Fight for Life
Chapter Twelve
The next morning, Maggie wakes up feeling a little bit better, the ache in her stomach finally easing. By the time she’s dressed, she already has a plan to find the puppy mill. When Maggie goes downstairs, Zoe is in the kitchen rummaging through the cabinets, trying to find the flour. Maybe they could make pancakes. Maggie says Gran isn’t much of a cook. They eat a lot of takeout usually. They can probably go to the store today.
When Gran comes in, Maggie asks her how the puppies are doing. Gran says that everyone came through the night safely. Mitzy’s stomachache is gone, but she should only have small meals today. She also finished Dinky’s autopsy. She wants to try to see how he died. He was dehydrated and had a respiratory infection, but what actually killed him was a congenital heart defect. That combined with his malnourishment and dehydration meant he didn’t stand a chance. The news settles heavily on Maggie, and it only strengthens her resolve. She knows she just has to find a way to the farmer’s market.
Zoe says they should hire a housekeeper or a cook to help them make dinner at the least. Everybody has one. Maggie takes the opportunity to suggest that they go to the farmer’s market instead, seeing it as her chance to search for the puppy mill. Zoe’s probably never seen one. Gran thinks that’s a great idea.
While Gran shows Zoe how to load the dishwasher, Maggie sneaks off to the clinic. All the pups are sleeping, curled together in their crates, their small chests rising and falling steadily. Maggie leans in close and assures them quietly that she’s going to find out who treated them so badly.
The market is crowded, voices and laughter rising from every direction. There are hundreds of stalls selling a little bit of everything. Gran, Zoe, and Maggie start down a long aisle and pass muffins, pickled beets, relish, and apple butter. Gran suggests they get some hot chocolate to start out with. Zoe agrees, but Maggie says they can start along without her. As they walk away, Maggie gets the inkling that Gran actually likes Zoe, and the thought bothers her more than she expects.
Maggie shakes her head and forces herself to get a grip. She has more important things to do. She moves through the aisles, asking farmer after farmer if they know of a man who sold puppies at the market last week, growing more frustrated with each shake of the head. After a few tries, Mrs. Nestor says she remembers him. She mentions he lives on Lafayette Road. Maggie’s pulse quickens. She knows she’s going to get this guy. The puppy mill is history.
Maggie finds Gran and Zoe standing by the popcorn stand, the smell of warm popcorn drifting through the air. She sees them joking around with each other. It sickens Maggie to see them laughing like that. When Gran asks if Maggie found what she was looking for, she just smiles. Maggie doesn’t want to trouble Gran with the puppy mill owner. She’s having too much fun with Zoe. Everything is fine.