by Heidi Lang
When she got to the park, she stretched and began warming up. A few minutes later, Max showed up. Jessie wasn’t surprised. Half of her had been expecting him to be there already. She was surprised, however, when he walked over. He had to have heard about her theft of Hazel. He probably hated her as much as she used to hate him. Because she realized, as she watched him, that she didn’t hate him anymore. She was too sad for that. Now when she looked at him, she felt nothing at all.
“Hey, Jess.” He stopped a few feet away from her, then took off his hat and turned it backward.
“What do you want?” Jessie asked.
“To play you in soccer.” Max grinned. He still had a cute smile, but looking at it didn’t make Jessie’s stomach flutter anymore. “Look, I know you didn’t steal that dog. I might be stupid, but I’m not that stupid.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid. Well, maybe a little stupid,” she amended. “I mean, you were dating Loralee . . .”
He winced.
Jessie thought about her enemy and sighed. “Speaking of, she has been a lot nicer lately.”
Max’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“I guess so.”
An awkward silence stretched between them.
“Jessie, I’m sorry,” Max finally said. “I think you’re really fun, and funny, and I liked being your friend. I’m sorry I ruined that.”
“I’m sorry, too. About your mom. And Hazel. And everything.”
“Here’s an idea . . .” he said slowly, carefully, like he was walking on a tightrope over boiling lava. “How about we play for it? If I beat you, we forget about the stupid things I did and start over?”
Jessie thought about it. She remembered how hurt she’d been, learning that Max was just getting information out of her. Or all the times she’d planned to meet him at the park and he’d stood her up. But she also remembered how much fun she’d had playing soccer with him. Did she want to be friends? She chewed her lip. Wes was right; everyone did leave you eventually. But sometimes they came back. Like Ann. Ann, who had ended up being there for her when she really needed it.
But Max? She’d already forgiven him, again and again. What had he done to earn yet another chance? She looked at him, at this boy she’d thought of all summer. “You know what’s great about dogs?” she asked.
Max blinked. “What?”
“They are so very forgiving. But even though I want to be a dog, I can’t be. No matter how many Rules I master.” Even as she said those words, she realized the truth: Despite Wes’s claim, the Rules of the Ruff would never teach her how to be a dog. But maybe they’d taught her a little something about how to be a person.
Max tilted his head, confusion filling his big brown eyes.
Jessie felt calm and confident. She was aware of her surroundings, both inside and out. And this time, she knew when to leave it. “Good-bye, Max,” she said. “Maybe next summer, I’ll play you. But for now, I think I’d rather drill alone.”
She turned and walked away.
CHAPTER 37
Jessie spent the rest of the week drilling on her own in the park and hanging out with Ann. Occasionally, she even spent time with Loralee, who was still doing her best to be “civil.” Unfortunately, Loralee’s best wasn’t really all that good, but by now Jessie could see the end of summer looming, and it didn’t really matter.
And while Jessie did miss her dog friends, she also realized how nice it was to focus on soccer and not have to worry about getting them out. And she definitely didn’t miss all the poop scooping. In a lot of ways, life was much easier now.
Sometimes she’d see Wes or Monique walking dogs in the distance, but they never approached her, and she never went up to them, either; whenever she thought about visiting Wes, she’d remember the hurt in his eyes when she took Hazel back, and she just couldn’t.
But the day before she was supposed to go home, she finally gathered up all her courage and went over there.
Jessie couldn’t help remembering all the times she’d stood here on this doorstep, just like this. And as she knocked, she felt the echo of those other times vibrating beneath her fist.
Wes slowly opened his door. “I wondered when you’d be by.”
Jessie shrugged. “I just, I came to say good-bye. And to return this.” She held out her purple hip pack, but Wes didn’t move to take it.
“That’s yours, kiddo. You earned it fair and square.”
“But I’m not a dog walker anymore.”
“Did you learn the Rules of the Ruff?”
“I think so,” Jessie said.
“Then you’re a dog walker. You’ll always be a dog walker. In here.” He tapped his heart, then pointed at hers.
For some reason, that made her feel much better. She slung her hip pack over her shoulder. “I figured it out, by the way,” she said. “The real meaning behind the Rules. They’re not just for dealing with dogs.”
Wes frowned. “What are you talking about? Of course, they’re just for dogs.”
“And people.” Jessie grinned proudly, but Wes’s frown was like marble. “Right?” she asked, some of her certainty leaking away.
“Listen, kid, I wouldn’t waste my time making up rules for dealing with people.”
“You . . . made them up?” she whispered.
“Obviously I made them up. Where did you think they came from? Did you think they were some ancient dog-walker wisdom passed down through the ages?”
Jessie squirmed. That was exactly what she’d thought. “No,” she lied.
Wes laughed and slapped his knee. “You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I’m going to miss having an assistant.”
“Good luck getting another one,” Jessie grumbled. Was everything he’d taught her a lie?
