Recap: Evie took the dog to the vet. When she came home, Maggie acted differently toward her and told her she had something to share.
“I know how this poor doggie feels,” Maggie said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Maggie stood still for a minute. A bird chirped in a nearby maple tree. The leaves cast rustling shadows on the grass.
“I was in a bad family situation when I was little. I don’t remember much, except that when I was seven, a lady came to the door and took me away, and I was happy to go with her. That’s when I went to a foster home.”
“That sounds so hard,” I said. I felt a wave of sympathy for Maggie. I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to leave your family and go to a strange home.
“My foster parents were very kind, and I grew to love them, but it was hard at first. I was scared of loud noises, and I used to hide under the table.”
She kept walking, stroking Junie’s head. “You’re going to have a nice family now, with no more hurting,” she whispered.
“Were you hit?” I asked.
“I still have scars from it, but I honestly don’t remember. I think I blocked it out. My new family eventually adopted me. Everything was wonderful until my adopted mother got sick. She passed away a year ago.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
Now I understood Maggie’s previous reticence. She’d been through a lot.
We stepped into the store and headed for the pet section. Maggie picked out a dog chewing toy. It was a teddy bear made out of soft, chewable plastic and a plastic dog bone. We found a bag of dog food, and then I found a plastic bowl for her water.
On the way back, I noticed a black car inching along. Were those FBI guys watching me, too? I didn’t have a mother involved with the Mossad, but my close contact with Rikki meant surveillance for me, too.
It felt strange being watched like this. I tried to ignore it and kept walking at a brisk pace back to Aunt Ruthie’s house.
“I’m going back home now,” Maggie said. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, patting Junie’s head. “Bye, Junie.”
I attached the new leash to Junie’s new collar and set her down on the ground. “Now you can walk, Junie.” It took her a while to get used to the leash, but soon she was strutting along beside me.
As I hurried back, I made a decision. I was going to ask Aunt Ruthie if she had my father’s number. I wasn’t sure if I had the courage to call him, but I wanted to have it until I worked up the nerve.
Aunt Ruthie was in the kitchen making corn muffins. Emmie was sitting on the floor near her, building a tower with little blocks.
“Doggie!” Emmie toddled over and started patting Junie.
“Nice collar and leash.”
I filled the water bowl and placed it in a corner of the kitchen. I put the dog toy and bone next to it.
“Would you like a fruit?” Aunt Ruthie asked.
“No thanks. I was wondering. Um…”
Just do it, I told myself. Get the number.
“Do you, by any chance, have my father’s number?”
“I have his number. I’ll go get it from my phone.” She headed to the living room.
I waited. I was just getting a phone number. Why was my heart beating so fast?
“Here it is,” she said. “Do you want to invite him to come visit?”
“Uh, maybe,” I said.
I went upstairs to call Allie. She was the friend I confided in about big things like this.
“How are you?” she asked. “It’s not the same here without you.”
“I miss you, too. I met a nice friend here named Rikki.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you have a friend there.”
“Do you think I should…” My voice trailed off.
“Did you contact your father?”
“That’s why I’m calling. Aunt Ruthie gave me his number. Should I call him?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“What would I say? Hi, this is your long-lost daughter. Why did you leave when I was four?”
“I don’t know, but you should call him. You’ve waited for this for so long.”
I sighed. “I know. And now I’m scared.”
“It’s understandable, but I’m sure he’ll be happy to hear from you.”
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of Captured (Menucha 2025), an historical fiction novel, Please Be Patient (Menucha 2024), Flight of the Doves (Menucha Publishing 2023), Please Be Polite (Menucha Publishers 2022) , A Bridge in Time (Menucha Publishing 2021), Secrets in Disguise (Menucha Publishers 2020), Denver Dreams, a novel (Jerusalem Publications, 2009), Memorable Characters…Magnificent Stories (Scholastic, 2002), Befriend (Menucha Publishers, 2013), The Road Less Traveled (Feldheim, 2015), fiction serials and features in Binah Magazine and Binyan Magazine and “Moon Song” in Binyan (2021-2022) and Alaskan Gold ( 2023-2024).
