Free Hello Love by Karen McQuestion Page B

second thought, taking the dog with her to the grocery store, wouldn’t work either. That left PetShop, a place she knew allowed animals. Anni followed her to the bedroom and watched curiously as Andrea pulled a plastic storage container out from under the bed. Her wrapping paper bin. She found some red velveteen ribbon, cut off a length, and looped it through Anni’s collar. It was as good a leash as she was going to come up with on short notice.
    The drive to PetShop was uneventful, with Andrea driving very carefully, and Anni scrunching down in the front seat like a fugitive. When they arrived at the store, and Andrea opened the car door, Anni leapt out of the front seat with a joyful exuberance, almost as if she knew where they were. Andrea looked down at her in wonder. How trusting she was. She thought again about the frat boy shoving her really hard with his boot, making her cry out in pain. Even the thought made her shake her head in anger. What was wrong with people?
    The idea that the frat boys or someone who knew them might be in the store and recognize Anni crossed her mind, but she was less afraid than she’d been before. They didn’t strike her as the type of people to shop at PetShop. There hadn’t been any dog toys in the apartment, and the chain they used to keep her tied to the balcony was industrial strength, clearly not intended for a dog. No, it was fairly safe to shop here.
    Inside the store, Anni walked alongside her. They passed cages filled with squawking birds, but Anni expressed only a mild interest. Going past the gerbil and hamster cages, the dog kept her nose forward as if she couldn’t be bothered with such things. Anni acted as if shopping at PetShop was routine for her, while Andrea felt a little overwhelmed.
    Going down one aisle, Andrea noticed a white-haired lady pushing a small terrier in a cart, and like proud mothers they exchanged nods in passing. Andrea chose a leash, and weighed several dog toy options, finally throwing a variety into the cart. From there she picked out some treats, dog shampoo, and an oval bed, putting it on the floor and pressing on it to see how comfortable it would be. She urged Anni to step inside the bed and said, “Lie down,” then beamed with delight when the dog did just that. “Good girl!” Anni had to be the smartest dog ever. Andrea couldn’t believe how quickly they were getting everything done.
    Anni looked so comfortable in the bed on the floor of the PetShop, it seemed a shame to disturb her, but Andrea was on a mission, so she tugged on the ribbon and Anni reluctantly got out. After putting the bed into the cart, they headed to the back corner of the store to pick up a bag of dog food. When they got to the food aisle, the actual thing they’d come for, the number of choices stopped her cold.
    The wall of food went from the floor to over her head. Not only were there different brands, but they also were categorized by the size of the bag and the type of dog. There was food for puppies and for senior dogs, bags labeled with words like “longevity” and “all natural.” Some promised superior ingredients and no artificial flavors or colors. Andrea looked down at Anni as if the dog might indicate a preference. “What do you think, girl?” She smiled at how quickly she’d become one of those crazy dog ladies, the kind who spoke to their pet like they were human.
    Anni sat at her feet and leaned against her leg while Andrea read the labels, trying to make sense of it all. She got out her phone to Google brand names and was so engrossed in her search that she didn’t even see the older gentleman approach. “Can I help you, miss?” he asked, startling her.
    “Oh! I . . . ” She shut down the phone and put it back in her purse. “I’m trying to figure out what to buy.”
    “What a cutie!” He leaned over to pet Anni, giving Andrea a view of the top of his shiny pink scalp. When he stood up, he clasped his hands together. He was a