Love, by George

9780373714346_PL.inddExtracted 1 threads from 9780373714346-exw.PDFUntitled Article 01: UntitledoeOH, GEORGE, WHAT HAVE YOU done? Are you trying to get me arrested for dognapping? The six-year-old Harlequin Great Dane dropped to a crouch, his gaze not meeting hers. Kara Williamss heart just about broke in half. She loved animals, and this big galoot was one of her favorite clients at The Paws Spa, her Pine Harbor, Oregon, pet-grooming business. Hed been one of her regulars until his owners, Brad and Lynette Ralston, split up. Now, Brad, who had custody of George and the couples teenage son, routinely missed Georges standing appointment. Kara poked her head out the door to check the parking lot. Nope. No Brad. But shed already fig- ured that out after hearing Georges loud woof and no sound of a car pulling in. Apparently George had decided to keep the appointment himself. Even if this was the wrong time and the wrong day. Glancing at his big muddy paws, she guessed that his escape from the Ralstonsbackyard had included some kind of digging. Sticks and weeds had attached themselves to his smooth black and white coat, and there was a bit of blood on his right ear. oePoor guy. This wasnt easy for you, was it? She went down on one knee and hugged the silly beast. Shed witnessed the aftermath of divorcein dog termstoo many times. And it was never pleasant. Some animals would worry an open wound to the point where they had to wear a protective collar. Certain cats shed met had suddenly turned into domestic demons that shredded curtains and left stinky deposits in their owners shoes. oeMaybe I should be thankful Fly took off before he had a chance to put a ring on my finger, she murmured, gently stroking the big dogs powerful neck. Fly had been her youthful folly. Her walk on the wild side. A walk that had resulted in twins. oeCome on in, boy, she said, opening the door of what had formerly been a 1960s era Laundromat. When she returned home halfway through her soph- omore year of college to help care for her uncle Kurt, whod been like a father to her, shed found a job as a part-time dog groomerand had fallen in love with the business. When the owner decided to retire and move out of the area, Kurt had encouraged Kara to open her own placeone she could put her unique stamp on. The Paws Spa had just celebrated its seventh an- niversary, and so much had happened in her life since that initial ribbon cutting. Meeting Fly (whose real name was Phil), getting pregnant, becoming a single mom to twins, losing Uncle Kurt. Her life had changed in so many ways, but the one constant was her commitment to her clientsand her dream. oeWatch your tail, she warned as George stepped through the doorway. The sounds and smells that were so familiar to her enveloped them both as she followed George into the entry. The building was a rectangular block-walled edifice with four skylights and four plate-glass windows that faced the parking lot. When she and Uncle Kurt had first looked aSalonen, Debra is the author of 'Love, by George ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373714346 and ISBN 0373714343.