Puppy Love

It wasn’t so much that she didn’t want to go out. Part of her really wanted to. Staying at home, looking after his dog, and finishing the last load of laundry were hardly high on her list of exciting things to do on a Saturday night. So, no. Not wanting to go out wasn’t the real issue.

Timing. That was the issue.

Brett had finally asked her to do something for him. He’d finally noticed her as more than just the weird neighbour across the hall. He’d finally reached out and leaned on her. And though she wasn’t the biggest fan of dogs, she’d leapt at the opportunity to help.

“C’mon Liz,” Jenny whined. “He’s just a dog! He needs a bowl of water and a chew toy. Come with us!” Liz sighed and looked at Winks. As if reading her mind, Winks sighed, laid on the floor at her feet and looked at her forlornly.

“Sorry, Jen. Next time!” Liz quickly ended the call before losing her nerve. Saturdays were the best nights to be at the pub and Jenny was always ready for anything. Liz knew she’d be missing out on a great night. If she thought about it too long, she’d be meeting Jenny at the pub and forgetting all of her problems, including the four-legged variety currently slobbering on her slippers. As she placed her phone on the side table, she couldn’t help but wonder if Brett would ever know what she’d given up for him. Shrugging, she stood and, grabbing her keys and the lead, called Winks to the door.

“Ok, boy,” she muttered. “One lap.”

Walking down the hall towards the elevator, Liz let her mind wander. Passing Brett’s door, she smiled. It was involuntary. Just thinking his name made her smile.

Hopeless. That’s what Ken had called her when she told him she’d agreed to watch Winks for the weekend. She couldn’t deny it. She was hopeless. Literally. Hope. Less. Brett hardly knew she was alive. Until he’d frantically rapped on her door, asking her to take Winks, they’d hardly had a conversation. But his dazzling smile. His wavy brown hair. His dark lashes and perfect brows… yes. Hopeless.

The ding of the elevator doors opening pulled Liz out of her reverie. An older man, smelling of stale aftershave and cigarettes, rushed past her, bumping her with his shoulder. He grunted at her before hurrying down the hallway. Winks growled, low in his throat. Suddenly grateful for the dog’s presence, Liz headed into the elevator. Absently, Liz reached down to pat the golden retriever on the head, and the doors to the elevator closed in front of her. Reaching out to select the main floor, she felt a pull on the lead in her hand. Leaning against the wall of the elevator, she sighed and turned her attention to the boisterous pup. “Whatcha got?” she laughed, as Winks pawed at the floor.

Looking closer, Liz realized Winks was pawing at something. “No really,” she said. “What have you got?” She tugged on his leash, attempting to pull him away from whatever it was that had his attention. “If it’s an animal, you’re a dead dog”, she muttered to herself, moving towards the corner of the elevator. Pushing Winks’ head out of the way, she laughed in relief.

“A notebook, Winks. Seriously? A notebook?”

Shaking her head, she reached down and snatched the small, black notebook off the floor. She is about to open it when the elevator door dings and Winks begins pulling towards the door. Shoving the notebook in her back pocket, Liz followed after the excited dog.

Heading down towards the old school, Liz was excited to let Winks run off some energy. She didn’t dislike the animal, but she certainly wasn’t used to having a dog in the house. As she reached down to unclip the lead, Liz laughed as Winks licked her face. “Yeah, yeah,” she said, giving him a quick pat. “Go play.”

Watching Winks do laps of the football field, Liz remembered the notebook in her back pocket. Pulling it out, she stared at the cover. Smaller than an address book, its pages were well worn. The edges were smooth, and the soft leather cover was shiny from use. Flipping it open, a small piece of paper floated to her feet. Liz could see that there was a message on the paper and, bending over to pick it up, stopped short when she saw a familiar address. Her address. Grabbing the paper from the ground, Liz quickly flicked through the notebook.

Puzzled, she attempted to make sense of what she was looking at. Inside, written in small even handwriting, were names. Pages and pages of names, some with numbers and some without. As she flipped towards the back, her breath caught. There, on the last page, she saw it.

