Chapter 10: Two Fathers
Alex came over to help bathe Max several more times after that, always bringing different treats.
One day it was dental chews, the next day gourmet dog ice cream, the day after that salmon skin treats.
Max began to get more excited to see Alex than me, quickly adopting Alex as his new father. Alex embraced the role, even changing his contact name in my phone to “Max’s Dad.”
Then one day, while I was walking Max, I ran into Jake at the entrance to my building, holding a shopping bag.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, surprised.
“Haven’t seen Max in ages, and he must need a bath by now.” Jake lifted the bag. “I brought new dog shampoo and those freeze–dried treats he loves. Some mom you
are–didn’t even let his dad know it was bath time?”
Since we’d rescued Max, Jake had always called himself “Max’s dad” and referred to the dog as his son.
At first, I’d secretly been thrilled, calling myself “Max’s mom” in my head. But now I frowned, feeling uncomfortable with the whole scenario.
Max wagged his tail enthusiastically and bounded toward Jake. But just as Jake smiled and bent down to embrace him, the dog raced right past him and leaped into the arms of Alex, who was walking up behind Jake.
Alex laughed and fed Max a piece of beef jerky. “Hey buddy, miss your dad?” Jake’s smile vanished instantly. His voice was ice–cold when he spoke.
“What are you doing here?”
Alex seemed oblivious to Jake’s hostility, still smiling as Max whacked his legs with
his tail.
“I’m here to give my son a bath.”
arrogant-
Jake was normally the most socially adept person I knew. He could be there were plenty of people and things he secretly looked down on but he always maintained a warm, charismatic facade with everyone.
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I’d never seen him look at anyone the way he was looking at Alex now. His voice was hard as stone:
“Max is MY son.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Well, he doesn’t seem to like you much.”
Alex stroked Max’s head, and sparks practically flew between the two men’s locked
gazes.
“Max,” Jake’s voice was cutting.
“Come here.”
Max whined anxiously, circling around Alex’s legs.
Since Jake had started dating Olivia, he hadn’t visited Max in over two months. Max
had suffered a head injury from a car when he was a puppy, which had affected his memory. Sometimes when I’d go home for the holidays and leave him with a friend, he wouldn’t recognize me when I returned, hiding until he slowly
remembered who I was.
It had been too long–he no longer recognized Jake.
Jake’s face grew increasingly grim. He stepped forward and grabbed Max’s collar.
“Max.”
Max had been a stray and was often beaten before we rescued him. Though large in size, he was timid by nature. He cowered behind Alex, terrified by Jake’s
aggressive tone.
Alex shielded the dog, frowning. “Jake, you’re scaring him.”
But Jake wouldn’t let go, stubbornly pulling at Max’s collar.
“You ungrateful mutt. Max, it’s Dad! I’m the one who brought you home. Do you know how many chicken legs I’ve snuck you over the years? You don’t remember
me?”
Max had finally had enough. Whimpering, he nipped at Jake’s hand.
It wasn’t a hard bite–Max quickly backed away–but it drew blood.
Jake froze, staring in disbelief at the teeth marks and small beads of blood forming
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on his hand.
“Are you okay?” I asked anxiously.
“Do you need to go to the hospital?”
Alex pulled me aside. “Look how badly Max is shaking. I think he’s traumatized. We
should take him to the vet.”
I turned to Max and saw he was indeed trembling violently, lying flat on the
ground, whimpering and panting heavily.
Alex scooped up Max. “Let’s go.”
I started to panic. Turning to Jake, I couldn’t help snapping at him:
“You know he’s easily frightened. Why would you scare him like that?
“I need to get him to the vet. You should go get a tetanus shot.”
Jake stood there pale–faced, staring at me. Even as I got into Alex’s car and drove
away, I could see in the rearview mirror that he remained frozen in place.
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