Rachel

The day Javi adopted a dog, he had gone out to buy a burrito.

He was walking peacefully through downtown, the neon sign of his favorite takeout spot just a few steps away, when he heard a voice say, “Do you want to adopt a dog today?”

It was afternoon, just before sunset.

He turned around and saw you, wearing jeans and a T-shirt from a local animal shelter.

“Are you talking to me?” he exclaimed, surprised.

A small van was parked on the street and had the same logo you had on your shirt on the side.

“Would you like to adopt?” you smiled, gesturing toward the dogs in a pen next to you.

It was a temporary metal structure, set up on one side. Water bowls, cooling mats and dog toys were scattered here and there, and a few puppies were scampering and chasing each other inside.

He looked at you again, back at the puppies, then at you once more.

Beautiful eyes, a nice smile—your jeans hugged your hips perfectly, and despite your oversized T-shirt, he could see your curves.

You held out your hand and told him your name and the shelter where you volunteered.

Whoa,well now this is a sight to behold, he thought while shaking your hand.

But the puppies? Oh no.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I’m the right fit” he tried to say.

He saw a glimmer of disappointment in your eyes that you tried to hide right away.

“I understand,” you murmured, lowering your gaze, and Javi immediately felt guilty. “It’s just… I’m sorry, it’s not your fault—I’ve been here all afternoon and no one has stopped by.”

He found you delightful and hated hearing that hint of sadness in your voice.

So he looked at the puppies again, just to make you happy.

“How old are they?”

“Four months now; they’re already weaned, dewormed, and vaccinated.”

There were five of them in all, short-haired—four black with white spots and one brown.

“We found them in a trash bag when they were just born, you know, it was horrible.”

Javi wasn’t surprised; he’d seen enough horrors in his life to know that certain people have no scruples at all—not for anything or anyone, not even the most defenseless beings.

It hadn’t stopped disgusting him, he was simply aware of it.

But you seemed genuinely concerned, so sweet as you looked at him with a hopeful half-smile that Javi didn’t have the heart to disappoint you completely.

“I could make a donation to the shelter,” he suggested, thinking he could at least give you some satisfaction.

“Oh, thank you, that’s very kind of you,” you replied gently.

You couldn’t stop watching the puppies chase each other with sad eyes, though, and Javi knew what you were thinking.

He’d had a dog when he was a kid, down at his father’s ranch. Lola, a sheepdog. Chuco had gotten her to help with the livestock, but Lola was a little too unruly and lazy, so she’d simply become the family dog.

She’d lie under their porch taking long naps and run through the cornfields with Javi. And Javi adored her. He hadn’t thought about her in years, but at that moment he remembered those days as if only a glimpse had passed since Lola had died.

They hadn’t gotten any other dogs because Javi was inconsolable—and so was Chuco, even though he would never admit it.

His father was gruff, but he had a big heart. He caught him that evening, sitting in his armchair watching the football game, wiping his eyes. They’d buried Lola that afternoon.

“Want to hold one?” you tentatively asked.

Oh man, now he was really in trouble. If he’d said no and just handed you some money, what would you have thought of him? He stopped his hand just as it was about to reach into the back pocket of his jeans to pull out his wallet.

“Okay,” he replied. He heard it echoing in his head as if someone else had said it.

Why did he care so much, anyway? Sure, you were cute. But Javi had never had any trouble finding someone to hook up with.

And anyway, after Colombia, he wasn’t really interested in getting even the slightest bit attached to anyone. But there you were, leaning against the fence, picking up a brown puppy with a gentleness that was practically impossible to miss. And that struck him. You were a volunteer—no one was paying you to do this—and yet you did it with a care he’d seen in few other people. The puppy was calm and quiet, unlike the others, who were all scampering around yelping.

“I think this quiet little lady might be just right for you,” you smiled as you handed her over. “She’s the smallest— she was probably born last—but she’s strong, healthy, and well-behaved. Isn’t that right?” you chirped in a goofy but lovely voice as you scratched the puppy behind her right ear “yes, you’re a good girl”

Javi held her for a moment, awkwardly, not quite sure what to do. He hadn't felt so clumsy since the occasional times Steve had asked him to hold his daughter.

Javi wasn’t the type to be all mushy—he never had been. But he was the type to stand up for the weak. It was his job, after all, to fight for what was right. And with that puppy in his arms, he felt something: tenderness, a sense of protection.

You adjusted his grip, touching his arms without even thinking about it, completely focused on the puppy. “From underneath, like this,” you instructed him patiently, “rest her on your forearm.”

Javi adjusted his position and watched the little one settle in, her head resting on Javi’s bicep, her little paws dangling down the sides of Javi’s arm. She seemed calm and serene.

“There you go. Perfect,” you winked at him with a very satisfied look. “You’re much better than you think.”

