Page 36 of Enticing the Elf
It takes me a moment to understand he’s concerned about my fake identity being discovered—because of course I wasn’t born in this country, or even in this universe, so all my documents are technically fake. “No, it’s fine,” I assure him. They’re good fakes—the kind that are registered on government databases as real.
Relieved, he says, “Good. Okay, so after the background check comes back, they’ll call you, and you’ll get to come pick upyour baby—and do more paperwork, plus pay another fee for the adoption.”
“The forty-eight-hour delay is for your benefit, as well,” a voice says, and we turn to see the volunteer who walked us in approaching. She was called away a few minutes ago to help with an unsettled dog. “It acts as a cooling-off period. A lot of people decide to get a pet on impulse, but then change their minds when they’ve had time to think about it.”
“That’s sensible,” I approve. “Pet ownership isn’t a game.”
She eyes me curiously. “You’ve had pets before?”
“Oh, yes. Not for—” I cough to cover my almost slip. “Excuse me. Not for a while, but I had several while I was… growing up.” That’s probably the best answer I’m going to come up with. I hope she doesn’t ask what kind, because then I’ll have to outright lie.
To my relief, her face turns sympathetic. “It’s hard to lose them, isn’t it? I’m glad you’re ready to share your love again. Did you want a dog?” She glances at the enclosures around us, which all seem to contain dogs. “How much space do you have?”
“Not much,” I say regretfully. “My work hours are fairly regular, but I don’t think a big dog would be a good idea—they’d be cooped up all day.”
That wins me a nod of approval. “You’re at work all day, then? Is there anyone else at home?”
I shake my head. “Just me.”
Grimacing, she glances around at the dogs again. “Honestly, I don’t think we have any dogs at the moment that would suit you. As you can see, most of them are big, and the few smaller ones we have are young and energetic. They might not need as much space as a big dog, but they’d still feel cooped up and lonely while you were at work.” She shrugs. “If you’re set on a dog, maybe check back next week? We do get older dogs quiteoften when their people pass on and there’s no one to take them.”
“Maybe,” I muse. “Let’s have a look around the other animals and see if I fall in love with anyone before I decide.”
“What about a cat?” Jared suggests as we leave the dog room and enter another. “Margie misses me when I’m at work, but she’s never upset about being alone.”
“We do have some cats who might suit…”
I’m not sure what she says after that, because I’ve stopped listening. My attention has been caught by the sweetest face I’ve ever seen. “It’s a bunny,” I whisper, leaning forward to see that twitchy little nose better. At least, I think it’s a bunny. For some reason, the bunnies that appear most often in media are anthropomorphized.
“Dáithí?” Jared appears at my side. “We lost you. Ohhhhh.”
“Have you ever had a pet rabbit before?” the volunteer, who never told us her name, asks.
I shake my head. “No, never.”
“Okay, well… this lady would actually be pretty perfect for you. Rabbits can live for about twelve years, and she’s three, which means she’s past her toddler years. She’s also very placid, even for her breed, and she’s the perfect example of how her species have more energy in the morning and evening. So while you’re at work, she’ll probably be perfectly fine napping and having quiet time.” She flips the latch on the enclosure and reaches in to pick up my new sweetheart. “Want to hold her?”
I already have my hands out when she turns, and I pay close attention to her instructions. Soon I have the sweetest, softest bundle of brown and white fur cuddled up to me, that nose twitching up at me as though asking me to keep her.
“Is she healthy?” Jared asks. I don’t care, but I listen to the answer anyway, in case my new baby needs medical assistance.
“Perfectly. She’s been desexed and had all her shots and been microchipped. She was a little girl’s birthday present, but it turned out the little girl was severely allergic. They had to call an ambulance when she went into anaphylactic shock. Not a fun birthday for her.”
“That poor girl—both of them,” Jared says, running a finger down my bunny’s back.
“When her father brought this lady in, he said she’d made him promise that we’d call to let her know if new people adopted her. I hope that would be okay with you?”
“Of course,” I murmur. “We can send her a photo, too, if she’d like.”
“That’s very kind. Thank you.” She hesitates. “Normally at this point I’m supposed to ask if you’d like to meet any of the other animals, but…”
“Nope. This sweetheart is for me. Did her previous owner have the chance to give her a name?”
“No, I’m afraid.”
I smile as my sweetheart closes her eyes and tucks her face against my chest. “Then her name is Elsking.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN