The truck parked in the small, and rather unevenly paved lot in front of several stores. The general store looked just the same as it had-- a dark green tiled roof and a peachy colored storefront with an awning out front. The same "25¢ snow cone" hand-painted sign was in the window, but the colors from the bright reds and blues to pastels. Aside from aging, it seemed nothing in this small but very spread-out town had changed at all.

Next to the general store appropriately titled "The General Store", there was a grocery store, Louie's with the same green roof and peach walls. It also appeared to be a restaurant, as there were a few people sitting outside in chairs with sandwiches and soda cans. Lastly in the minuscule shopping center, there was a gas station/auto repair shop. I'd definitely have to visit that shop to see what they could do for my grandpa's completely useless car, which didn't even try to start up when I had turned the key earlier this morning. And the rust... it looked like it'd been abandoned at the side of his house.

Fox handed me his cell

"I'm heading over to Louie's to go get my truck looked at. Let's swap #'s and I'd be happy to drop you off after."

I shook my head

"You've done so much already, I can't..."

He held up his hand and then typed

"I seriously don't mind. Plus, I'd like to get to know you. No one new ever comes here."

I smiled and held out my phone to him with the contacts open. He smiled back and typed in his name. First: Fox; Last: Hunt; Company: Welcoming Committee President *balloon emoji* he returned it, smirking. I rolled my eyes, also cracking a grin

"Thanks."

I put my information into his phone. First: Summer; Last:Wolfe, Company: Noob.

I got out of the truck, admiring its shiny forest green paint as it pulled away toward the auto repair shop. Fox gave me the peace sign. I waved and turned toward the general store.

There were outside displays of wind catchers, a few bikes, and a myriad of brightly-colored inflated boats and pool floats that locals could buy and take to the lake. There was so much to look at before even entering the store, and my stomach growled for breakfast, but something completely different captured my attention. A weathered cardboard box, labeled "FREE PUPPIES" right in the sun. I wasn't a dog person because of the incident when I was 7, but I was no monster either. At the very least I needed to push the box out of the sun before the day got too hot. As I walked closer to the box I saw that there was one little puppy inside. Its blue eyes peered up at me, and its small, pointy black ears flattened against its head. Was it scared of me? It's whole body and face were black velvet, but its chest had a small dash of white. It was a beautiful little thing... and as much as I expected to fear it, I felt sorry for it. I felt angry for it. Someone left it and its siblings in a box in the sun with no food or water. People had probably passed it all day, and maybe even yesterday. And it was the last one to be picked, out of all of them. How must that feel? Watching each of your siblings be taken away and then you're left alone in the sun.

I moved the box to the shade under the awning, between the bikes and the floaties and marched in the store, intent on getting cleaning supplies. I walked down isle 2 with a shopping cart, looking at neon cleaning solutions, trying to choose which one would be good for hard wood floors... I'd need a new mop, and a bucket, and gloves, and puppy food, and a broom I thought, before I cut myself off. Puppy food? Before my mind could wander too far into the idea of raising a puppy along the lake, I shook my head. I grabbed two bottles of solutions and a dust pan, got a sponge, and then my mind drifted again to the idea of walking a dog, playing fetch, a dog swimming in the lake. A dog cuddling on my feet while I painted. Snuggling with it in my bed. My cart made a U-turn and I left it by the store doors, and walked back outside to claim that puppy. It'd been 14 years since I'd voluntarily come into contact with a dog, but the years melted away as I took the squirming, excited pooch into my arms and held her against my chest. Her tail wiggled and her tongue lapped at my chin. I realized that her back left leg was hanging kind of funny... I would have to get her checked out anyway at a vet. I'd mention this. I brought her into the store and rolled my cart with one hand toward the check-out. I asked an employee, who's face was buried by long chestnut hair and a gossip magazine

"Hi there, is there a pet isle? I have this new puppy and..."

She didn't look up, and replied unenthusiastically

"Isle 4."

I tossed a dog bed into the cart and put the puppy into it, and then got food, bowls, toys, and everything puppy related I thought I might need. I even found a puppy-care book that seemed like it was meant for children, but I set it into the cart as well.

It was so kind of Fox to offer to take me back home, and now with bringing back a puppy and the supplies to take care of her, I definitely could use the truck bed's space.

While in the paint isle, where I loaded 3 giant cans of white paint under the cart, my cell phone rang. I took a deep breath for support, knowing what the caller ID would read: Dad. I also had several missed calls from he and mom which were now coming in as voicemail memos. I answered

"Hey Dad, what's up?"

Cringing, realizing that my sounding nonchalant would only further aggravate him. He grumbled

"Where the HELL are you?"

I asked meekly

"Didn't you get my note?"

