The little otter had been injured and too tiny to survive on his own when she found him on the coast. She’d brought him home without a second thought. His first night had been frightening, and she’d sat up with him for most of it, stroking his fur and encouraging him to sip water.
That had been nearly a month ago. She held out a few chunks of the fish and smiled at his paws, like tiny hands, snatching the food away in a blur. He sat in a scruffy ball, holding the fish to his mouth and chewing noisily.
“I’m gonna miss you.” She stroked the fur on his back gently, aware that it irritated him when he was eating. His coat twitched with each touch, and she laughed.
“Okay, I know you’ll be fine.”
Her cell phone rang, and she left the little otter, fumbling through her bag and pulling her phone out.
“Hey, Elayna,”
It was Kyle, but he didn’t give her a chance to say hello. “I was driving home and realized I never gave you an address.”
He rattled off a number and street name, which she’d never heard before, and a mild thank you, and then she remembered the kids…or babies, as everyone called them. But if they were hanging out at home by themselves, they had to be a little older than that.
“Got it, Kyle, thanks. I’ll run over in a few minutes.” She rolled her eyes as she ended the call, wondering what world these children were growing up in. Surely, their presumably corporate-giant father could afford a nanny? Instead, they were probably fed teaspoons of real-life alongside a feast of glamor and gloss like a mirage.
Elayna glanced back at Benjamin, mourning the loss of her peaceful night. But no one said she had to stay very long… She’d just shoot down to the house and say hello.
She pulled a box of popsicles from the freezer on her way out, preferring to be on the kid’s good side if they were going to be spending much time together.
Her navigator led her into the hills of Santa Barbara where there was a natural wildness that she adored. The desert hills were green with wild grass and dwarf palm trees, and the memory of running through them as a child surfaced around each new bend in the road. She’d been brave when she was young, dashing away at the first opportunity, always climbing, exploring, or diving into some new adventure.
She glanced at herself in the rearview mirror, wondering where that little girl had gone.
The sun had long since set, and only a faint light remained in the sky when the road changed direction and narrowed into a driveway.
A courtyard opened up in front of her, with cobbled stone and large ceramic flower pots. She pulled her small car up in front of a fairly modest house, compared to what she’d been expecting. It was a single-story, with beautiful palms around it, but mostly just the natural hills. Rustic lanterns around the perimeter gave off a pleasant golden glow, and she made her way to the front door, feeling suddenly nervous. Hopefully, the kids knew she was coming, so she didn’t scare them.
The doorbell was either broken or just exceptionally quiet. She leaned to the side and peered in at the dark house. It didn’t look like anyone was home. She rang the doorbell again, and this time she heard some movement from inside. She knocked.
When something thudded against the door, she jumped back, snatching her hand away from the handle. Confused, she pulled out her phone and double-checked the address.
It was the right place.
“Hello?” she called, wondering suddenly why no one had given her any names. She adjusted the cold box of frozen treats under her arm. “My name’s Elayna. I’m here to check on you guys. Did your father tell you?”
There was only silence inside, and an uncomfortable feeling began twisting away at her stomach.
“I just needed to make sure you’re okay.” She reached for the handle again and turned it slowly, shocked to find it unlocked. A buzz of panic thrummed in her chest, and she pushed the door open. It creaked on its shiny hinges, and in the growing night, she couldn’t see a thing inside.
She reached her arm in and explored the wall for a light switch. Why was it so dark, and where were the kids? Had they already gone to bed? And how in the world was a billionaire’s house left unlocked?
A huge shadow raced by, pushing a gust of wind past her face that had chills erupting along her neck. She stepped back with a gasp, searching the darkness. Her breath had caught in her throat, and she was seconds from sprinting back to her car.
Something lunged out at her, and she tossed her hands up. “Eeee!” she squealed, hopping away from the threat.
A Great Dane the size of a small horse bumped against her legs, looking up at her with big, forlorn eyes and whipping her backside with his strong tail.
She swallowed a scream, feeling nearly faint and trying to catch her breath. The dog sniffed her hands and gazed up at her with his tongue lolling out.
“Hey boy,” she said weakly, rubbing his massive head. His gray fur, dappled with black spots, was silky soft, and his huge ears flopped this way and that with each movement.
The dog’s head suddenly swung back to the house and another shape appeared, darker this time. In the soft lamplight, Elayna could see another Great Dane. This one was black as night and walked forward cautiously, his head hung down, and his tail swishing ever so slightly.
“Well, hello,” she cooed, holding her hand out. He sniffed her timidly, and her heart softened at the sweet tenderness of the dogs. They seemed aware of their giant stature and carefully navigated around her as she again approached the door. “Let’s see if anyone’s inside, shall we?” she said, feeling comforted by the sound of her own voice.
The dogs trotted ahead of her, and she walked into the dark house, not bothering to search for a light switch this time, choosing instead to use the flashlight from her phone. She shined it around the house and navigated her way to a slate kitchen island, where she deposited the now-crunched box of popsicles.
Two massive paws settled on the countertop as the gray dog sniffed the box and began licking it.
“Hello?” she yelled, jumping when the black dog whimpered and scurried away, curling up on a sprawling pillow on the floor. “Oh,” she whispered, “sorry.”
She edged closer to him, shining the flashlight in front of her but being careful not to let it reach his eyes. “I’m a friend,” she said, scooting next to the big dog and sitting cross-legged next to him. “I think I’m supposed to take care of you.” She set her phone down next to them, letting it shine on the back wall as she reached out to pet the shy dog.
His big tail whapped at the floor, although he stayed curled up in a tight ball. The gray dog joined them, plopping down loudly next to Elayna and resting his big head on her lap with a sigh.
She laughed, leaving one hand on each dog and wondering just what she needed to do, or if the dogs had even been walked or fed. And were there children somewhere too, or was this it?
Irritated, she reached for her phone, intending to call Kyle and rival his grizzly bear act.
A door opened at the back of the house, and she froze, holding her hands on the two dogs. They didn’t react and seemed content enough to sit with her. At the sound of footsteps, she fumbled with her phone quickly, turning the flashlight off and staring into the dark with wide eyes.
“Lights, on,” a voice said, and the room exploded with light.