Read Online Traveling Light by Andrea Thalasinos - Free Book Online

papers?”
    “What?” The question snapped Paula out of a stupor. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She began fishing through her purse.
    “Pet adoptions get fifteen percent off.” The clerk smiled. “Except for the ceramic bowls, of course. They’re French,” she said in a somber tone. “Latte’s on the house,” she said, tilting her head and lifting both hands.
    “Thanks.” Paula produced the donation receipt from Animal Control she’d stuffed into the front pocket of her purse.
    Bewilderment set in as Paula looked at the pile of dog paraphernalia. Still no word from Celeste. Paula watched as the woman carefully rolled each bowl in Bubble Wrap and taped it. The dog bed was rolled and tied with a rough-hewn twine. Probably organic.
    “Here you go,” the woman’s cheery voice followed with a smile. “This’ll get you started. Want it delivered to your home?”
    Home. Roger. She looked at the time.
    “No. That’s okay; I’ll take it.”
    Paula took a seat as her latte was being made. She covered her mouth and then rested her chin in her palm. She closed her eyes, needing a cigarette.
    Roger had allergies to both dogs and cats. He’d break out in seconds. She hadn’t considered that; in fact, she hadn’t considered him at all.
    Before she knew it the back door opened and Fotis emerged. Shiny, fluffy, his coat gleamed. He kept pausing to shake off before he reached her.
    “Oh my God.” Paula stood up at the transformation. Her purse fell off her lap onto the floor.
    “I can’t believe that’s the same dog.” The clerk paused to stare. “He’s got my vote for most improved.” She looked at her colleague, who nodded in agreement.
    “Boy, he cleaned up well,” the groomer said. “No fleas or dermatitis,”she explained. “I thought he was in worse shape, but,” she went on to say in a high-pitched baby voice directed to Fotis, “you were just dirty.” Fotis wagged.
    His coat was darker, almost a rich black, with dappled freckles across his muzzle and along the inside of his front legs from his armpits all the way down to his front paws.
    He licked the clerk’s face as she tested the new red collar around his neck.
    “He’s so good-natured,” the groomer remarked.
    Taking a pair of pliers out from a drawer, she removed the rabies tag from the fraying old collar and transferred it onto the new one.
    “There. Now you’re all set,” she said to the dog, and then looked at Paula.
    “Shall we toss these?” The clerk held the old collar and leash between her thumb and index finger, the end of the rope curled and spiraled like a piece of rotini pasta.
    “No,” Paula said a little too emphatically. “I’ll take those.”
    The clerk’s eyebrows arched in surprise. Paula reached for Theo’s two earthly remains. Without a word, the woman lowered each into a large ziplock bag, sealed it and handed it over.
    Paula added it to the shopping bag.
    “Now there,” the woman said as Fotis’ eyes brightened at the tone of her voice. “Look what a pretty boy you are.”
    The clerk snapped on the matching lead and handed it to Paula. “Good luck.”

 
    CHAPTER 3
    Paula brought Fotis to her office because she didn’t know what else to do. Though it was going on seven, she hoped Guillermo would still be there. Maybe he’d take the dog to Brooklyn for a day or so until she could figure out what to do, but no such luck.
    There were several missed calls from Roger that she hadn’t picked up. Unease burned like indigestion under her collarbones each time his incoming call lit the display. It felt like she was cheating. Her sense of obligation pressured her to offer up a full account of Theo and the day’s events. She settled down into her office chair and worked up the nerve to call.
    Roger answered immediately.
    “Where are you? I’ve been calling.”
    “Yeah, sorry.”
    “Why didn’t you answer?”
    “I was busy.”
    “With what?”
    “I uhh … kind of … uhh … got a dog.”
    “Yeah,