A New Leash on Life Read Free Page A

cases of water bottles onto the sliding shelf. “I won’t leave them. You know that. Besides, when have you ever known me to back down from a threat like this, huh? I weathered Hurricane Harriet a couple of years ago, remember?”
    “The weatherman didn’t forecast that one to wipe out the town.” She peered up at me, her eyes furrowed towards the bridge of her nose. “You should rent a box truck, pile all of those dogs, cats, and whatever other animals you’ve got there at the shelter, and get the hell out of town. You still have time.”
    “If only that option existed.” I flipped through my wallet and handed her my credit card.
    “You’re going to be all alone.”
    “Trevor, Natalie, and Melanie are hanging back with me.”
    “You guys are all crazy, then. When they say mandatory evacuation, I listen.”
    “Well, none of us at the shelter takes orders easily. So, we’ll just have to take our chances.”
    Millie scanned my items and within a few minutes gripped the sales slip with two arthritic fingers, and I signed it. “Please take care, okay?” Her wrinkles dug deep into her forehead and the corners of her eyes.
    I patted her hand. “I promise I won’t do anything crazy like peek outside for a view.” I smiled and pushed off, steadying my galloping heart for a crazy few days ahead. I sure hoped my roof wouldn’t collapse.
    God help us.
    ~ ~
    I drove down Elmwood Drive towards the shelter. Cape Cod-style houses lined both sides of the two-lane road, all of them boarded up and braced for the storm. Weathermen forecasted this one to hit us straight on as a category three or four. The flooding would be the real issue for many of these homes in the low-lying valley of Elkwood. Thankfully, the shelter sat on a hill.
    I arrived back at the shelter and Natalie, Trevor, and Melanie had dismantled the front showcase of literature, removing the pamphlets with loving, precious faces of dogs and cats looking for good homes.
    “I’ve got a ton of supplies in my truck,” I said to them. They dropped everything from their arms and rushed to my aid. We piled pounds and pounds of kibble and treats in the front waiting area. “If things get bad enough, these can serve as sandbags.”
    No one laughed.
    “I’m kidding,” I said.
    “We’re going to need a lot of sage to get through this storm,” Melanie, my best friend and reiki master, said. “When things aren’t so pressing, I’m going to help you come up with a plan B for these types of events.” She dropped a case of water on the counter and looked up at me with panic in her eyes. Melanie, the queen of bliss and tranquility, never panicked. That’s what I loved most about her. She leveled my moods with her reiki, candles, sage, and balanced emotions.
    I fiddled with the Snickers and canned peaches, lining them up on the front desk like a well-executed team of soldiers preparing for battle. “You’re more than welcome to leave before the storm hits. No one is forcing you to be here.”
    She balanced her hands on her hips and inhaled, then released it with ease, never taking her kind eyes off of me. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Thank you,” I said, rounding the front desk. “How about if we walk the dogs before we can’t anymore?” I walked past my dear friend, the same friend who swore she’d only succumb to yelling and freaking out if I ever dangled her out of ten-story building. Miss Master of Healing and everything yin and yang didn’t fall under the pressures that would crush the average person. But even though she relaxed into her breaths and draped her hands on her waist as if ready to lunge into a peaceful walk on the beach, I sensed her fear. “I’ll take Trooper, Tucker, and Snowball,” I said to Trevor and Natalie as I rushed past them towards the kennels. They trailed behind me, keeping up with my pace. Melanie stayed in the front.
    “Olivia, I think we might need to board up the front windows,” Trevor said. “My dad