Last Chances

by Jeanne Bannon

  “Coffee? Tea?” Hayden asked as he walked to the kitchen with Pressley on his heels.

  He pulled out a chair for her. “Sit.”

  She took a seat and answered his questions with a quick shake of her head. “Do you want something? Have you eaten?”

  Hayden sat opposite her. “I’m good. I had a sandwich with my painkillers.” He picked up the prescription bottle sitting on the kitchen table and gave it a shake. “Take with food.”

  He was wearing gray track pants with holes in the knees and a faded black T-shirt and he knew he looked as if he’d been sleeping. “Am I disturbing you? Maybe you need some rest?”

  “No! I’m happy you’re here.”

  “I never could have imagined this would happen. All I did was let him out into the yard. He’d been sleeping a long time and when he woke up, I figured he’d have to pee. He was fine with me. Didn’t give me the slightest sense that I should be wary of him, but as soon as he was outside, after sniffing around a bit, he took off running to the end of the yard and jumped over the fence! It didn’t cross my mind that he’d do that. I should have called you sooner, but I was frantic, looking for him everywhere.” A smile curled her lips. “At least he’s safe now. When I get him home, I’ll only take him out on a leash and keep him crated. It makes sense since he’s used to his crate at the shelter. Of course, I’ll make it homier, more comfortable. I’ll put in a bunch of toys and—”

  Hayden put a hand on hers. “You can’t take him home, Pressley.”

  Her eyes grew to the size of silver dollars. “What? Why not?”

  “He’s a dangerous animal. He’s unadoptable.” Hayden felt the burn of tears and blinked them away. He wanted more than anything to kiss the beautiful woman in front of him. The woman whose heart he’d just ripped out. But he wouldn’t dare. He continued, “Jasper should never have gone home with you. Everything’s my fault.” He held his arm up. “Even this. If I hadn’t pushed so hard to find that dog a home, he would never have jumped your fence, and he never would have bitten me. I’m sorry.”

  She stood up, a complex look of confusion, sadness, and anger played on her face. “You don’t have to apologize for anything, Hayden. I’m really, really sorry about what Jasper did to you. I feel terrible about it, really, I do, but as soon as Monday morning comes, I’m going to the shelter to pick up my dog and bring him home with me.”

  “You can’t. Maybe I’m not being clear enough, Pressley. Jasper is a dangerous animal. There’s no way to save him now. He’s going to be put down Monday morning.” He’d kept the incident from Janet for the time being, but he’d be calling Dr. Graham as soon as Pressley left. How could he let her take a dog as large and powerful as Jasper back into her home after he’d experienced firsthand what the animal was capable of?

  Her jaw dropped, and tears sprang to her eyes. “What? No!”

  He stood beside her and put his good arm around her. “It has to be done.”

  She leaned her head on his shoulder and tears ran down her face, “Did you call the police? Did you file a complaint?”

  “No, but Jose was a witness. It’s just a matter of time.”

  He felt her deflate. Her shoulders sank, and his T-shirt was wet with tears. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed.

  “What a mess I’ve made. I’ve barely set foot into Paws and Claws and look at the disaster I’ve created.”

  Hayden pulled away to look into her eyes. “Don’t say that. You may not have saved Jasper, but you saved me. Please, for your sake, let the dog go.” He kissed her forehead.

  “I can’t work at the shelter anymore.”

  Hayden’s heart felt as if it was about to stop. “You’ve only just started. Janet can’t do what you do. She’s more of a fixture at the place and does little more than shuffle papers. We need you.” He hesitated then added, “I need you.”

  She didn’t answer, only made her way to the door and opened it. The cool, late fall air sent a chill through him.

  “I still want my dog,” Pressley said through her tears.

  But did she want him? he wondered.

  Fourteen

  Pressley wouldn’t let her mind wander to what Hayden said was inevitable. Jasper was hers and he was coming back home on Monday, and that was that. She’d bought a twenty-foot lead she could clip to his collar to keep him from jumping the fence.

