Free DUBIOUS by Tina Brooks McKinney

least pretend that I had the dogs’ best interest at heart. While driving toward the kennel, I made a note in my BlackBerry to hire two full-time veterinarians for round-the-clock coverage, at least until I could dump the mutts.
    When Randy had mentioned going to the kennel, my gut reaction was not to say no, but hell no. I wasn’t thinking at the time. Going wasn’t such a bad idea, even if Dr. Dumb Ass had thought of it. I wasn’t treating this kennel as the business it was. I was using it as a means to get back at Randy. My neglect could have ultimately cost me a great deal of money if I didn’t start paying attention to it. So going to the kennel was a good idea. Now I would be able to say, with a degree of certainty, how many dogs were housed at the facility and how many of them were about to have puppies.
    Despite my resolve to see to the welfare of the animals, I could not deny the resentment I felt as I neared the kennel. It reminded me of that lonely ambulance ride I had taken when I’d lost our baby. Randy, of course, did not make it to the hospital because a few pups were due. He chose his dogs over me. After all, our baby was already dead. Going to the hospital was just a formality. At the time I was so emotionally wigged out, I didn’t think about it that way. Reality and hindsight are motherfuckers, so by the time I was released from the hospital, I was seeing very clearly. I had begun to resent Randy for making me experience that alone.
    * * *
    As I pulled up in front of the kennel, doubt started to settle in. What the hell did I think I could accomplish by coming here? I didn’t know jack shit about births and would probably pass out at the first sight of blood. Consequently, I was relieved when I saw Randy’s car parked in front of the kennel. This was going to be the first time I’d seen him since he’d walked out on me. I hated to admit it, but he looked good. I had to stop myself from running into his arms, arms that were not open for me. “What are you doing here?” I was faking the attitude.
    “ Felicia, I know you hate me because things didn’t work out as we planned, but face it, you don’t know what the hell you’re doing in this type of situation. I’ve done this before so please let me help.”
    “ I’ll learn.”
    “ At what expense?”
    Shit, he had a point; however, my libido was flipping out of control. The last thing I needed was to be next to his ass for however long it took for the bitch to give birth. And Lord help me if I had seen some bitches in there fucking, I might have humped his damn leg like I was in heat. Justus was in the backseat of the car and going crazy. Barking and bumping against the door trying to get out. Randy’s entire face lit up when he realized that I had brought Justus with me.
    I wanted to smack that smile right off his face. “Shut up, Justus.” I turned to look at Randy, daring him to open the door to free his dog. “Randy, this isn’t cool. We go to court in the morning; I can’t afford for you to use this shit against me in the proceedings.”
    “ Felicia, I’ll sign an affidavit stating that I was here voluntarily and that I expect no compensation for anything that I do.”
    I stopped to think about this for a few minutes. Once I opened those doors, I had no clue of what to do. If Randy was willing to do whatever needed to be done, I would have been a fool to turn down his offer. If shit did go wrong, that would only add fuel to my fire. “Okay, but I want that in writing before you touch any of my animals. I’m not trying to get this divorce tied up in court over some bullshit.” I opened the car door, grabbing Justus’s leash, and firmly affixed it to his collar. He tried to nip at Randy’s heels, but I kept him tight against my right leg.
    “ I have no problem with that.” He was smiling but not at me.
    We entered the kennel and he immediately took charge. He turned on the light switches, turned up the heat, then went toward