But then she thought back to all the times the Rules had helped her. Maybe . . . maybe they really were ancient dog-walker wisdom, only he wasn’t allowed to admit it. That made a lot more sense than the idea that Wes had just invented them all summer.
“Anyhow, kid, I’m actually glad you came by,” Wes said, his good humor fading. “I wanted to say thanks. Not just for being my assistant but for doing the right thing when I couldn’t.”
Jessie froze. “You mean . . . Hazel?”
“Of course I mean Hazel. I don’t know what I was thinking.” His shoulders slumped. “I’ve already talked to Diana, by the way. Admitted the whole thing.”
“You what?” Here Jessie had covered for him, and he’d gone and told the truth anyhow?
“I had to. A dog wouldn’t have lied like that.” He sighed. “Besides, Diana deserved the truth.” He tapped the door frame idly, like his fingers were moving in time with his thoughts.
“Is she still going to let you watch Hazel?” Jessie asked quietly.
Wes’s fingers stilled. “No,” he said, just as quietly. “No, that’s pretty much done.”
Jessie nodded. She wanted to cry, but this sadness inside her was too heavy for tears. It reminded her of when her dad talked about before, and then stopped suddenly, her mother’s name hanging unspoken around them. Jessie wanted to ask what her mother had been like when she was younger, wanted to see pictures of her from their wedding, hear stories about how they met. But her tongue was always burdened then by the same weight she felt now.
Still, at least she had her dad, and her dad had her. Wes really would be alone now. Even if he had all his other dogs again, without Hazel . . .
“Did I tell you Diana and I used to work together?” Was asked suddenly.
Jessie shook her head.
He smiled. “We were hired together. Back in my old life, before Sarah . . . well.” He sighed. “She kept in touch when I left the engineering firm, when my life fell apart. I’m still not sure why, what she sees . . . what she saw in me.”
“Are . . . are you getting back together with your ex-wife?”
Wes shook his head. “We have dinner together every year on the anniversary of our divorce. It’s a miserable
tradition, but it makes Sarah happy.” He frowned. “Apparently it didn’t make Diana very happy. Ah well. It’s for the best. Relationships are too messy. Take my advice, kid, and stay far away from them. In fact . . .” He pulled something small and round out of his pocket and tossed it at Jessie. “That’s for you.”
She caught it, startled. It was the size of the palm of her hand and heavier than it looked. A magnet, white with familiar maroon letters. “Dogs. Because People Suck.”
“If I’ve taught you nothing else this summer, I’m sure I’ve taught you that.” He tilted his head and smiled at her. “But maybe not all people.”
“Thank you.” Jessie clutched the magnet closer to her.
Wes nodded, then closed the door in her face, but gently for once.
CHAPTER 38
Honk! Honk!
“That’s my ride.” Jessie grinned and shouldered her backpack and duffel.
“I’ll walk you out,” Ann said.
“Hey, hey, there’s my girl!” Jessie’s dad called when he saw her. Jessie squealed and dropped her bags, then flew forward to give him a big hug. She’d almost forgotten how tall her dad was, and how solid he felt as he picked her up and swung her around.
“I missed you,” she said.
“I missed you, too, Jess.” He set her down and kissed the top of her head, then laughed as Ann struggled over with the dropped bags. “Thanks, Ann. You keeping out of trouble?”
“Always, Uncle James.”
“Unlike my daughter, eh?”
Jessie winced. She was hoping she could tell her dad the truth about everything later, once she’d left Elmsborough far behind. She didn’t really want to discuss it now.
“Look at that face,” her dad laughed, tapping her on the chin. “I have just the thing to wipe that expression clean off.” He opened the back seat and pulled out . . .
“A kennel?” Jessie felt like there was no air in her lungs, or maybe too much air. “A . . . dog kennel?”
Grinning, her dad opened the kennel, and pulled out a little black-furred dog, one with pointed ears and a white snout and the biggest, brownest eyes Jessie had ever seen. With the exception of one dog.
Jessie dropped to her knees, and her dad put the pup in her arms.
“Ooowooo?” The pup snuffled at her face with a little wolfy snout.
“A Klee Kai? You got me a Klee Kai?”
“Cutest dog ever, eh?”
Jessie hugged her dog, laughing as the pup squirmed and licked her on the face. Her heart felt so big right now, so full. She pictured it as the ocean, the world, the universe. “I thought you said I wasn’t ready for a dog.”
“We-ell,” her dad said, “I got a phone call the other day. Some guy named Wes.”
“Wes called you?”
“He sure did. Apparently there aren’t that many James Jamisons out there, so I was easy to find. He told me he had to set the record straight.” Her dad crouched down beside her. “And he did. Honey, I think you might not have done the best thing, but you did what you thought was right, and you accepted the consequences of your actions. I’m so proud of you.” He ruffled her short hair.
Jessie sniffed and looked down at her new pup, her eyes blurring. “What’s her name?”
“Whatever you want it to be.” He paused. “Originally, though, her name was Rosi.”