  Pressley contemplated calling her friend, Emma, but they’d grown apart since Emma found herself a boyfriend and was spending every second with him. She’d never felt lonelier. She needed to talk to someone about her problems with the dog and ask for their thoughts. It was a good idea to keep him, wasn’t it? It was the right thing to do? She wished she could talk to her parents, too. Her mom always knew what to say to comfort her. Dad was, well, not quite there anymore, and despite his fairly young age of just sixty, he lived in an assisted-living home. Her mom, Joanie, had died of cancer three years ago — shortly after, Pressley started therapy. But she was feeling stronger now. Her therapist had taught her how to manage her anxiety as well as ways to boost her self-esteem.

  She wondered if others saw her as a shy, introvert. Or, did they see a perfectionistic snob? Pressley thought about that for a while and decided she was a bit of both. True, she was quiet but when she clicked with someone, she was a motor-mouth. She liked to think of herself as discerning — only giving her time to those who really mattered. Why waste it on chitchat? She preferred a small group of close friends to large parties. Did that make her an introvert? Maybe, but what was wrong with that?

  She poured a glass of wine and settled onto the sofa. Pressley eyed her phone. She had to admit she was watching for texts from Hayden and wondered if he’d told Janet she planned to quit. She wondered too if she would really go through with it. Despite only just starting, she liked her job. It was low stress, with little responsibility, and most of all, she loved the animals. It was what she needed.

  * * * * *

  Monday came quickly and Pressley — who’d spent the night before tossing and turning, waiting for morning — was in the parking lot of Paws and Claws before the sun rose, waiting for someone to arrive and hoping it would be Janet and not Hayden or Dr. Graham. Well, maybe seeing Hayden wouldn’t be so bad.

  She had the keys to the place but since the idea of quitting was front and center, she didn’t feel right about going inside when no one else was there.

  Another hour passed before Janet’s white Honda Civic pulled up beside her Prius. Janet looked over and gave her a little wave. Pressley guessed Hayden hadn’t talked to Janet after all.

  “Good morning! Got here at the same time, did we?” Janet asked as she exited her car.

  Pressley took stock of the woman — bright smile, extra large coffee in hand, hair done, face made up — nothing to signify anything was out of sorts. “You speak to Hayden over the weekend?” Pressley asked.

  “No, hon. Why? Something wrong? How’s Jasper? You have a good few days with him?”

  Pressley picked up her pace as she walked the short distance to the front door. She unlocked it and held the door open for Janet. Once inside, she answered Janet’s questions.

  “Jasper’s here. He jumped the fence in my yard and came back to the shelter. Since it’s been his home for so long, I suppose it was just instinct.” She took measure of her boss.

  Janet’s jaw fell slack, but shock was quickly replaced with curiosity. “How’d you know all this?”

  “Hayden was here when he came back, and he let him in but — and this isn’t good news — Jasper bit him. Got hold of his forearm and leg. Jose got the dog off him and took Hayden to the hospital. He had to have stitches.” She was on a roll, no use stopping now. “I’m pretty sure Dr. Graham is coming in this morning. Hayden says he’s a lost cause and has to be put down, but I’m here to collect him before that happens. He’s my dog and I’ve legally adopted him. As far as I know, no one’s called the police or made a report. I don’t know what Hayden told the doctors at
the hospital, but I imagine if he told the truth, the cops would have paid me a visit as Jasper’s owner and since that hasn’t happened, I figure no one said a thing.” This time she didn’t stay to assess Janet’s reaction. She made her way down the hall and called over her shoulder, “Maybe I shouldn’t work here anymore either.”

  “No!” Janet beat Pressley to the door and plastered herself against it, arms outstretched to prevent her entrance. Janet was splayed against the door like a giant starfish.

  “Please, Janet. This is ridiculous. I’m within my rights. Would you please move out of the way?”

  Janet looked past her, and then a masculine voice spoke. “Move aside, Janet. Pressley, I’m sure you’re not going to want to witness what has to be done.”

