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Zelda hoped no one was watching as she lifted Charlie over the fence that divided her property from Max’s and then set about climbing over it herself. It wasn’t the most graceful thing she’d ever attempted.

She put her foot into the chain link about halfway up and hoisted herself to a sitting position on the top rail. She had every intention of swinging her legs onto Max’s side and hopping down.

There was only one glitch. She didn’t lift her second leg high enough and her cuff got caught.

“Oh, great,” she muttered, trying to retain her balance and free herself at the same time.

As she did, Charlie made a beeline for Max’s house and, rather than wiggling through the doggy door as he had before, he sat there and barked until Max appeared.

“Thanks a lot,” Zelda said under her breath as a still angry-looking Max came outside.

“Stuck again?” he asked.

“I’m afraid so,” she admitted reluctantly.

Max had reached her by then. He did a quick survey and pulled her pant leg free so Zelda could finally drop down on his side of the fence.

“I would have brought Charlie’s things over,” he said then, clearly assuming that had been the purpose of her attempted visit.

“That’s not why I’m here.”

“No?”

She would have liked a better segue but since it was too late for that, she plunged in. “I’m here because after I thought about it I realized that you have every reason to be mad at me. I totally freaked out and I was wrong to say what I said to you. I can tell you were good to Charlie by the way he’s acting with you now and I had no business accusing you of not taking care of him or taking him to the pound. I’m sorry.”

For a long moment Max didn’t respond and Zelda worried that she really had ruined things with him. She was afraid he was going to say her apology was too little, too late, and that she should just stay on her own side of the fence and leave him alone. And really, she wouldn’t have blamed him if he had.

But then he said, “I overreacted, too. I was upset myself that I’d lost Charlie. I don’t really think you’re like my animal-crazed ex.”

“So we’re okay?” Zelda hazarded.

Max finally cracked a smile. “No, we’re better than okay.”

He took her hand and pulled her into his arms, kissing her there and then to prove it. A deep, passionate kiss that was almost too intimate for the outdoors.

And when the kiss ended he remained holding her, smiling down at her. “But I think we’d better consider putting up a higher fence around the perimeters of both yards to keep that mutt inside. And maybe we could just get rid of this stretch in the middle. I don’t think I want anything coming between us from here on.”

It was music to Zelda’s ears. “Charlie will be in and out your doggy door,” she warned.

“And what about Charlie’s mom?”

“I’d rather not use the doggy door, if it’s just the same to you. I’m kind of tired of getting stuck and needing you to rescue me.”

Max laughed. “I’m happy to do it. But that isn’t what I meant. I meant what does Charlie’s mom think about tearing down fences so nothing comes between us?”

“Charlie’s mom likes that idea. A lot.”

“Good. Because I don’t know about you, but I think thanks to Charlie we have something worth hanging on to here.”

It was Zelda’s turn to smile. So big it almost hurt. “Me, too.”

Max kissed her again, a kiss full of promise of things yet to come. But in the middle of it Charlie barked at them, wanting some attention.

They ended the kiss and both glanced down at the terrier, but it was Zelda who said with a grin, “Sorry, Charlie, you had your turn - now he’s mine.”

The End



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