flyers, so we’d even gotten some new clients.
The only bad thing in all the good? Meatball was leaving New York in a matter of days. With the family getting ready for the move, I’d been taking Meatball on almost all his walks. I tried not to count down in my head to the final time, but I kept doing it anyway. One day, we just sat in the park on a bench while I cried on his fur. Two different strangers had stopped to ask me what was wrong.
So that night, when both Mom and Dad were at dinner, I brought up my greatest wish one more time.
“Mom, Dad,” I said, and they both looked surprised that I sounded so serious. “Four Paws has gotten some clients back. And I have continued to take great care of everyone’s dogs.”
“You don’t have to tell us all of that, Kat,” Mom said. “We know you’re a responsible kid.”
“And we’re so proud of you for pursuing something you’re passionate about,” Dad added.
“Thanks,” I said. “So … can we get a dog for Christmas?”
Mom and Dad looked at each other with guarded expressions. “It’s a possibility,” Dad said.
“That’s not a yes,” Micki grumbled.
“It’s not a no, either,” Mom pointed out.
I’d told myself I wouldn’t pull this guilt card, but it spilled out of me. “It’s just, with Meatball leaving … it’s hard to imagine loving another dog as much as him, but I know I would love our dog with all my heart.”
“Oh, Kat,” Mom said, placing her hand on mine. “I know you’re sad about Meatball. We’ll see, okay? We’ll see.”
* * *
On Saturday, Meatball’s next-to-last day, Declan and I were hanging out in his living room, playing with Sparky. His dad was in the spare room he used as his studio, and his music traveled down the hall.
Declan rolled his eyes. “Angsty nineties rock. The sound track to my life, whether I want to hear it or not.”
I giggled and scratched Sparky’s pale little belly. She let out a happy bark. She was getting so big now—hardly a puppy anymore.
“So it sounds like you might get your own dog for Christmas,” Declan said. I’d filled him in on my conversation with my parents, of course.
“I hope so. My parents haven’t officially said yes yet. But they seem more open to the idea than before.”
“Fingers crossed,” Declan said. “I’m sure Sparky would love to have a doggie friend she could play with all the time.”
I smiled, thinking a little sadly about how well Sparky and Meatball got along.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out. My mom had texted our emergency family code: the word now in all caps with four exclamation points.
I jumped up. “I have to go. When my mom texts this, it’s some kind of emergency. Man, I hope it’s nothing bad! Mostly everything’s been going so amazing lately.”
“Mostly?” Declan asked, pulling me in for a hug.
“You know very well you’re in the going-amazing category, Declan Ward.”
“Yeah, I know,” he said. He pulled me closer again and gave me a quick kiss. “Text me an update. Okay?”
“Okay,” I said. “Bye, Sparky!”
She gave a short bark, and I headed out the door. When I got back to my apartment, I knocked and thought I heard barking, but it must have been my imagination.
Mom answered the door. “You forget your key?”
I nodded. “Yeah, sorry.”
“Well, come on in. Your dad and I have something to show you.”
“Where’s Micki?” I asked.
“She’s at her friend Grace’s, remember? Besides, we wanted to talk to you first about this.”
“Okay …” I said, feeling a little nervous. Why was Mom being so weird?
“There’s been a change of plans,” Dad said when I walked into the living room. “We were planning to get a puppy for you in December.”
Oh no. I’d jinxed myself just a few minutes ago, talking to Declan. Now my parents were about to tell me that the getting-a-dog deal was off. I’d been foolish to hope.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Well, another dog became … available,” Dad said.
My ears perked up at that. I thought I’d heard barking. Was my new dog here, now?
“What do you mean, ‘available’?” I asked, my heart pounding.
“Well, we knew you wanted a black pug. And it turns out, they aren’t all that common,” Mom said. “I don’t know if you realize that. But actually, this dog isn’t a puppy at all. And we spoke to his owners, and it seems they’re moving and can’t bring the dog to their new home …”
I felt a kernel of hope bloom in my chest. Could it be possible that my parents were talking about … my Meatball?
“Do you mean … ?” I asked, my voice coming out breathless.
Mom nodded. She looked over at Dad. “Yes. Sarah Thompson came to visit the other day. She and Dan were talking about the move and how stressed the family has been. She was real
ly worried about taking Meatball in the car the whole way, and isn’t sure they can really handle acclimating him to a new place, and … anyway, they think it’s best for Meatball if they don’t move him to Chicago.”
“Oh my gosh,” I whispered.