“She’s warm. And heavier than I thought.” He looked into those lively, curious little eyes reflected in his own, stroked her back with his other hand, and felt her soft fur beneath his fingers. She happily licked his hand, bumping her little nose and rubbing her muzzle on his skin.

“She likes you” you said, grinning softly.

You were so sweet, watching him, happy with what you’d accomplished.

You invited him to sit down in the back of the van and he spent some time with you chatting and playing with the dog.

The puppy was a little bundle of joy and he found himself enjoying himself more and more. She was playful and gentle despite being so young, no excessive biting and jumping around with no awareness of her surroundings or her own strength.

“She’s smart” he observed “and very cute”

“Yeah, she is. Sure you can let her down?” You smiled, very softly.

He couldn’t tell if it was your fault or the puppy’s, but he found himself again saying something that he didn’t think would ever come out of his mouth: “Well…uhm..I’ll need some help, though—I don’t know how to train a dog.”

“I can help you. When someone adopts a dog, we have to make sure that everything goes well in the following weeks and that the person is truly committed. I can come by to check on things and bring paperwork to sign.” You told him in that honeyed voice of yours that Javi felt dipping into his chest.

“Well, I think you should, it’s your fault I’m bringing this little girl home tonight” he chuckled.

And it felt right, when he said that.

Your eyes immediately lit up at the realization that you'd made it, and your smile spread across your face like a ray of sunshine. You moved as if to hug him, before limiting yourself to a pat on the shoulder, but you were excited. And happy. It showed, and Javi was happy too.

“Okay, I have a lot of tips to give you then. Let her sleep with you, at least at first, because she needs to feel like she's not alone and she needs to get used to you, your house, the smells, and then—well, then let her out often, especially—” you were chattering, caught up in the excitement, and Javi thought it was so beautiful.

If he could have, he would have taken them all home at that point, just to keep you happy. He couldn’t quite explain it, but you were the first person he’d met since returning who knew nothing about his past, his job, or what he’d had to do in Colombia.

During the time he'd lived with his father, upon his return, he'd continued to have nightmares and smoke like a chimney. Then he'd gone to therapy, and now he was using nicotine patches. The urge to search his pocket for the pack was still strong, but he had to admit he was feeling better, breathing easier, and being more helpful to his dad when he visited him at the ranch.

He’d seen old friends again, met with relatives, and everyone was well aware that he wasn’t the same person he’d been when he left.

But you—so easygoing, fun, and simply genuine—made him think that maybe there was still a chance for him to live without being crushed by the ghosts of his past.

And clearly you’d seen something in him, judging by how you’d insisted he pick up the puppy. Maybe you knew it would do him good. Maybe you’d noticed that veil in his eyes. And you knew that little creature would do much more for him than he could ever expect, if only he were willing to open up.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I'm afraid I'll forget everything you're telling me as soon as I get in the car,” he admitted, scratching his beard.

You chuckled and agreed that you were talking too fast. “It’s just that I really needed this, you know. But I want you to be ready, it’s a big responsibility.”

“Sure, you’re right,” he said, looking at the little girl in his arms, already feeling a sense of duty toward her. “I want to do a good job, I promise. I was just thinking… what if you came over tonight?”

It was obvious from your expression that you weren’t expecting an invitation so soon, but you accepted willingly.

You pulled a notepad out of your bag and wrote down the address, asking him his name as Javi kept admiring you.

“Javier,” you repeated, and his name sounded incredibly soft on your lips. “I like it.”

The little one was sleeping in his arms as if she’d always been there, and he was starting to think that maybe it really was fate that he’d met both of you.

It was a wonderful feeling—all of it. You, the little one, and the way it felt as if someone had lifted a heavy weight off his heart.

“Listen, I have to drop off the others at the shelter and get what I need for her. I only have this with me,” you said, handing him a leash and collar. “But I'll bring you food, bowls and other stuff in a couple of hours, okay?”

“Yeah, that’s perfect”

You put the collar on the little one and attached the leash, Javi put her on the ground and she immediately tried to climb up his leg to get back into his arms.

Javi looked at her and laughed like he hadn't laughed in a while.

He insisted on making the donation he’d promised.

“You’ll see, you’ll be able to find someone for them, too,” he felt compelled to reassure you, “and we’ll be waiting for you, right, young lady?” he added, gently lifting the puppy into his arms again and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead “Yes, we will.”

You thanked him, promising to meet him at his house to teach him how to get through the night. Javi was thrilled even though he knew he wouldn't get much sleep.

He didn't intend to hit it off right away, he just wanted to talk to you again and get to know you better and savor once again the carefree feeling you had just given him.

“Hey” he turned around and called you as he was walking away, the puppy happily trotting at his side “Does she already have a name?”

You smiled and said, “Lola.”