The Bright Side Sanctuary for Animals by Becky Mandelbaum

The Bright Side Sanctuary for Animals by Becky Mandelbaum

Author:Becky Mandelbaum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2020-08-04T00:00:00+00:00


Ariel

In high school, the boys had gone brain-dead in Joy’s presence, stumbling over their words, nervously fiddling with their hair. The years had dialed down Joy’s good looks, leaving behind the kind of pretty, rosy-cheeked cowgirl found in FarmersOnly.com commercials. She wore a navy flannel shirt and, over this, a mustard-yellow down vest. Jeans. Chunky leather belt. Strawberry-blond hair in two thin braids that ended just below her shoulders.

Joy stepped into the barn’s darkness and squinted. “Holy shit—Ariel?”

“Hey, Joy.” She felt nervous, as if they were still in high school and somebody might see them talking.

“Nobody told me you were coming back.”

“I got in late last night—I didn’t exactly warn anyone.”

“What are you doing here?”

Ariel squeezed her forehead. “God, everyone keeps asking me that. I just saw about the fire—”

“No, I mean what are you doing in the barn?”

Ariel picked at the bale of hay beneath her, not wanting to meet Joy’s eyes. “There was an accident. Some dogs got out.”

“They ran off?”

Ariel nodded. “You should probably know that it was my fault. I let a few of them go.”

“On purpose?”

“No, it was an accident. Sort of.” She finally looked up at Joy, who was eyeing her suspiciously.

“Did Gideon go after them? I couldn’t find him just now.”

“I don’t know, probably. I’m sure he did.”

“Should we see if he needs help?”

“Sure, that’s a good idea.” Ariel stood carefully, worried she might become light-headed. Motes of dust floated through the air. She was cold. And thirsty. And tired. Behind Joy, the light of the day came rushing through the barn door. There was so much to do. She was glad Joy was there, that she didn’t have to do it alone. She wondered, had Joy not appeared, how long she would have sat in the barn, thinking herself into a hole.

“You know, I saw you in a toothpaste ad a few years ago,” Ariel said, following Joy into the paddock. “I figured you were living in a city somewhere.”

“Oh God, you saw that?” Joy kept her eyes to the ground, half smiling, maybe proud or embarrassed or both.

“It was good! I mean, it was a commercial, so it was annoying, but you were good.” She felt stupid, like she was fourteen again, trying to flatter one of the popular kids.

Joy bared her teeth and turned her head back and forth. “Nothing says clean like Denta-Clean.”

“Why’d you come back here?”

“My dad got sick,” Joy said. “That, and things were getting weird in LA. I didn’t have any money and was living with this guy who was going through some stuff. I figured I would come home for a week or two, see how my dad was doing, and get my head on straight. Reboot before figuring out the next move. And then I met Gideon. I don’t know if he told you.”

“He did.” Ariel forced herself to think of Dex. You’re engaged, she told herself. You’re in love. “I’m glad you two found each other. I know how it can be out here.



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