Page 73 of Packing for Vacation

“Didn’t think of that, did ya?” My laptop dings, and a notification appears. “He’s already replied,” I say redundantly, since we’re both already reading it.

I’ll send you a DM.

“What are the other options?” Matiu asks, and I know from his tone that it’s rhetorical. “Not tell her and live with that, that her soul dog is getting given away, or surrendered to a pound? That it might end up getting put down? Imagine if that was Barry. We have no choice.”

“Don’t even fucking say it. I know.”

A new message appears in my DMs.

Hi, are you able to take on the dog? Where are you based?

“Fuck, where are we based?”

Matiu is already typing Where is Orléans, Ottawa into a new search bar.

“Just put it in maps and pick an adjacent suburb.” I elbow him out of the way and take control of my keyboard, bringing up maps and locating the area. “Look they’ve got a Notting Hill. Funny. I love that movie.”

We’re in Notting Hill, I type, figuring that I might as well use that as my fake suburb, it’s easy enough to remember. Yes, I can take on the dog. What vet is she currently staying with? I’m happy to contact them myself and take over all care for her.

“Now you’ve done it,” Matiu says. “He’s gonna make you cover the vet’s bill, just wait.”

“Yeah I just realised that. I’m not normally this sloppy.”

Fantastic. If you are willing to cover the cost of the vet you are welcome to the dog. Do we have a deal? The vet is in Springridge. I can give you their number to call them. I’ll send them an email explaining that I am relinquishing ownership.

“Yes we have a deal, you fucking cunt,” I say as I type Yes.

“I don’t think you can just relinquish ownership through an email to a vet. The dog will be registered under his mother’s name.”

“She’s just had a stroke, I’m guessing that he’s got Power of Attorney. That might be a problem. If our best-case scenario happens and Lizzie wants to stay here in New Zealand, and she wants to move the dog from Canada to here, we may need a legal transfer of ownership and registration…”

Wonderful. My mother’s house still has many of the dog’s belongings. Beds and toys. Would you like these?

“Tell him you need to check with your pack mates first.”

I need to check with my pack mates about the dog’s belongings first. I’ll get back to you on that. What were the contact details for the vet again?

Édouard sends the vet details through a moment later. The whole thing feels like a scam, but there's no scam to be had, apart from taking on the vet bill.

It takes time, some back and forth, multiple phone calls with the Springridge vet clinic, and uses up what's left of the morning, but at the end of it we have a dog.

We also have the fifteen-hundred-dollar vet bill she comes with. It’s a necessary expense.

“Actually, we've just scanned her microchip,” the vet says on our fourth call to the clinic. “You wouldn't believe it. Elizabeth Tremblay is still listed as the owner on here. I'm going to get Stacey here to make a note to find out who is on the registration tomorrow, something tells me they won’t have that up to date. This makes it all very easy on my end, though I ought to talk to Elizabeth myself.”

“She's travelling at the moment, so not with us.” I may have lied and said we were sorting this out on our omega's behalf.

Is it a lie if there's still a chance that it could be true?

“Yeah, you mentioned that earlier. Look, it’s actually past closing here but I'm so glad we've been able to get this outcome for Coco, she's such a sweet dog and she actually came in to us in a bit of a state. Her fur was matted and her bloods showed mild malnutrition. To know that she can be returned to the person who loves her the most makes me happy. So why don't you get Elizabeth to call us in the morning—your morning is fine—” she adds with a laugh, “and then we can talk next steps, which I imagine will be applying for and prepping Coco to relocate to New Zealand.”

“That sounds like a plan,” I say, catching Matiu’s eye. He nods, though he's frowning, and I know he's thinking the same thing.

We have to bite the bullet, tell Lizzie, and hope she’ll take us back.

“Thank you for all your help, eh, I know it's been a bit of an unconventional situation for you.”

“Honestly, good outcomes like this are why I got into vet medicine. I love reuniting lost pets with their owners, it's my favourite part of the job. I'm very pleased Elizabeth’s ex has willingly relinquished his rights to Coco.”