Working at the shelter was more emotional payment then financial. Maddison did get paid for her time, but she refused more than minimum wage. This was a non-profit after all. They needed every penny for the animals.

  Maddison just really loved working with the animals. As her shift neared its end she was drying of Rosco, a big bull mastiff. Despite the dog's size, he was a real softy. Maddison was sure it wouldn't be long before he got adopted.

  Even as she toweled off his brown fur, Rosco lathered her in slobbery dog kisses. Near by, Verna, the shelter's current owner, was towel drying Peggy, a tiny pug with a missing leg and a chewed up ear. Her last owner had saved her from a dog fighting ring that was using her as bait. Despite his good intentions he realy didn't have the means to care for a dog with Peggy's special needs and, unable to find her another home, brought her here to the shelter.

  "Once you get Rosco back in his kennel go ahead and head home." Said Verna, never looking away from her task.

  "Sure thing Verna."

  Once Rosco was settled on his blanket with fresh water and a full dog bowl Maddison grabbed her jacket and purse then headed out the door. She shouted a goodbye to Verna which received no reply.

  From the shelter, Maddison hopped on a bus and took the long ride to the Champlain Mall in near by Dieppe. It was the largest mall around and she figured it was as good a place as any to start looking for things for her new place.

  The mall had a lack of furniture stores, but she stocked up on kitchen utensils and other small house hold necessities. She walked from the mall toward a refurbished furniture store with her arms loaded up with bags. She would get what she liked there and have them deliver the furniture to the apartment on Alburn circle tomorrow. Aything else she needed she would probably get from Aarons or Easy Home.

  As she crossed the parking lot toward the cross walk she saw Wayne and his group of thugs. Wayne was a big guy, and Maddison supposed he was handsome, objectively speaking. But she felt no attraction toward the brute. Even now, he was roughing around with his friends. One of them had a bloody nose! Apparently it was all in good fun though because everyone was laughing.

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  Then she remembered that Kalie had said that Wayne was out of town... so what was he doing here? If she wasn't so loaded down with bags she would have called Kalie to tell her she had seen her boyfriend. She would just have to tell her tonight when she got home.

  Maddison found nearly everything she needed at the furniture store and the pleased business man seemed more than happy to ship her purchases to the address she provided tomorrow, free of charge. Tomorrow was shaping up to be a busy day after all.

  Not wanting to lug all her bags on the bus Maddison broke down and called a cab. She always found it a waste of money to use cabs when the buses were nearly as fast anyway, depending where you wanted to go. But she wasn't about to inconvenience everyone on the bus with her belongings.

  When she got home and transferred all her new purchases into moving boxes, stacking them near the door with the rest of her things, she called Kalie.

  "What's up Maddie?" she answered after the fourth ring. Maddison was on instant alert. There was something in Kalie's voice that didn't sound right. She was trying to sound cheerful, but Maddison could tell it was faked.

  "Nothing. I just got home." She said carefully. "How are you?"

  "Oh, never better." She said breezily and Maddison could almost believe her, except she didn't.

  "I just wanted to call to tell you that I saw Wayne at the mall today. I thought you said he was out of town."

  "Mmm. His plans were canceled last minute. Listen Maddie, I don't think I'll be able to meet your sexy landlord tomorrow. Wayne and I are going on a picnic!" she sounded appropriately sorry and excited, but there was just something that Maddison couldn't put her finger on.

  "Are you sure you are okay Kalie? You sound strange."

  "Oh! Um yes, everything is fine. Wayne and I got in a fight earlier, but we made up. Hence the impromptu picnic."

  Maddison supposed that sounded about right. Still she couldn't completely shake the uneasy feeling.

  "I'm going to give you the address anyway." She said. "Just incase you two get rained out or something you can come by my new place."

  "Yeah, alright."

  Maddison told Kalie the address, as well as some easy directions, and then the two said good night. She hoped everything was alright. Chances were Kalie would be down another boyfriend this time next week.

  As much as Maddison disliked Wayne, she hoped they stayed together. She had seen Kalie with far worse men, and a recently dumped Kalie was a nightmare. She usually got drunk and called Maddison at all hours of the night to talk smack about whomever had dumped her. Though she often got the men mixed up.