Jennifer pulled off her silk gloves in the car as they sped along the freeway.
"Darling, the next time we're asked to attend a conventional dinner, let's ask them to put us next to someone that we know well from the office," she said, folding the gloves up.
Jonathan laughed.
"I'm sorry, darling. I didn't realise that Frank was so talkative," he said, grinning at her.
"Neither did I! All I did was ask him which department he worked in, and he gave me his whole life story!" said Jennifer.
Jonathan tried not to laugh, seeing her irritated expression, but he couldn't suppress his smile. "That's because you're so charming."
Jennifer looked at him, and smiled back. "Well, thank you very much."
They were silent for a moment; Jennifer glanced out at the dark trees that flashed past them as they sped along the freeway. "I had no idea that Deanne was going with Damien," she said after a bit.
"Oh, I'm sorry; I forgot to mention it. They've been together for a while, now," said Jonathan.
"Oh. Well, I'm glad that she's found someone. She's a lovely girl…" Suddenly she gasped as something square and brown appeared in the beam of the car's headlights. "JONATHAN!" she shouted, and Jonathan stamped on the brakes. The car lurched to a stop just in front of the object.
"What is that?!" he exclaimed.
"I'm not sure. All I know is that we were about to hit it."
They both got out and walked around to the front of the car. A cardboard box leaned against the car's right wheel.
"That was close," said Jonathan.
Jennifer nodded.
"What's a box doing in the—"
"Shh!" Jennifer interrupted, holding up her hand to stop him.
Jonathan stared at her. "Darling—"
"Shh!" she said again. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" he began, and then stopped. A high-pitched whining sound could be heard.
"It's coming from the box," she said, and Jonathan knelt down. Slowly, he opened the slightly damp flaps of the cardboard box, and froze.
"Darling, have a look at this," he said.
Jennifer stepped forward to see and gasped.
A small mutt sat shivering in the box, dirt and mud caked over his grey and white coat.
"It's a puppy," exclaimed Jennifer, and knelt beside her husband.
"Hey, it's alright," she said softly, stretching her hand out to it. "Here, puppy. We won't hurt you," she said. Slowly, she reached both hands out and picked the dirty pup up. It whined and trembled in her arms as she cradled it.
"Oh, poor baby. He's shivering," she said to Jonathan. She patted the dog's matted fur, checking all over him for any injuries. "I don't think he's hurt," she said.
"Good. It was very close, though," her husband said.
"Oh darling, let's take him home, please? He hasn't got a collar, and he'll die out here otherwise. He was probably dumped by someone who didn't want him," said Jennifer.
"But what if someone does want him? He could just be lost," Jonathan pointed out.
"In a box?" Jennifer asked.
"Maybe he climbed into it."
She nodded, but looked worried.
"I tell you what," he said, seeing her expression, "we'll take him home for the time being and put an ad out in the paper. If no one comes to claim him, we'll keep him. Alright?"
Jennifer's brown eyes brightened and she smiled. "You hear that, puppy? We're going to find you a home."
He barked in response. Jennifer looked at Jonathan.
"I think he likes that idea."
"Good. It's getting late darling, and Max will be worrying about us," said Jonathan, and guided her back to the car, opening the door for her.
"The first thing we'll do when we get home is give that dog a bath," said Jonathan, winding down the window as they sped along the freeway. Jennifer laughed.
H2H