The Truth About Hope

Hope applied herself at school, but it didn’t seem to matter how high her marks were or how much she tried to learn about her father’s business; she just couldn’t seem to please him.

Her phone calls with Aunt Clarissa were a source of comfort and support. But things had changed for Clarissa, too. She’d gotten a new job—a leadership position with a competing company—and had a boyfriend. Hope was happy for her. She knew Clarissa would always be there for her, but with the added management responsibilities and the new demands on her personal time, Hope accepted that their contact would be less frequent in the future.

At school, Hope kept to herself. She had no interest in making friends. She didn’t want to expose herself to heartache again with her future so uncertain.

With summer approaching once more, she wanted to do something productive with her time. She was offered a job at the pet store where she shopped for Einstein. Nothing fancy. She’d be stocking shelves, helping customers, doing some grooming and, best of all, they’d let her bring Einstein to work. She’d never had a job before and she was over-the-moon happy! But when she mentioned it to her father, he forbade her to accept the position. He declared it beneath her. If she wanted a job, she could work for him. Start learning about the business.

Hope turned down the job at the pet store. Her father’s resistance was just too great. She also declined the administrative position he offered her.

Priscilla came up with an idea that appealed to Hope and met with acceptance from her father. She volunteered at the local medical center to assist with the care of critically ill patients.

The passage of time might have dulled the pain, but Hope still missed her mother terribly. She knew that the upcoming one-year anniversary of her mother’s death would be a particularly bad day for her.

Other than when Hope was in school, the hours she spent at the medical center were the rare occasions she and Einstein were separated. She tried to schedule her hospital visits for when her father was away from home. She preferred to leave Einstein with Priscilla in the house, rather than with Morris in the garage, especially since his duties required him to be in and out all the time.

It didn’t always work out.

Hope received a call early one morning from the hospital, informing her that a regularly scheduled volunteer was unable to make his shift because of a family emergency. They needed her to fill in. She couldn’t say no, despite being aware that her father was working from home most of the day. He’d said something about having legal contracts to review and had an evening appointment after that.

Eager to get Einstein out of the house, she went looking for Morris. Unfortunately, he was running errands for her father, and he wasn’t due back until midafternoon.

She’d already made the commitment to the hospital, so she had to do it. Priscilla promised she’d watch Einstein and, above all, keep him out of her father’s way. She told Hope not to worry. After all, Einstein might be big and ungainly, but he was a sweet, affectionate dog and no trouble at all.

* * *

WHAT THEY HADN’T counted on was a dustup in the front yard shortly after lunch between one of the housekeeping staff and a gardener, and they were heading, shoving and shouting, right toward the side of the house overlooked by Mr. Wilson’s office window.

Noticing the altercation through the kitchen window, Priscilla gave Einstein a firm command to stay in the kitchen and rushed out the side door with the obvious intent of averting a disaster, and possibly two firings.

* * *

EINSTEIN WASN’T ACCUSTOMED to being on his own. His ears and tail drooped, and he pressed his big black nose against the glass insert of the door. He plopped down by the screen door, his huge sigh near-human, and his eyes tracked Priscilla as she hurried around the corner of the house. He waited...and waited...and waited. Finally deciding he was on his own and not liking it at all, he rose with another big sigh. Pulling his leash from the hook by the door, he grasped it in his mouth and sauntered off in search of someone who could take him outside, where all the action was.

Jock was in his office reviewing legal papers when Einstein stuck his head through the door. A quiet dog when he wanted to be, Einstein padded into the office and plunked down next to the chair, without Jock’s noticing. After sitting patiently for a few minutes, Einstein bumped Jock’s knee with his nose.

Jock shoved Einstein away. “What are you doing in here?” he asked gruffly, as he brushed at the damp spot Einstein’s nose had left on his trousers.

In response, Einstein raised one paw. His leash still clasped in his mouth, he thumped his tail expectantly.

“I don’t have time to take you for a walk, nor do I want you in here. Go get one of the help.”

Einstein whined, but taking Jock’s position as a “not now” rather than a “no,” he rolled onto his back, legs splayed.

Jock sent him a last dismissive look and turned his attention back to his document.

Not achieving the desired outcome, Einstein sat up again and crept a little closer to Jock. Getting no reaction, he dropped the leash and once more butted Jock’s knee.

