Azaria wasn't the type to make hasty and spontaneous decisions. Her parents had taught her how to make important decisions all through her life. They taught her how to think things through and weigh the pros and cons before she made her final decision. She wasn't sure what had made her reach such a quick decision without much thought, but being in that park pulled something in her. So here she stood, staring back at the Siberian husky puppy that stared back. It had grey eyes that oddly reminded her of someone else's. His tail wagged back and forth, head cocked to the side as he studied her.
"He was actually brought in this morning. Someone found him and two Finnish Lapphunds. I don't know how people would abandon such gorgeous species," one of the shelter workers smiled down at the puppy. "So what do you think?" She asked Azaria, entertaining her hands in front of her in a hopeful gesture.
"I'll take him."
She could barely believe those words came out of her mouth. She'd never been a pet person. Most she had had as a child was a small fish that didn't make it a month. She was never attached to it and barely remembered its existence, therefore, she always forgot to feed it, but she did feel guilty when it passed and held a two hour funeral service for Mr. Wiggles with her parents in attendance. Adopting a dog was a big step and she didn't know why she was doing it. All she could see was Max staring at her and waiting for her to throw his tennis ball.
After a few signed documents and a purchased leash, collar, food bowl, some canned food and kibble, she was in her car with the puppy who she strapped in the back. Surprisingly, he let her and sat quietly looking out the window. Azaria took a quick look at him in the rear-view mirror before focusing her eyes on the road again.
Did I really just get a dog? She thought. Why did she do that?
Was the current situation, being jobless, getting to her? It hadn't even been close to a month and she was already doing things that were not like her at all. Her phone suddenly rang and she quickly connected her bluetooth.
"I just adopted a dog," she blurted as soon as the call connected.
"Come again?" was Rowan's reply.
"I just adopted a Siberian husky, Ro. I think I'm losing my mind." She looked in the mirror again and the dog stared back before giving a small yip and turning back to the window. "Rowan, you have a cat, what do I do?"
"How should I know? I'm not a dog person. Oh my God, I'm adding your mum to the call."
"What? No, wait–" before she could stop him, her mother was connected to the call.
"This is refreshing, we haven't done this in a while. Hi, baby. Hi, Ro!" Genevieve sounded chirpy. "I'm making lasagne, do you two want to drop by for dinner?"
"Zee just adopted a husky, and yes, ma'am. I will be there at 6:30pm sharp. Thank you."
Azaria rolled her eyes at Rowan's antics.
"What? A husky? You like dogs now?" Genevieve asked. The sound of clattering pots came through the speaker and Azaria winced. It was loud. "Since when you do like dogs? You didn't even like Mr. Wiggles–"
"Mum, please–"
"Wait, who's Mr. Wiggles?" Rowan asked.
"Rowan–"
"Azaria's pet fish. It was a guppy or other. She never fed the thing even though I bought her a bunch of fish feed."
"You had a guppy and never told me, Zee? Are we even friends?"
The dog yipped again and both Rowan and Genevieve gasped. "You have to bring him to dinner, baby. I wanna meet him," Genevieve said cheerfully. Azaria had never heard the woman so happy about a dog in her home before. She'd never even considered adopting a pet ever since she retired and had much time on her hands to feed one.
"Since when do you like dogs?" Azaria asked as she made a turn to enter the roadway toward her mother's home.
"Since when do you?" Genevieve shot back and chuckled.
"Alright. Just escaped and I am on my way to dinner, Mrs. Freeman. I can already taste that Lasegne. Oh! Zee! I called for a reason. You will not believe it. I will tell you when I get there because this is something big! Also, I need to eat something before I fall, giving you this expensive information."
Azaria let out an airy laugh, stopping at a red light. She turned and looked at the dog seated in her back seat. He turned lazily and stared at her before turning back to the window and paying her no mind. She turned back and put her eyes on the road as the light turned green. She thought she got a judgemental dog, but quickly shook the thought away. She wasn't sure dogs could… judge people.
She turned into her mother's street minutes later and saw Genevieve rush out wearing nothing but a robe and slippers. She pulled the back door of the car open as soon as Azaria parked in the drive way. She noticed the seatbelt around the dog and laughed loudly before letting the dog free and pulling him out. She held him in her eyes and studied his face. The dog licked her face a few times, causing Genevieve to burst out laughing.
"Oh, he is just precious. I still have some cooked ground beef that I didn't use in the lasagne. Bring his bowl, baby," Genevieve said and returned to the house with the puppy in her arms before Azaria could get a word in. She shook her head and found the bowl in her boot before following her mother into the house. Genevieve began to dish out the food just as Rowan's car pulled in. He rushed inside with two plastic bags in hand.
"I got snacks and wine!" He then spotted the puppy and rushed towards it, kneeling and petting it gently. "He's so cute. I'm not a dog person, but I like him." He stood and took the plate Genevieve stretched in his direction. "Thank you!" He pressed a kiss to her cheek then sat beside Azaria at the island. "Hey."
Azaria chuckled and turned to her food. "Hey yourself." She made work of opening the bottle of wine Rowan bought and poured in the mugs her mother made available.
"Have you named him yet?" Rowan asked over a mouthful of food. Genevieve swatted him with a kitchen towel and wagged her finger at him. The whole debacle made Azaria laugh.
"No… I don't know what to name him."
"He kind of looks like a wolf cub. His eyes are really cool." Rowan made sure to swallow the food in his mouth before speaking that time.
Azaria studied the dog for a brief moment, her cheek against her palm. "Mmm…" Azaria hummed. "Wolf seems like a good name."