Chapter Seven – Frankie

“Do you want me to come with you?” Ruth asked. Her sister had dropped by for coffee after taking the children to a play date and buying groceries in town. It wasn’t unusual for Ruth to drop by, but this was more of an information gathering visit. Ruth wanted to know if Frankie was all right.

“You don’t have to play at being my mom anymore, Ruth,” Frankie told her sister over a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.

“I didn’t know I ever played at being your mom.” Ruth arched an eyebrow at Frankie, but she wasn’t offended.

“You know what I mean. I don’t need you to hold my hand to cross the street, or come with me to ask if the local animal shelter needs volunteers.” Frankie took a bite of her cake. “This is good.”

“Jenny and Jason made it. Blueberries and pecans, some of Michael’s secret deer food.” Ruth’s mouth twitched at the corners as Frankie’s eyes widened. “Don’t worry, they didn’t steal it out of the bucket.”

“How are they settling in?” Frankie asked, shifting the conversation toward the children. Ruth loved to talk about them, she and Michael loved them as if they were their own.

“Good, I think. They’re doing well at school and I no longer have to ask five times before Jason does his homework.” A smile crept across Ruth’s face as she thought about the two children. “Jason has a flair for drawing. I explained caricatures to him, and he drew me…it wasn’t exactly flattering, but his eye for detail is good. So I loaned him my paints and an easel and he sat outside on the porch and drew the forest. It was incredible.”

“He’s finally got the chance to be a child, to let his talents grow.” Frankie bit into her cake. “I don’t care where these blueberries came from, they pop in your mouth with a burst of flavor.”

“Baking is Jenny’s thing. She orders Jason around in the kitchen, it’s funny. And he’s so eager to make her happy, he does all the prep work and washes the dishes afterward.” Ruth’s smile slipped. “I think they are the bravest children I’ve ever met. Looking after each other like they do.”

“Hey.” Frankie’s hand closed over Ruth’s. “I know someone who was equally as brave. You took on us kids singlehandedly while Dad was out losing himself in his grief. And I don’t know how I’d have gotten through my surgeries without you.”

“The things you do for love. And family. As you will find out, now that you have your mate.” Ruth drank her coffee. “He’s a good man, Frankie. He’ll take care of you.”

“And I’ll take care of him…for as long as I can.” Frankie looked away. “Will you promise to be there for him? I’ve always been aware that my life expectancy was never going to be long. I suppose part of me hoped I would live alone so that my mate would never go through the pain of losing me.”

“Hey.” Ruth’s words were unusually sharp. “You don’t know how long that heart is going to keep beating in your chest. It’s your heart now.”

“Statistically…”

“To hell with statistics. You have fought bravely through all the crap life threw at you. Francesca Bishop, you are stronger and braver than anyone I have ever met.” Ruth’s voice cracked with emotion. “Now, don’t you have some puppies to go and save or something?”

Ruth got up from the table, and Frankie stood and embraced her. “You always forget about yourself. You are stronger and braver than all of us.”

“Which is why I refuse to allow you to live in fear. Take hold of life with both hands.” Ruth hugged Frankie fiercely. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ruth.” Frankie sniffed loudly. “I’m going to arrive at the shelter with red eyes and a blotchy face.”

“Which shows how compassionate you are.” Ruth let Frankie go and stood looking at her for a moment. “I’m proud of you. Don’t ever forget that.”

“Now, I have to go, I’m supposed to be grading papers while Jenny and Jason are at their friend’s house.” Ruth let herself out, and Frankie stood staring at the front door. Her sister was right, there was no use living in fear. She’d been given a second chance with the heart transplant. It was her duty to make the most of that second chance.

Pulling on her boots, she grabbed a jacket and her keys and headed out to the car. An overcast sky threatened an afternoon of rain, and a cool breeze blew in off the mountains. Frankie looked up to the ominous clouds shadowing the peaks. She longed to climb up there and ride out a storm on the side of a mountain. There was something life-enhancing about rain lashing the trees, and thunder rolling down the valleys while lightning flashed above your head.