  It was Dr. Graham, tall and distinguished, looking more like a corporate lawyer than a vet, with his neatly styled salt and pepper hair. He wore a suit and tie, not a white smock. But he was holding a leather case that reminded Pressley of an old-fashioned doctor’s bag.

  “Who called you? Was it Hayden?” Pressley asked.

  “Does that really matter?” he replied.

  Janet moved out of the way, but Pressley took up the space she’d vacated. “Yes, it does.”

  Dr. Graham sighed his frustration. “No. Jose called and told me what happened.”

  “The dog is legally mine. You don’t have my permission to put him down,” Pressley said, injecting confidence into her tone and hoping neither Janet nor Dr. Graham heard the hitch in her voice.

  “I can call the police, if that’s what it’ll take,” he said and reached past her for the doorknob. “It’s my professional opinion that the dog cannot be rehabilitated. He must be put down to keep people safe, and that includes you!”

  He pulled open the door and made his way into the kennel area, the steel door slamming in his wake.

  Pressley reached to open the door, but Janet put a hand on hers before she could. “Don’t, hon. Please, just go on home. Take the day off. Take a couple if you like but come back to work when you’re feeling better. This place needs you. You’re doing a fabulous job and there will always be another dog to adopt. Let’s face it, Jasper just wasn’t the one for you. Hell’s bells, I don’t think anyone could tame that wild thing.” She shook her head in a show of sympathy. “He did love you in his own way though, so don’t forget that, honey. You were the only one he’d even let near, but he’s a danger to others and if you take him out of here, only God knows what else he’ll do.”

  An ache as real as if she’d been punched in the gut almost floored her, but Pressley held tight. She knew it now — there was no hope for Jasper. Even if she did push past Janet, Dr. Graham was probably already prepping to do his job. Poor Jasper, poor soul, he wasn’t given a fighting chance in this life and that was so unfair. Someone hurt him, broke his soul, and turned him vicious. She knew how that could happen. Her life wasn’t ideal either — the pain of what happened to her parents had pushed her farther into herself and kept her there. But she was a human being, and no one was going to kill her just because she had issues, so why should that happen to Jasper?

  The fight had drained from her. She turned to Janet and said, “I don’t think I can come back. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to not be able to save all the animals. I wanted to work here because it was a no-kill shelter, and that’s not what it will be when Jasper is put to death.”

  “Oh, hon,” Janet said, “please, give it some thought. Don’t be hasty.”

  But her words fell on deaf ears as Pressley turned and walked away.

  Fifteen

  Hayden came through the back door. He hoped to God he wouldn’t run into Dr. Graham, but his prayers weren’t answered. He spotted the vet at Jasper’s cage, his medical bag opened. Was he too late?

  He’d spent the night hatching a plan; as ludicrous and dangerous as it was, it was the only thing he could think to do. He’d arranged a jailbreak of sorts and was equipped with a muzzle and leash. If he could get the dog back to his house, maybe, just maybe he’d be able to earn Jasper’s trust and make him into a real pet. He was risking further injury and, just the day before, was convinced the dog was a lost cause, but if he wanted Pressley he realized, he’d have to fight for Jasper.

  He picked up his pace and called, “Dr. Graham! Hold up.”

  The vet was crouched beside the cage and looked up as Hayden approached. “Don’t bother trying to talk me out of this, Hayden.” He was holding a syringe in one gloved hand.

  “The Westons said to wait,” he lied.

  Dr. Graham rose to his feet. “What? You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Not at all. I called them and said there was a mistake, that I’d been bitten by a new intake and not Jasper.”

  The vet smirked. “Jose told me what happened. This dog’s had too many reprieves already.”

  Hayden moved closer. Jasper was lying on his side, asleep. “No! You didn’t—”

  “Relax, he’s just sedated.” He pointed to Hayden’s arm. “Don’t want that to happen to me, too.”

  “So, he’s okay?”

  “For now.”

  Hayden’s face was a thundercloud. “Leave the dog alone.” He put a hand on the top of the cage preventing the doctor from opening it further. “You should go now.”

