It is always sad when there is trouble between people because of something small and innocent. It is always sad when people find reasons to be angry in something that should bring joy.
My watcher Imatti sent for me only moments after Gabrielle arrived home with her new charge, and I arrived only seconds later to find Nick still staring down at the little tumble of brown and white fur that was sniffing around his feet.
I loved the puppy immediately—how could one not love a creature of such innocence, such unconditional love? But more than that, I could see how the creature brightened Gabrielle’s spirits and warmed her heart. She has wanted this for some time, and I was happy that she had finally acted on this wish.
Nick was less pleased, and I could see why Imatti had sent for me. “You got a dog?” he asked, stepping back a bit as the puppy began to lick his toes.
“His name is Walter,” Gabrielle said, unloading a bag full of food and toys and a collar and some thick white pads. “He’s a little older than I really wanted, but I told myself, I’m going to know as soon as I walk into the shelter, and I did, so he’s ours! They didn’t really know what breed he was, but I’m guessing he has a lot of Jack Russell in him, and maybe a little bit of lab? Which probably means he’ll be pretty energetic, but I’ve got no problem with that!” She laughed and scooped up the puppy, who immediately began washing her face in ecstatic love.
“Okay, hold on, slow down,” Nick said.
This was hard to accomplish, more so because I did not want to restrain Gabrielle’s joy. But Nick was not happy, and the longer it took for her to realize that, the worse it would be, so I placed cold awareness on her. She looked at Nick, still smiling. “What’s wrong?”
He folded his arms. “You got a dog without talking to me, that’s what’s wrong. Did it not occur to you that this is a big decision?”
She blinked. “Yeah, but…look at him.” She held out the puppy, who whined and stuck out his nose toward Nick.
I thought it a compelling argument, but Nick was unswayed. “Gabby, we’re not supposed to have dogs in this apartment.”
“Yeah, but I talked to the landlord—”
“You talked to the landlord without talking to me first?”
Gabrielle pulled Walter back against her chest, looking down sheepishly. “Well, it might have been a…kind of hypothetical conversation.”
“Oh. Great. So it probably isn’t allowed.”
Gabrielle shook her head. “I’ll talk him around. This little guy will be worth it, won’t you, buddy?” She kissed the puppy’s nose.
“Gabby, would you listen to me?” Nick asked. “We don’t have time to take care of a dog. We probably can’t afford to, either, what with vet visits and pet food and probably the extra rent the landlord is going to charge—not to mention the stuff that he’ll destroy—”
“He would never,” Gabrielle protested.
“He’s a puppy, that’s what they do! We’re barely making it by as it is, and both of us spend so much time away from home—”
“Well, I’ll train him and make sure he’s well-behaved, and I can come back home between classes to check on him.”
“Wasting gas money.”
Gabrielle was beginning to get upset now. She put Walter on his feet and swung the door closed behind her. “What’s wrong with you? I thought you liked dogs.”
“I do like dogs, but we aren’t ready for a dog!”
“I’m ready for a dog!”
“And that right there is my point!” Nick shouted. He clenched his teeth and turned away, striding into the kitchen. Walter went trotting after him.
Gabrielle was bewildered, until I leaned in and whispered to her, “You really should have talked to him about this.”
Sighing, she followed Nick, finding him scowling down at the stove. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was doing this,” she said. “But you know I’ve wanted a dog for a while now. Like, really, really wanted one.”
Nick shook his head. “I guess I should be grateful you waited this long,” he muttered.
That stung; Nick has never before said anything against Gabrielle’s impulsive nature. Her hand fell to the back of one of the chairs and tightened. “I’m sorry,” she said again, and this time she meant it.
I didn’t like that. It felt almost as if she was apologizing not for what she had done, but for who she was, and I did not like that one bit.
Perhaps in my disapproval of her abasement, she found strength. Even as Nick turned to look at her for the first time, she lifted her chin again. “But I’m not taking him back.”
This might have started off the argument again, but I whispered something quickly to Walter, who scrambled across the kitchen floor and fell across Nick’s feet, groaning. Nick looked down, and a smile broke across his face despite himself. Laughing in defeat, he crouched and began to rub the puppy’s tummy. “All right,” he said. “He is really cute. But if he chews my good shoes—”
“I will defend your good shoes with my life,” Gabrielle assured him, joining him on the floor. Walter jumped into her lap and they both laughed, stroking his floppy ears. “We can’t always think about money and practical stuff, Nick,” she murmured, looking her husband in the eyes. “We have to do things that just make us happy.”
He met her gaze and smiled. “Like getting married over the weekend?”
“Yeah, like that,” she laughed, and they sealed the reconciliation with a kiss.
It makes me happy when my charges find wisdom in their lives that I should follow myself. We do indeed sometimes have to do something that just makes us happy. So I think I am going to go check in on Freya, once more before the day is done.