Mom beamed at me. “Sarah told us that no one cares for or loves Meatball like you do. She said she knew it was a long shot, but before she tried to re-home him somewhere else she wanted to at least ask us.”
I stood frozen in shock, barely daring to believe it. But then Dad walked back toward my room and emerged leading Meatball on his leash. Dad had to let go when my boy caught sight of me. Meatball barreled toward me, and I launched onto the floor and scooped him up into my arms. I kissed his ears and the sides of his face and got tons of sloppy tongue kisses in return. I was laughing and crying all at the same time.
“I guess she’s excited,” Dad said to Mom.
“I guess so,” Mom said.
I looked up at my parents and grinned. “Thank you,” I said. “Oh, thank you! I’ll take such good care of him.”
“We know you will. You and Micki will,” Dad added with a laugh.
* * *
Mom and Dad left me alone with my new dog for a few minutes. I gazed into his deep brown eyes and couldn’t believe he was really going to be my dog forever.
I thought of another line from Our Town, about how the stars make their crisscross journeys around the sky. Life was like that, too, I guessed. Dad was back mostly to stay, but now the Thompsons were leaving. Declan had come to the Burgundy, and now I couldn’t imagine life without him. Lucy, Taz, and I were best friends again, and Meatball, whom I thought I’d lost for good, well, he was home to stay. Forever.
Now I had seven wonderful Paws in my life, I thought as I cuddled Meatball close. Lucy, Taz, Declan, and all four adorable paws on my little Meatball.
And who knew? Maybe Micki would join Four Paws once she was a little older. It would be a lot of fun, sharing Meatball with her. And Brooke, whom I’d talked to the other day at school, had mentioned that she’d be spending more time with her mom who lived in the neighborhood. So she might become a part-time Paw, too. The business was growing.
I’d been so anxious about trying to make the business a success, but now I wasn’t nervous anymore: Whatever happened with Four Paws, I knew it would all turn out okay. After all, that’s the real secret to a great business, if you ask me. Great friends.
Meatball gave me another sloppy kiss and I giggled.
Well, great friends … and adorable dogs.
Turn the page for a sneak peek at The Love Pug!
January 1: Cupid has special powers!
As soon as I’d written the words, I frowned. A big blot of ink had leaked from my pen and marred the very first page of my brand-new journal. I could almost hear my friend Theo’s voice in my head, teasing me for using an ink pen. But I loved old-fashioned things, even if they took a bit more time. And sometimes made more of a mess, I thought as I dabbed at the ink with a tissue.
My adorable pug, Cupid, let out a bark from where he sat on my bedroom floor. I’d been writing at my desk, but I turned around to pull my dog up into my lap. I stroked his soft ears, admiring his tan fur and sweet, wrinkly black muzzle.
“Do you have special powers?” I asked Cupid, gazing into his wide dark eyes. He let out a snuffling sound as if to say, Why, yes, I do, Emma.
I nodded. It might have been the only explanation for what had happened earlier that day.
My best friend, Hallie, and I had been walking with Cupid down the street to visit my former babysitter, Annie Taylor. Annie is in high school, and she’d offered to help Hallie prepare for the middle school cheer squad auditions.
It was cold and sunny, which is my favorite weather, but Hallie had not been so happy.
“It’s freezing,” Hallie groaned, nestling herself deeper inside her puffy coat. “Shouldn’t we be hibernating on New Year’s Day?”
“Okay, gloomy-pants,” I told her. “Why can’t you be more like Cupid? See how much he’s enjoying this awesome weather?”
We both looked down at Cupid, who was walking along between us with a definite spring in his step.
“Yeah, well, I think his coat’s warmer than mine,” Hallie said, and I couldn’t argue with that. Cupid was wearing his warmest outfit—a deep red down jacket trimmed with faux rabbit fur that I’d dressed him in that morning.
“How come you’re so grumpy today?” I asked Hallie. Even though I was usually the more cheerful one of the two of us, Hallie didn’t usually seem this blue.
She sighed. “I guess I’m just not sure about this whole cheer-squad-tryout thing. I mean, I still don’t even know if I want to be on the team.”
“Come on, Hallie, you’re going to be great!” I told her confidently. “And with Annie’s help, you’ll be a lock at the tryouts. She’s the team captain at the high school.”
“I know, Ems. You’ve only told me nine thousand times. But that’s not what I was saying …”
Just then, Cupid began barking excitedly, which was unusual for him. He’s more of a laid-back sniffer than a barker, unless he’s agitated or very happy.
