Someone Else’s Life(3)

“No,” Brody said. “I thought you did. You went into the carport last night and came back with a few boxes. You said you were going to finally unpack.”

Annie rubbed her forehead as she struggled to remember. Had she stumbled out to the storage area last night? What else had she done that she didn’t remember today?

Not wanting him to see her concern, she put a smile on her face and waved as he and Finn got into his car and drove away. Then she crouched down and opened the box. Her forehead furrowed as she pulled out a filthy purple and white gardening glove. Turning it over in her hand, she was just wondering why anyone would keep a dirty glove when she realized what she was holding. She found its mate in the box and pulled one onto her hand, not at all surprised when it fit her like a . . . well, glove.

Annie sat heavily on the ground. This had been her favorite pair of gardening gloves but had disappeared a while ago at their lake house in New York. She’d had a habit of taking them off when she worked in the flower garden at the front of the house and then having to hunt them down. Until one day, when she couldn’t find them anywhere. What were they doing here?

Taking the glove off, Annie looked in the box again. She pulled out a small blue Paw Patrol shirt of Finn’s that she’d also thought they’d lost. Her hands shaking, she reached in and found a stuffed pink pig with one ear chewed to pieces and stuffing coming from a hole in its side. Lili’s toy. She dropped it on the ground next to Finn’s shirt as a shiver went down her spine. She looked in the box again and found the lake bumper magnet that used to be on her car in New York. She’d thought it had fallen off, but here it was, in Kauai.

How had these things gotten here? She had absolutely no recollection of finding these missing items and bringing them to Kauai.

Dropping everything back in the box, she quickly stood, her breath catching. She was fine. There had to be a good explanation. But she didn’t have time to think about it. She was already late for the shelter. She walked down the driveway, pausing to look down their street, which was on the banks of the Wailua River, before getting into her car.

A flash of white at the end of the dead-end street caught her eyes. It was a car doing a three-point turn. As she watched the car turn right, a sense of déjà vu washed over her—she’d done this before, watched a white car drive away. But where? And when? She rubbed at the goose bumps that had sprung up on her arms and darted to her car, slamming the door with more force than was necessary. Putting her forehead down on the steering wheel, she closed her eyes. What was happening to her mind?





3


Annie opened the washing machine at the Kauai Humane Society and threw in some soiled towels and bedding. After adding soap and bleach, she started the machine and then took clean towels out of the dryers, folding and placing them on the shelves behind her. Laundry done for now, she headed back to the kennels.

Dogs of all sizes and colors came running up to their doors as she passed, some wagging their tails, some barking and jumping for attention. She greeted each one until she stopped in front of the one who’d stolen her heart. Frito, the saddest-looking dog she’d ever seen.

“Want to go in the play yard?”

The black terrier mix didn’t respond from his position on the ground, but Pickles, the pit bull mix around the corner, barked and started whining.

Annie laughed and called to Pickles, “I already took you out today. Next time, okay?”

She unlatched the door to Frito’s kennel and slipped inside, shutting it firmly behind her. “Hey, buddy,” she said in a soft voice. “You still depressed?” She crouched down next to him and slowly reached out a hand. When he didn’t flinch or move, she laid it on his back and started petting him. He was a year old and had come in as an owner surrender last week. Pollie, the volunteer coordinator, had told her he hadn’t perked up at all.

“I get it. I really do. Come on—you’re going out whether you like it or not. This kennel is too depressing.” Annie held out the harness in her hand and slipped it over his head.

Once in the play yard, the medium-size dog sniffed the grass and did his business. Then he stood so still that she bent down to make sure he was breathing. She took his head between her hands and looked into his eyes, startled by the depth of sadness she saw in them.

“Oh, Frito. It’s okay. Why don’t we sit in the shade? It’s so hot today.” She pulled her red volunteer T-shirt away from her sticky body as she led him to the bench in the play yard.

He surprised her by jumping up next to her. Even though he didn’t look at Annie, she was happy when he leaned into her side ever so slightly.

She put an arm around him. “I know how you feel. My life sucks too.” She glanced down, amused that she was carrying on a one-sided conversation with a depressed dog. Talk about hitting bottom.

“I had a dog once, a mini dachshund named Lili. She was a smooth black and tan. I got her when I was single and living in New York City. We did everything together. She was my constant companion.” Was it her imagination, or was Frito leaning closer?

“I miss her so much.” Annie wrapped both arms around Frito and hugged him close. He didn’t move, but he didn’t resist her either. “I know Brody’s been wanting a dog again. But I just couldn’t.” She looked into his eyes. “First Lili, then my mom, both gone the same year. Then my dance company and studio. I think a part of me died that year.” Frito stared at her as if hypnotized. Annie lowered her voice. “My panic attacks are back. And I think I’m doing things I don’t remember.”