  Indignation was written all over the older man’s face. He clearly was not used to being told what to do.

  “Hayden, be reasonable. All of this back and forth is ridiculous. I was happy when I thought we’d found Jasper a home, I really was, but you know as well as I do that there will be a next time. And the next time that dog bites someone, it just might be Pressley.” He tapped his temple. “Use your head.”

  “I’ve already thought this through, Doc, and believe me, the back and forth has driven me nuts, but if things don’t work out this time, I’ll take care of Jasper myself.”

  “You serious?”

  “As a heart attack.”

  The vet threw up his hands in surrender. “I’ll leave him be for another day or two, but I don’t see a way out of this for that dog.”

  * * * * *

  Hayden wondered if he should speak to Janet before taking the dog with him. He’d tell her his plan. She’d agree it was the right thing to do, wouldn’t she? But then again, with all the back and forth, the drama, the moral dilemmas, he couldn’t be sure what she’d say. What if she wanted to consult the Westons? Then he was screwed — if word got back to them that Jasper had attacked him, that would be the end of the road.

  “To hell with it,” he said aloud. “Better to do what you want and apologize later than to ask for permission and be denied.”

  He opened the cage door, picked up the dog and took him out to his truck, placing the groggy dog on the back seat.

  He ran back into the shelter and grabbed an old kennel. The extras were folded up and stored against the wall near the supply room. He couldn’t be sure he was alone in the back, but he hadn’t seen any of the volunteers yet, so he carefully and quietly took the first in the pile, closed the back door and locked it. Then he put the kennel into the bed of his truck.

  * * * * *

  Taking the dog to his house was probably not his best option. Dr. Graham would more than likely tip off Janet about what just happened. Janet might be foolish enough to call the Westons or, God forbid, the police.

  Two hours later, when he pulled into the driveway in front of Shaun’s cottage, he could hear Jasper beginning to stir. The cottage held a special place in his heart. It was where he and Shaun went almost every weekend, a private sanctuary that the family had given Shaun after she’d graduated from college. Hayden hadn’t been here since her death and he was pretty sure he was trespassing. The cottage was now either in her parents’ name, or sold. Either way, it looked empty and it was the only hideout he had.

  Before he left for the cottage, he’d picked up supplies, including dog food, treats, and toys, as well as stopping by his house to grab his laptop and a few
things for himself to munch on. He remembered there being Wi-Fi at the cottage when he and Shaun spent time there, but there was no way to know if it had been turned off. People like the Westons, with money to burn, tended to forget about little things like that. At least he hoped so.

  Before getting out of the truck, he muzzled Jasper — the dog was still sleepy enough to be docile, then he left for a moment to snoop around the cottage. There were no cars in the driveway, a great sign, and after looking in the large front windows to make sure no one was there, his heart leapt when he saw that it looked exactly the same as it did when he and Shaun used to stay there. He tried the front door, but of course it was locked. He pulled on the windows — again locked. Then it struck him. He still had a key! He ran to his truck, grabbed his keys and was back at the front door in a couple of seconds. If his luck held up, the locks would still be the same. His hands shook as he tried the key — it slid in and, with a turn, he heard the deadbolt click open.

  * * * * *

  By the time he’d set up the kennel and brought in the supplies, Jasper was awake and watching him through the window in the back seat of the truck. It was time to bring him into the cottage. Hayden opened the truck door just a crack. Jasper was there in a nanosecond, his large nose pressed against the opening. He sniffed and grunted and rubbed his muzzled face against the seat, trying to get the muzzle off.

  Hayden waited for the right moment and when the dog turned, he clipped the leash onto his collar. Jasper bucked like a bull, pulling the leash taut. Hayden gave him a little slack and let him continue his rebellion. Jasper jumped onto the floor of the truck and charged at Hayden who was standing on the other side of the open door, but Hayden moved out of the way and Jasper landed on the gravel driveway, somersaulting his way to a stop. “Well, at least you’re out of the truck,” Hayden said as he closed the door.