I looked up to see a moving van parked in front of the house next door to Annie’s. She must have been getting new neighbors. I realized that Cupid was barking at the teenage boy who had just pulled a chair out from the back of the truck.
Cupid tugged on his leash, which he also never did. I yelped in surprise as the leash slipped out of my gloved hand. Then Cupid shot straight toward the boy.
“Cupid!” I yelled, racing after him.
The boy put down the chair and scooped up Cupid. My pug immediately started giving the boy a series of sloppy licks right on his face. I turned to Hallie in surprise. That was three strange things Cupid had just done, right in a row. Even though he’s very affectionate, he doesn’t normally “kiss” strangers. He mainly reserves his face licks for me or my neighbor Theo.
Annie, no doubt hearing the commotion, opened her front door and stepped outside. As soon as he saw her, Cupid started to squirm in the boy’s arms. The boy let him go, saying to me, “I’m sorry—I was afraid he was going to jump down.”
“It’s okay,” I called, and changed direction, since Cupid was now running straight for Annie. When she saw him on the loose, she started running too, and soon we were all standing in a circle, with Annie holding my very naughty dog, and getting some Cupid face kisses of her own.
Annie giggled. “Emma, your dog is out of control.”
“Not usually,” I told her, shaking my head, still confused about his odd behavior.
“Hi,” the boy said. “I’m Mateo. We’re just moving in.” He pointed to the house next door to Annie’s.
Annie looked up at him (she had to look up because he—Mateo—was very tall … and very cute) and I swear, the look on her face made it seem like she’d just been struck by lightning.
“I’m Annie,” she told Mateo, her voice sounding a little breathless.
The way she was looking at Mateo—and the way he was looking back at her—made me wonder … did they like each other? I glanced at Hallie, and her smile told me she was wondering the same thing.
I knew Annie didn’t have a boyfriend. In a classic move, head cheerleader Annie had dated the quarterback of the high school’s football team for two years, but since the breakup with Nate, she had been single.
I looked at my little pug in Annie’s arms, and I could almost swear he … winked at me. Or maybe he was just blinking. But Cupid had been the one to bring Annie and Mateo together.
Wait a minute. Was he living up to his name?
I stepped forward to take my pug from Annie so she could focus on getting to know Mateo. Though clearly someone needed to actually start the conversation, because they were both just staring at each other.
“Welcome to Highbury, Mateo,” I said brightly. “I’m Emma, and this is my best friend, Hallie. Where did you move from?”
> Mateo shook his head, like he was remembering where he was, and turned to look at me. “We just moved from Baltimore,” he said.
“Wow,” Hallie said. “Highbury’s going to be a huge change for you, then.”
Highbury, Pennsylvania, is a very small town—but that’s part of why I love it so much. Technically I was born in another town (there’s no hospital right in Highbury), but besides that, I’ve lived here all my life. I’ve gone to school with almost all the same kids since kindergarten, and I know every part of the town as well as I know my own name. And I love that you don’t even really need a car in Highbury—you can walk basically everywhere.
“Highbury is the most wonderful place in the world,” I jumped in to tell Mateo.
An idea started forming in my mind. I glanced from Annie back to Mateo. “In fact, to fully appreciate it, you should have a local show you around. Annie, maybe you could help?”
“Oh,” Annie said, blushing. “Sure. Are you starting at the high school tomorrow?” she asked Mateo, who nodded.
“I’m a senior,” he said. “Still haven’t forgiven my parents for moving in the middle of the year.”
“Oh no!” Annie said, her eyes going round. “I’m sorry. But Emma’s right—Highbury really is a great place, and I’ll introduce you to everyone at school. I’m a senior too,” she added. “You’ll have so many friends before you know it, I promise!”
Cupid gave a short bark of agreement, and we all laughed.
A loud voice came from the driveway next door. “Were you just gonna dip out of the rest of this unloading nightmare or what?” The boy hollering at Mateo was clearly his younger brother. He looked just like him, only shorter.
Mateo frowned at the other boy. “I was meeting some of our neighbors, Stain.”
I frowned. His name was Stain?
The boy wandered over to us. “Hi,” he said. “I’m Frankie Castillo. I see you’ve met my lazy big brother already.”
I almost laughed at myself for not realizing right away that stain had been a big-brother insult.
“I’m Emma,” I said, “and this is Hallie, and Annie. Oh, and Cupid. Welcome to Highbury!”