Vineyard in Paris

Chapter 1
Shauna flipped through the last pages of the magazine and sighed, setting it down on the table across from her. She rubbed her temples and slowly stood up. Piper meowed loudly and hopped off of her lap, then walking proudly away, puffed out tail high in the air. In the kitchen, Shauna made herself a second cup of coffee and rubbed Juju’s head, her loyal, dignified old greyhound. The old girl looked up sweetly and closed her eyes, enjoying the free, daily ear massage.
Suddenly the phone rang and Shauna walked over to the receiver hanging on the wall over the old-fashioned gas stove.
“Hello?”
“Shauna? This is Killeen! You sound tired.”
“Oh, you know. Its one of those days.”
“Of course. Well, I was just wondering if you would like to go to Newman Park with me. Chap needs a good brisk trot. He’s been cooped up all week, with Bill and me working double shifts. Would you like to join us?”
“That’s sounds wonderful.”
“Great, so how about we meet at the trail in about half an hour?”
“Right. Buh-bye.”
Shauna hung up the phone and glanced at Juju. She was sleeping over the vent, tongue lolling out of the side of mouth, eyes closed contentedly. Shauna smiled. Juju was just one sweet girl.

About 30 minutes later, Shauna was sitting on a warm bench in the park, watching Juju chase angry birds through the green trees. Finally, a small black car crept up and out jumped her old friend and Chap, Killeen’s alpha male bulldog. Shauna smiled at the thing, waddling up and sniffing the air cautiously, his tail up in triumph.
They walked down the trail, new buds forming on all of the once-barren trees.
The two happy dogs ran ahead, jumping over old dead logs and bounding across streams.
“Bill and I have made a decision,” Killeen said at last, breaking the deadly silence in between the thoughtful two.
“Oh, that’s great! What is it?” Shauna asked, trying to sound cheerful, though still wondering what the big decision was.
“Well, you know how we are always having trouble, Bill finding a new job and all, and well, I haven’t exactly been enjoying the office too much, either, if you know what I mean.”
Shauna laughed, nodding her head. Killeen and she both worked at Edward Jones, having an office right next to each other. Their boss, Mr. Kinsey, was always yelling at Killeen for some various reasons, and Killeen hasn’t been taking a very good turn in her paychecks, money wise, either. Shauna could tell Killeen had been quite stressed out in the last month or so.
“So Bill was looking for a job, and I was too,” she carried on, “and about a week ago, Bill found a job, somewhere where he would love to keep trucking, and a great place for the three of us,” she exclaimed, nodding towards Chap.
Shauna glanced at Killeen. “Where’s that?”
Killeen looked down at the old snow crunching beneath her Doc Martens. “A wonderful place really, the city of Paris is.”
Shauna stared at Killeen. “You’re moving to France?” she asked, with a slight tremor in her voice. “When? How?”
“Look, Shauna, really. I, we, both believe it would be the best thing. And you can always visit, by God; you are always so welcome to come visit.”
“Wow. I mean, this is amazing, but wow. So soon!”
“I know, but I am really quite anxious to get out there and see the wonderful, amazing things in France. We’re flying over the ocean, of course, and then we’re taking a train from Lisboa, Portugal to Paris. Beautiful train I’ve heard, and Bill and I are just so excited!” Killeen exclaimed, throwing her gloved hands up into the brisk air.
“I’m so happy for you. Is Chap going on the plane?” Shauna asked.
Killeen paused. “Well, that’s the thing. Chap is getting up there, you know,” she replied, a faint sadness in her voice. “But we definitely are not going to leave him here,” she finished, studying Shauna’s shocked face. She relaxed; glad that she wouldn’t have another dog to add to Juju and Piper.
“So what are you going to do?”
“I was hoping that that’s where you could help us out.”
Shauna’s eyebrows went up. “Yes?”
“Maybe you could keep him for a month or two, once we are settled in, and then could you take him out there?”
“On a plane?” Shauna asked, confused.
“No, no! There is a beautiful, very nice ship going to England exactly a month and half from when we move. Bill and I were just thinking, maybe you could come out with ol’ Chap on the ship and then take a train also; a great one, at that; to our place in Paris. Of course Bill would buy the tickets for you, no doubt. Then you could stay there for as long as you like, just to visit you know. I’m sure you would just LOVE it!”
Shauna considered it for a moment, and then nodded her head thoughtfully.
“I suppose that could work, Killeen. For Chap, old boy.”
Killeen smiled broadly. “Oh, you’re the best, Shauna!” And then the four turned around and crunched through snow, both pondering about what’s to come in the next couple of months.