"Good evening, Emilia," Bernadette greeted her with a smile as she caught sight of Emilia ascending the path from afar. However, her eyes quickly fell upon the peculiar monstrosity beside her.
"Good evening, Bernie," Emilia reciprocated the warm greeting.
"What on earth is this?" Bernie exclaimed, taken aback by the sight of the disheveled creature.
"Once upon a time, he was a dog. The vet confirmed it." Emilia answered wearily, her eyes brimming with compassion. "I found him near the road, and since the shelter is closed at this time, I brought him here for the night. I'll take him to the city first thing in the morning."
Bernie's concern deepened as she took in Emilia's appearance. "Whatever happened to you?"
"Oh, I took a tumble off the bike," Emilia admitted sheepishly, as she followed Bernie's gaze, looking down at her legs. Droplets of dried blood were grotesquely decorating her legs from her knees down.
"Goodness, Emilia!" Bernie shook her head in disapproval. "I'll fetch some water and food for him."
"Thank you, Bernie. I'll attempt to clean him up a bit, as his stench is utterly nauseating."
"Bless your heart," Bernie murmured, shaking her head as she headed toward the manor. Emilia's smile lingered, grateful for the support she received.
She made her way to the shed, carefully placing her bike aside. She searched the area for a water hose and a suitable spot to clean the abominably filthy animal. Despite two thorough washes, using copious amounts of soap she had brought from inside, the dog's stench remained overpowering. The primary difference was that Emilia herself was now drenched from head to toe, mirroring the sorry state of the dog.
"James was truly generous." Bernie came back with a big tub of water and another of food. "Will you be coming in for the dinner?"
"Not just yet." Emilia admitted which made Bernie sigh with defeat.
"James placed a plate for you on the side."
"Thank you."
"I will leave for the night soon. I hope that you do not get yourself into any trouble?"
"Hopefully not."
Emilia meticulously bathed the dog, carefully scrubbing every inch of its fur. Afterwards, she settled down beside the dog as it eagerly devoured the meal from the plastic bowl that Bernadette had brought out. Emilia couldn't bear to leave the dog's side; she was already attached to the animal, against her logic or sense.
She embraced the dog, yearning for a place she could call her own, where she could provide a loving home for him. Without hesitation, she would have taken him in, giving him a unique or quirky name.
Lost in her daydreams, she pondered the whimsical names she could give to the adorable ball of fluff that still had a defying odour. Once the dog finished its meal and settled on the floor, Emilia securely shut the shed. She dashed toward the manor's grand entrance, to search for either an old blanket or a jumper to ensure the dog's comfort throughout the night. Bursting through the door, she nearly stumbled as the dog darted inside, its muddy paws smearing the pristine marble floor. Her heart skipped a beat as she realised Christopher had just arrived home, still wearing his fancy black coat that matched his black tailored suit. The dog raced across the marble, catching Christopher off guard,and Emilia sprinted after the runaway pooch, desperately attempting to retrieve him.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry, Mr. Hayden!" Emilia called out, struggling to catch the dog.
Christopher swiftly turned around, reacting without a moment's delay, and he seized the animal by its new red collar.
"What is this beast doing here?" he inquired, a hint of surprise evident in his composed tone. His voice remained calm, surprising Emilia, as she had expected him to be angry.
"Ir is all my fault, Mr. Hayden. I apologise," Emilia said, standing just a couple of feet away, bracing herself for Christopher's reaction.
"Is it yours?" he queried.
"No, Mr. Hayden," Emilia replied, her hair slightly disheveled. She was completely oblivious to her state.
"Then, to whom does it belong?"
"No one, sir. That's why I brought him with me. I'll make sure he finds a good home soon enough."
"So, he is yours."
"Only temporarily. I have tried to confine this disobedient pup to the shed, but he must have escaped."
"If you had expressed your desire for a dog, I could have found you a more refined creature than this." Christopher spoke calmly as he looked down at the animal beside his heels.
"Oh no, sir," Emilia shook her head. "I wouldn't want any other dog."
"Do you want him?" Christopher looked up at her, his blue eyes weakening her knees.
"Well... I have no means to keep him," Emilia admitted.
"Oh, he reeks."
"I'm afraid so, Mr. Hayden. I've already given him two baths, but there's little hope for the poor thing to resemble anything other than a swamp monster."
"And yet, you wish to keep him?" Christopher seemed increasingly astonished.
"Only if I could, sir. But…" Emilia looked away in embarrassment.
"I'll arrange for Mr Cosby to schedule an appointment with a dog groomer tomorrow. We must ensure he doesn't bring any fleas inside," Christopher decided, squatting down and scratching behind the dog's ear. The dog playfully rolled over, exposing its belly, and it lightly nibbled at Christopher's hand.
"Mr. Hayden...?" Emilia couldn't believe what she just heard.
"What is his name?"
"I do not know."
"What would you like to name him?"
"I haven't decided yet," Emilia replied. "But I've considered a few names, Mr. Hayden. I thought of Mr. Watson, Rowlf, or Bark Twain."
"Bark Twain sounds quite amusing," Christopher chuckled. "Let's settle on Bark Twain then. For now, we'll set him up in the storage room behind the kitchen. Tomorrow, after a thorough cleaning, we can find him a more suitable spot."
"Thank you, Mr. Hayden!" Emilia's face lit up with joy.
"Welcome to the Hayden household, Bark Twain," Christopher laughed as he led the dog by its red collar, toward the storage room. "Goodness, you really do stink. Did he eat and drink?"
"Yes, sir," Emilia replied, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. "He had a hearty dinner."
"Please, get him a bowl of water while I fetch some blankets," Christopher instructed before he left Emilia alone with the dog right by the storage room.
"You mischievous pup, what have you gotten yourself into?" Emilia spoke to the dog as they entered the kitchen, its tail wagging with excitement, its paws clicking noisily on the marble floor. "You're lucky Mr. Hayden is so kind-hearted. We could have both ended up homeless if he weren't."
She poured water into a plastic container she found in the recycling bin, leading the dog back to the storage room. Placing the bowl in front of him, he eagerly drank, splashing water all around in his enthusiasm. "Goodness, you really reek."
"I hope he appreciates the wool blankets," Christopher grumbled, returning with two luxurious blankets.
"Oh no, sir. Let me fetch my old sweater. You shouldn't waste such fine blankets on him," Emilia suggested.
"It'll be perfectly fine," Christopher insisted, already kneeling on the ground, gently spreading one of the blankets. The dog sniffed at it before plopping down and playfully tugging at its corner with his teeth.
"Hey, Barky, stop that," Emilia attempted to intervene, but the dog stubbornly continued.
"I believe he's rather fond of it," Christopher chuckled at Emilia's futile efforts. "I think he'll be quite content here until tomorrow. After a good wash and trim and a visit to the vet, he should be much better."
"Thank you, Mr. Hayden," Emilia's cheeks flushed with excitement. She couldn't quite believe that Christopher had agreed to let Bark Twain stay in his home, and that he even sacrificed two of the most luxurious blankets that she had ever seen.
"It's no trouble at all. With some training, he might turn out to be a decent dog," Christopher remarked, glancing over at the mischievous creature. Emilia couldn't help but wonder if Christopher saw the same dog as she did. But she decided not to say anything more, simply relishing in the unexpected turn of events.