Brett X/Liz 20

What were the odds? Brett? And Liz? As she thought about it, wondering if this Liz was herself, she remembered the paper in her hand. Looking at it again she saw that it did, in fact, display her address. It couldn’t be a coincidence. But what did it mean?

Calling Winks, hands shaking, she put the notebook and the paper back in her pocket. She attached his lead and headed back towards home, walking more quickly than before. Winks attempted to stop and sniff but Liz kept moving. Her mind was racing. Brett? Liz? X? 20?

As Liz rounded the last corner before home, she struggled to remember why Brett had asked her to watch the dog this weekend. They were mere acquaintances and, apart from a few conversations outside, they’d interacted very little. In the moment, though, that hadn’t seemed relevant. She was so thrilled to find him at her door that she’d literally jumped at the opportunity to help. And now here she was, riding the elevator back to her apartment, with a notebook containing her name, Brett’s name and their address. “This is weird, huh boy?” she asked, as she held Winks’ leash closer to her chest.

When the elevator door opened Winks charged out the door. Startled, Liz dropped the leash. “No, Winks!” she yelled, as she watched him bound down the hallway before turning at his, or Brett’s, door. “Winks stop!” she hollered, just before Winks disappeared inside.

Already unnerved by finding her name and address in the notebook, Liz began to sweat as she walked slowly towards Brett’s open door. “Hello?” she asked, nervously, knocking on the open door. “Brett?”

No answer. Peeking her head in the doorway, Liz called again. “Winks? Brett? … Hello?” Winks let out a friendly bark. Liz headed inside. Flipping on the hall light, she gasped as she tripped over something laying in the hallway. There, seeming wholly out of place, sat a metal box. Slightly bigger than a shoe box, it didn’t budge when she hit it with her foot. “Winks!” She called again, stepping over the box and entering Brett’s kitchen. Although she’d never been inside before, she suspected that things were as they should be. It was neat and tidy, with nothing obvious out of place. Walking a few more steps, Liz turned the corner into the living room.

She smelled him before she saw him. Cigarettes. Old man aftershave. And stale closet. “Hello,” he said.

“I’m just here for the dog,” Liz managed, turning back towards the door. “Winks!” she hollered again, panic creeping into her voice. Winks bounded around the corner, tail wagging.

“Take your parcel,” the man said.

Liz stopped walking. “My… parcel?” Without turning around, Liz could sense he was behind her. She jumped when she felt his breath on her neck.

“Take the box. And get out,” He said. “I have other deliveries to make.”

Liz paused, unsure. “Liz,” he said, clearing his throat. “Now.” Pointing towards the box as he stepped past it, the old man walked out the door. Winks stood in the doorway, tail thumping happily against the wall. As Liz stared blankly at the box, she jumped when the man spoke again. “Take it, or I take the dog.”

Liz ran towards the door, grabbing Winks by the collar. The dog’s ears flattened to his head and a growl started rumbling in his chest. The man, grabbing her arm, put his face in hers. “This is not a joke. Take the box now.” Then he turned and quickly walked down the hallway, patting his jacket pockets as he went. Liz watched as he pushed the elevator doors, still patting his pockets.

When the elevator doors opened, Liz turned around and grabbed the box. It was heavy, and she struggled to handle it and Winks. She let go of the dog and said, “Go home, Winks.” Winks bolted towards her door and then she hefted the box up and left the apartment.

…

Liz breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed behind her. Placing the box on the side table, she quickly flipped the deadbolt. Leaning against the door, Liz puzzled over what had just happened. Where was Brett?

Liz jumped when she heard the familiar ding of the elevator doors opening. Holding her breath, Liz heard feet pounding down the hallway. She jumped again, as she heard the sound of yelling voices and breaking dishes from across the hall. Grabbing the box, she quietly moved to her bedroom, motioning for Winks to follow.

Sitting on her bed, Liz unsnapped the lid to the box. Slowly pulling it off, she puffed out all of her air when she saw what was inside.

Money. Rolled up bills of all colours. On top was a note. “For you. Take care of my dog.”

There was no signature and no explanation.

Liz looked towards her door and listened to the continued sounds of destruction coming from across the hall. She pulled Winks close to her and buried her face in his neck. “Now what?” she asked.

Winks had no answers.