Recap: Rikki and Evie find a lost puppy. There are FBI agents at Rikki’s house, and they tell her she is going to need protection, as her uncle was involved in the Mossad and a terrorist in Utah is targeting her mother, looking for information. That’s why Rikki’s mother hasn’t come home yet. They take the dog to a vet, and he discovers a recording device planted behind the dog’s ear.
Chapter 12: Junie (Evie)
We left the vet. I carried the puppy in my arms. There was a soft spring breeze. The mountains loomed on the horizon. It was another beautiful day in Utah.
“Rikki, you should tell your father about the white box in the puppy’s ear right away.”
“Yeah.” Rikki scrunched her nose. “I hate all this spy stuff.” She petted the pup’s head. “What should we name her?”
“She might have a name already, but okay. What does she look like to you?”
“I’m not good at names. Fluffy?”
“I don’t think it fits her. She needs a girly name. Something different. Hey, how about Junie?”
“Why Junie?”
“Well, it’s my birthday month, and I always loved that name,” I said.
“Okay, Junie she is.”
When we reached the front door of Aunt Ruthie’s house, I felt a little flutter in my stomach. What if Aunt Ruthie said no about Junie? I knew she loved dogs, but that was before they got Emmie.
Maggie answered the door, exclaiming, “What a cute dog!”
That was the most I’d heard Maggie say since I met her.
“Where’d you get her?”
“She was hiding under a bush. She was hurt, so we took her to a vet,” Rikki explained.
“Can I hold her?” Maggie opened her arms.
Emmie rushed into the room and squealed when she saw the dog. “Doggie! Doggie!”
I slid Junie into Maggie’s arms.
“She’s so sweet! What’s her name?” Maggie asked.
“She’s Junie,” I said, amazed that I was having a conversation with Maggie.
“This is Rikki, by the way,” I said.
“Hi,” Maggie said. “Are you keeping the dog?”
“I hope so,” I said. “If Aunt Ruthie lets us.”
The way Emmie was patting the dog with so much joy made me feel that it would be easy to convince my aunt.
“When is my aunt coming home?” I asked.
“She should be back soon. She went to the store.”
“Poor doggie. Look, she has a cut over her eye.” Maggie sat down and stroked Junie, with Emmie hovering over her and patting the dog’s back.
I led Rikki into the playroom, and we pulled out a game of Catan.
“Want to play with us?” Rikki asked Maggie.
“Oh, thanks. I have to watch Emmie.”
In the middle of the game, Rikki’s phone buzzed.
“The vet told you? Yes, it was a little white box. I have it. Okay.”
Rikki hung up and glanced toward me. “My father wants me to bring the box home so he can give it to…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to mention the FBI men in front of Maggie.
“Do you have to go now?”
Rikki nodded.
“I’ll see you tomorrow at the rink. There are only two more days before the tz’dakah skate.”
I walked Rikki to the door.
“Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you that there’s a book coming in the mail for you. My father ordered it. It’s called The Sabbath, and it’s a beautiful book all about Shabbos. He said it will answer a lot of the questions you were asking.”
“Please thank him,” I said.
Maggie was still holding the dog when I reentered the living room.
“I just love Junie,” Maggie said.
“It’s so sad that someone abused her,” I said.
Maggie looked up at me. A strange look flashed in her eyes, and she nodded.
Aunt Ruthie arrived home with bags of groceries. I went outside to help bring them in.
Emmie raced over to her. “Doggie! Doggie!”
“Whose dog is that?” Aunt Ruthie smiled and leaned down to pat Junie.
“If you give permission, she’s ours for now,” I explained. I told her how we found the dog.
Aunt Ruthie patted Junie’s head. “She’s so cute! You can keep her as long as Uncle Arnold says it’s okay.”
I knew he loved dogs, so I was sure he’d say yes.
“You and Maggie should go to the store and pick up some dog food, a bowl, and a leash.”
She was assuming he’d want us to keep Junie. I wasn’t sure Maggie would agree to go anywhere with me, so I was surprised when she headed toward the door with us.
“I’ll put Emmie down for her nap,” Aunt Ruthie said.
It was on the walk to the store that Maggie shared something I’d never expected to hear…
To be continued…