“Rosi.” Jessie studied the pup. “Rosi Ruff,” she decided.
“Nice alliteration.” Her dad beamed.
Jessie’s heart squeezed. She looked at her new dog. A dog who would need a lot of time, and attention, and love. Was she really ready to give all of that up? And not just for a walk or two?
“What’s this?” Her dad picked something up off the ground. “Hmm. Nice magnet. Not sure I agree with the sentiment, though.”
Jessie glanced down. Her dad was holding the magnet Wes had given her; it must have fallen out of her pocket when she picked up Rosi. She looked at him, at the smile lines around his eyes, the mustache in need of a trim, the baggy basketball T-shirt he wore, so similar to her own, and she knew Wes had it all wrong: Some people never left you.
She took the magnet back from her dad and understood what she had to do.
Five minutes later, she’d said good-bye to Ann and was on her way.
“Are you sure about this?” her dad asked, frowning.
“I’m sure. I’m sorry, Dad, but I’m sure.”
They parked, and Jessie got out of the car, Rosi’s kennel clutched firmly in both hands. She knocked at Wes’s door, one final time.
He opened it, his eyes widening. “Jessie?” He looked out at the car, where Jessie’s dad was waiting.
“You taught me the first five Rules of the Ruff,” Jessie said quickly. “But I also learned a sixth Rule.” She took a deep breath. “All dogs come into your life for a reason.”
Wes frowned down at her. “What do you mean?”
She thrust the kennel at him, and he took it automatically.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Open it.”
Already, Rosi was getting antsy in there, poking her nose out. “Ooowooo?”
Wes’s fingers shook as he set the kennel down, opened it, and picked Rosi up and held her. “What’s her name?”
“Rosi Ruff.”
Wes grinned. “Terrible alliteration.”
Jessie swallowed. “That’s exactly what I thought you’d say,” she whispered. She took a deep breath, then said the words. “She’s yours.”
Wes’s grin faded. He stared at her.
“Someone once told me that owning a dog is a big responsibility. I think you’re ready for that now.” Jessie reached forward and ran a finger down Rosi’s little wolfy head. “Take good care of her.”
She took a step back, then another. Wes stood there, frozen, the pup in his hands, but he didn’t try to give her back, and after a minute, Jessie knew he wasn’t going to. He would keep her and give her a better home than Jessie could. The best home. And in return, Rosi would make sure he wasn’t alone anymore.
She turned to go, then stopped. “You know, you might consider working with Monique.”
Wes blinked. “What?”
“I mean, you’re much better with dogs than she is, but she’s pretty good with the other stuff. The people stuff. You could team up.”
Wes scowled. “I work alone.”
“You worked with me all summer. It wasn’t so terrible, was it?”
His expression softened. “I guess I did kind of get used to having an assistant.”
Jessie knew that was the best she was going to get, so she left him there, cradling his new dog.
She would get her own dog someday; she was sure of it. Just as she was sure dogs, like people, really did come into your life for a reason.
As she watched Elmsborough drop away in the car window, she thought of everything she’d learned, both the big Rules and the little tricks Wes had taught her. “You know, there are probably lots of dogs in our new neighborhood, right?” she said.
“Uh-huh,” her dad replied absently.
“Dogs that need walks?”
“What are you thinking?” he asked slowly.
“I’m thinking . . . I might want to start my own business.” And she gave him her very best smile. The one that wore down stones and filled oceans.
Acknowledgments
My two favorite things in all the world are dogs and writing, and I owe a million thanks to my husband, Sean Lang, who first suggested combining the two, and to all my GoDogz, who taught me the Rules of the Ruff. Also to the Santa Cruz dog-walking community—thank you for being so welcoming and supportive.
A huge shout-out to Ben Baxter, Jessie’s very first fan, and Jennifer Azantian, the best agent a girl and her dog story could hope for. Also thank you to my wonderful editors, Erica Finkel and Masha Gunic. All of you helped shape this story in ways I never could have imagined, and I am forever grateful for all your feedback and support.
To the rest of
the team at Abrams who helped make this book a reality: Alyssa Nassner, Josh Berlowitz, Kyle Moore, Tessa Meischeid, Nicole Schaefer, Jenny Choy, Melanie Chang, Andrew Smith, Jody Mosley, Mary Wowk, Elisa Gonzalez, and Rebecca Schmidt; thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this. Also to Julia Bereciartu, for your delightful illustrations.
Thank you to all the wonderful writers who have helped along the way, including Alan Wehrman, Moanna Whipple, and Teresa Yea, my awesome beta readers, as well as Miles Zarathustra, Colleen Smith, Meg M., and Joan McMillan, the rest of my tremendous critique group. And to my family: my parents, Rich and Rose; my in-laws, Lyn and Bruce; my sisters, Kati and Rosi; and my brothers, Nick, Ed, and Jesse, I’m glad you’re all part of my pack.
And finally, to all my fellow dog walkers, who know how impossibly hard and endlessly rewarding this job can be—this one’s for you.
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