We could go. Later, her bear told her.

We could. But we have to get to the shelter first and then meet Adam.

Was Adam an outdoor-in-a-storm, type of a guy? Or did he prefer to stay indoors? So much for them learning about each other. Would she have enough time to get to know him, really get to know him, before she was ripped away from his arms?

I’m going to ignore that, her bear said. You need to heed what Ruth said.

She wanted to. But for the last couple of months, something hadn’t felt quite right. Perhaps, she’d hoped when she met Adam, her heart would settle down. Perhaps, she’d hoped that her restless heart was simply searching for her mate. Or its mate.

Frankie put her head in her hands, resting it on the steering wheel. Those kinds of thoughts did no one any good. Starting the engine, she shook off her melancholy thoughts. Ruth was right, life was for living. She owed it to the organ donor who had given her the chance of a new life.

Humming along to the radio, Frankie followed the directions she’d scribbled down. They led her out of town, and toward Bear Bluff. The animal shelter was out here somewhere, and she planned to find it. Helping animals who needed a fresh start would help give her purpose.

As she drove, she organized ideas in her head. Ideas for her blog, and for offering a service to other businesses that might benefit from a blog. Francesca Bishop planned to make her own mark on this world.

“There it is!” Frankie turned off the road and followed a short road to a cluster of buildings with a sign proudly announcing she had reached Second Chance Animal Shelter. “Second Chance, that sounds perfect.”

Parking her car, she got out as the first spots of rain fell from the clouds above to leave marks on the asphalt. Frankie ran across to the small office that displayed the word Reception above the door. Turning the handle, she pushed the door open and entered a room which contained one flustered young woman and two excited spaniels.

“Oh, sorry,” the woman holding on to the other end of the leashes said. “We were about to go out for a walk when the phone rang.”

“Hello there.” Frankie leaned down and got a tongue in the face as one of the dogs jumped up, licking her face excitedly. “You look like you’re a handful.”

“Two handfuls.” The woman pulled the dogs back toward her. “Heel.” She sighed. “I don’t know why I bother, they don’t know a single command. But they will, with a little time and patience. These are our two newest arrivals.” She smiled broadly. “I don’t suppose you’re here seeking two crazy but loving spaniels?”

Frankie laughed. “No, I’m not. I’m here to volunteer.” She sounded too perky. “If you need a volunteer.”

“Does the desert need rain?” Swapping the leashes into one hand, the woman held out the other to Frankie. “Ronni, I run this place. With the help of volunteers, of course. But one of my main helpers is due to have her baby any day now, so I’m really in need of help. As you can see.”

“Frankie.” Frankie shook Ronni’s hand. “Do you want me to take these two overgrown puppies for a walk?”

“Yes, please. You’re a lifesaver. I’ll show you where to go, then when you come back we can settle them into their kennel and come back here for coffee and paperwork. I’ll sort all the relevant forms out while you’re gone.”

“Great. What are their names?” Frankie asked as she backed out of the door, with the two dogs following.

“Norman and Stanley.” Ronni looked at the dogs for a moment. “They look so similar, but Norman has the big splotch of black on his back, and Stanley has one white ear and one black.” She frowned. “At least I think that’s right. I’ll check their descriptions. Honestly, they’ve just arrived, and before I get them settled, I was going to try to tire them out. Although that is often impossible with spaniels.”

“I’ll do my best,” Frankie promised.

“Thank you so much, Frankie. It must be fate, you walking in at just the right time. Especially since it’s starting to rain.” Ronni pointed to a gate leading off the road Frankie had driven up. “Through there, and to the right. There’s a footpath, you can’t miss it. It leads into a small wood. It’s enclosed, so you can let them have a good run.” Ronni dug into her pocket. “Here.” She handed over a couple of dog balls and some poop bags. “Worst part of the job.”