“What the... If you insist on staying in here, be quiet and leave me alone to do my work. Just be thankful I haven’t thrown you out on your ear!” Jock flipped a page and reached for the glass of red wine he had on his desk. As he raised the glass to take a sip, Einstein nudged his elbow, more insistently this time. The glass tipped and burgundy liquid splashed on the desk, the papers and down the front of Jock’s shirt and tie.

Slamming the empty glass back on its coaster, Jock sprang up and dabbed at the spreading stain. “You!” He turned on the dog menacingly.

Not sure what he’d done wrong, but clearly appreciating that he was in trouble, Einstein cowered and backed away. “I’ve a mind to toss you out right now,” Jock raged at the trembling dog, as he yanked off his ruined tie.

Retreating as he was, Einstein smacked against the door, shutting it as he did. Jock was narrowing the gap between them, and Einstein no longer had the option of fleeing. He drew himself in as much as he could, trying to become invisible—an impossible feat for a dog his size. Jock shot out a hand toward the doorknob just above Einstein’s head. Fearing he was going to be struck, Einstein gave a sharp, terrified bark.

Jock pulled his hand back quickly, but his face was livid. “Threatening me, are you? We’ll see who comes out on top.” Moving swiftly, he looped his tie around Einstein’s neck, twisted to tighten it and tugged the dog forward so he could open the door. He dragged the petrified dog along the hall, down the stairs and through the front vestibule past a wide-eyed Priscilla.

She hurried after him. “Mr. Wilson, what are you doing?”

“Taking this mongrel to the pound, where he should’ve been taken in the first place.”

“You can’t do that,” she pleaded.

He threw her a contemptuous look. “Watch me.”

“What about Hope? She’ll be devastated! It’s my fault. I was supposed to be watching him. Please let me have him, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.”

“Too late for that. This dog...” He yanked the tie, making Einstein whimper. “He spilled my wine, growled at me, and I’m sure if I wasn’t quicker than he was, he would’ve taken a bite out of my hand, too.”

Priscilla cast her eyes to the cringing, pitiful Einstein. “Please leave him with me,” she implored. “I’ll take him to the pound if that’s what you really want.”

“We’re not going through that again. I can’t trust you to do it. I’m personally taking him and having him put down like the dangerous animal he is.”

“He’s not dangerous—”

“Quiet!” Jock roared. “You dare to question me?” He wagged the index finger of his free hand at her. “Another word from you, and you’ll be out on your ear, too.”

“But Hope...”

“My daughter is my business. You two have gotten too close for my liking. But that’s for later. Right now, this creature is going to the pound.” He hauled Einstein across the floor and out the door, banging it shut behind him.

CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_a192fba3-8c1c-58ba-9f62-3a2b734109ca)

PRISCILLA PACED ANXIOUSLY in front of the window of the upstairs sitting room. It had an unobstructed view of the driveway, so she’d know right away when Hope returned. Why didn’t that girl ever carry her mobile phone? But Priscilla knew the answer. She didn’t have many people she wanted to talk to. Priscilla had tried reaching Hope at the hospital, but they’d sent her on an errand and couldn’t reach her either.

Priscilla fretted that time was very much of the essence. She had no doubt that Mr. Wilson had taken Einstein to a pound and—true to his word—claimed him to be a threat and ordered him put down. By checking the last number dialed on his office phone, she’d identified the animal shelter Mr. Wilson had selected. She’d tried to call repeatedly, without success. If Hope wasn’t home soon, Priscilla would go there, even though she knew she’d lose her job if Mr. Wilson found out. She worried about how she’d support Molly if that happened, but she had to do what was right. What kind of role model would she be to her beloved little girl if she didn’t?

Just as Priscilla reached for the phone to call a taxi, Hope’s Audi rounded the curve. Priscilla dashed down the stairs and outside, grabbing Hope’s arms before she had a chance to get out of the car. “Something terrible has happened. Your father took Einstein—”

“Took him? Took him where?”

“He took Einstein to have him...put down.”

“What are you talking about?” Hope screamed, shrugging free of Priscilla’s hold. She was frantic. “Do you know where he took him?”

Priscilla reached in her pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. “Here. I wrote down their number, too. I’ve been calling and calling, but it goes to voice mail every time. I’ve left a few urgent messages.”

“Okay, keep trying. Call me on my cell if you reach someone.”