A New Leash on Life Read Online Free PDF Page B

leather-bound novels. Nothing but an empty hall faced me now. “Does Olivia still live here?”
    She lowered her shoulders and placed her hand on my wrist. “I’m afraid not. I bought the place a month ago.”
    “They sold the house?”
    She cocked her head. “You don’t know what happened, do you?”
    My heart pounded, afraid to hear bad news. I shook my head.
    “Olivia’s parents died a few months ago. They were traveling up to New Hampshire for a family reunion, and they hit a moose head on. Olivia survived the crash with a broken finger. But, her parents didn’t have a chance.”
    Shock vacuumed the air from my lungs. This woman who answered Olivia’s door, the same door I had snuck in and out of for years, now owned the front door, the wooden staircase with the green paisley runner that I’d climbed, the bathroom I’d brushed my teeth in, and the bedroom that commemorated my early days as a liberated teenager in the arms of the one girl I loved.
    The despair whipped through me, suffocating me, strangling me. I cried, and this stranger gathered me into her arms and let me sob.
    After several gut wrenching minutes, the lady said to me, “She works part time at the Pet World right outside of town on route one if you want to see her. I’m sure she could use a friend.”
    “Thanks.” I pulled away from her arms. “Maybe I’ll stop by and see her one of these days.”
    “I know she’s working now because Tuesday is always the day I bring Pepper in to get his nails trimmed. I only trust Olivia. Everyone else is too quick and stone-faced.”
    “I’ll drop by one of these days.”
    “Give me your number in case you don’t see her there. I’ll give her the message that you stopped by.”
    “Sure. Why not?” I jotted down my number, then thanked the lady and drove off, heading back to where I belonged, back to my aunt’s and out of the way of the Clarks’ wrecked lives. If Olivia wanted to talk, I’d leave it up to her.
    I no longer trusted my gut instinct. Consequences littered my life. And so much for perfect moments.
    I drove south and before long saw the sign for the route one Pet World dancing ahead of me, beckoning me towards it. I could just pop in, say hi, and pay her my condolences.
    Pulled towards the exit ramp like a magnet, I sped ahead towards the Pet World, figuring if I didn’t stop in then, I never would.
    I parked far off to the side of the building so my getaway, if it needed to be quick, would be less humiliating. A few people with dogs walked towards the building, some stopping to let their dogs soak up the attention from others, empty-handed of their own pets.
    I applied some lip gloss, smoothed my hair and tightened up the string tie on my capris before stepping in front of the building. Then, I committed to my decision and braved the front door, waltzing in like I really belonged on Olivia’s turf.
    Shelves displaying dog biscuits in every brand imaginable lined the main aisle. Birds chirped to the left. Bright blue signs highlighting specials hung from the ceiling. Puppies, roped off in the center of the store, wagged their happy tails at their puppy class teacher. Puppies of all different sizes and breeds chased balls and ignored their masters’ commands. The store buzzed with life and happy times.
    I rounded the aquariums, and then I spotted her, looking every bit as confident, as lean, as pristine as she did years ago. An older man stole her attention, talking to her over by the dog food aisle.
    I fell numb.
    She laughed at something the man said. Her blonde ponytail still hung to the middle of her back, smooth and shiny and sun-kissed. She wore a white t-shirt with a bright blue vest and a pair of well-fitted blue jeans that hugged her slender athletic frame just as I remembered. Her face lit up as the man shook her hand and walked off with a bag of kibble.
    She smiled as she watched him walk away, and then she saw me. Her smile vanished. I huddled up by the fish tanks,