“No problem.” Frankie took the balls and bags from Ronni and jammed them in her coat pocket before the two dogs pulled her forward.

“See you soon.” Ronni watched as Frankie wrestled her way through the gate, and then turned around and headed back to the reception area.

“Right, you two. Let’s see if we can tire you out.” Frankie walked briskly across the field and through the gate Ronni had indicated. Sure enough, they entered a small woodland, which helped shelter them from the light, but persistent, rain. “Now listen, Stanley, and you, Norman. You need to come back when I call you.”

The two dogs pulled at their leashes, wanting to be free, but Frankie was not going to let them go until they listened to her.

“Sit.” Her voice resonated with authority, and both dogs looked at her but didn’t obey. “Sit.” Frankie put a small amount of pressure on Stanley’s back and he sat down, his front feet treading on the ground, as if he were marching on the spot, as he looked at the trees impatiently. “Your turn, Norman.”

When both the dogs were sitting down, she praised them, stroking their heads and fondling their silky ears. Then she unclipped their leashes and said, “Good boys, off you go.”

They ran off at top speed, chasing each other around the trees. Frankie walked after them, calling them every so often and throwing the balls, which they dutifully fetched, but didn’t always bring back. For nearly an hour, she walked around the wood, making a big fuss of them when they came back until they were returning the balls most of the time.

“You’re such good dogs,” Frankie crooned to them as she clipped their leashes onto their collars. “I’m afraid it’s time to go and see your new home.”

She stroked their heads while they looked up at her with soft brown eyes, their tongues lolling out of the sides of their mouths as they puffed and panted. Why would anyone want to give up two such adorable dogs?

Frankie walked them back toward the animal shelter, shutting the gate behind them. As she approached the reception door, Ronni opened it and came outside. “How did it go?” She greeted the dogs. “I can see you tired them out. For five minutes at least.”

“Is that the reason they are here?” Frankie asked.

“I’m afraid so, they became too much for the family who owned them after they had another baby. It’s a common occurrence. But we’ll find them a home. Someone will want two big puppies!” She spoke in a high voice and the dogs immediately responded, wagging their tails and pulling to lick her hands.

“They like you.” Frankie held onto the two dogs while Ronni opened a wide gate, holding it for them to walk through.

“Unfortunately, I already have a houseful of pets. I can’t take anymore.” She shut the gate securely. “But until they find their next home, we’ll make sure they get plenty of exercise and plenty of love.”

“Hear that, boys?” Frankie asked.

“Here’s their new home. They’ve got a bed each and food. Fingal is in the next kennel, maybe they can cheer him up.”

Frankie peered into the next kennel where an older dog lay curled up on his bed, looking like the saddest dog in the world. “What’s wrong with Fingal?” Frankie asked as the big yellow Labrador sighed and closed his eyes.

“His owner died.” Ronni closed the door on Stanley and Norman, who immediately took big gulps of water, before turning their attention to the two bowls of food. “Mr. O’Connor from Bear Bluff owned Fingal since he was a pup. He was a shifter who never found his mate, so there’s no family to take Fingal in.”

“Can I go in and visit a while?” Frankie asked.

“Sure. Come over to the office when you’re done and we can go through the formalities. Then you can let me know when you are able to come up and help.” Ronni took one last look at the newcomers, while Frankie slipped into Fingal’s kennel.

“Hello there, old thing.” Frankie sat down on the floor next to Fingal, who opened one eye but didn’t lift his head. “You look so sad.” She stroked his head, and Fingal sighed again. “I’ll just sit here, if that’s okay with you?”

As if in answer, Fingal lifted his head and rested it on her thigh. Tears pricked Frankie’s eyes as she stroked the old dog’s head. She knew that volunteering at the animal shelter was going to be the most rewarding job she’d ever done. But it was also likely to break her heart.

But as she sat there with Fingal, an idea came to her. She was going to help as many of these animals as she could to find a forever home. As she stroked Fingal, she realized her heart no longer felt restless, it was as if she were home.