Slight static, and then he hissed

"Your note? Oh yes, I got your note. I just can't believe you'd disobey me like this. You know I never wanted you going back there! The place is an abomination!"

I stated

"Well then I'm glad you live in California."

He reasoned

"You do too. You may be in Vermont right now, but you certainly don't live there. California has always been your home. Come back. I will get you a ticket for the next flight out. Come on, Summer. Come home."

I whispered, also reasoning,

"But I like it here. I want to do my art here and live by the lake."

He growled

"Oh, your art. You really are taking your grandfather's place. Soon I won't be hearing from you, the same way I hardly heard from him."

I said, more hurt than angry

"He called you, you just didn't answer, right?"

My dad said, huskily

"It was mutual!"

The call ended, abruptly. My stomach flopped uncomfortably and for a moment, doubt filled my mind. Maybe he is right. Maybe I should just stop all of this, go back to San Diego and apply for colleges...

But my heart disagreed, sinking at the very thought of leaving the lake. Looking into my new puppy's eyes again, the decision to stay was final. I loved it here, I loved the lake, and painting. I could reconnect with my cousins, make friends, and be independent as an adult, making decisions for myself instead of following my father's detailed trajectory for my life. I wheeled the cart to checkout. Now the girl behind the magazine's boots were on the check stand, and she leaned back in a comfy- looking office chair.

"Ready?" She said boredly from behind the pages. I answered, loading items on the belt

"I am. And, I'd like to buy the orange cruiser bike, with the basket and bell, the one that's outside--"

She looked up and began to answer

"Sure, that'll be..."

She trailed off, surprised to see me.

"Wait... Summer?"

I nodded, and realized, this was my cousin Ivy. I started laughing

"Ivy! Hey. I was gonna try to get in contact... I decided to move here. I'm living in grandpa's house. I just got here this morning."

She raised her eyebrows

"Wow. That's a long way from California. Did you bring any of your celebrity friends with you?"

I paused, realizing that this banter wasn't meant to be comical... just sarcastic. I played along anyway

"Yeah, Brad and Angelina are on their way over now... Um but seriously, it's really great to see you, and I hope we can see more of each other now."

She scoffed, beginning to check out the items

"More of each other? You mean more than nothing? Because that's what it's been since you left."

I grimaced

"Yeah... things didn't end well in the family... but I'm back!"

She rolled her eyes

"How are you even gonna live in that house anyway. Isn't it condemned or something?"

I shook my head

"I should be able to fix the damages. They're pretty minor anyway. Maybe once I'm done dusting it all, you and Amber can come over for dinner and we can take a swim in the lake?"

She shook her head

"I think I'll pass, thanks. Your total is going to be $231.93. Take the bike from outside when you leave. Will that be cash or card?"

I handed her my credit card. An older woman, possibly her boss, came out from the stock room. Ivy swiped my card through quickly and then shoved it back at me, unhappily reciting the store's slogan

"Thanks for choosing The General Store, have a jolly day."

Fox's truck was waiting outside, but it was empty. I texted him

"I got a lot more than I anticipated... and I still need to go grocery shopping for a few things! D: you will be so surprised. I'm heading to Louie's."

With The General Store cart filled with an assortment of repair items, cleaning supplies, and puppy stuff, plus the puppy. I picked out enough food to last me for the next few days, and some scar cream for my left forearm, since the marks were feeling irritated.

I hadn't checked to see if the electricity or water worked, so my options were limited to granola bars, water bottles, toaster pastries, fruits, peanut butter, jelly, and bread. Just like a camping trip!

I was checked out by the store owners themselves. A husband and wife duo, Embry and Luna. She priced and he bagged. They asked me all kinds of questions about myself and the repairs I planned to do to Ezekiel's property, and kept offering a hand wherever they could. They were kind, and their eyes were so genuine. Fox caught up with me as I inserted my credit card into the machine. He waved, and then picked up the puppy. It licked his face enthusiastically. He laughed. I said

"I ended up with a puppy! Surprised?"

He nodded. Luna said warmly,

"Ah, I see you've met Fox. Such a kind and helpful boy."

She gave him a pat on the back and looked into his eyes

"Tell your momma I says hi, sweetie."

Luna turned to me

"When Fox was born deaf, everyone in town thought they'd be looking out for him... but we got that wrong. Fox is the one who looks out for everyone. We're just incredibly lucky."

He rolled his eyes and blushed.

Fox helped me haul my new bike into the truck bed, and then the cans of paint, food supplies, and everything else. He handed me his phone, opened to notes

"Your groceries look like the food astronauts have to eat in space!"

I laughed, looking at the toaster strudel and turkey jerky and replied,

"Basically! I have no idea if I have running water and electricity, so for now... I'm an astronaut."

I took a bottle of rosé out of the grocery bag, so it wouldn't break among the bike and paint cans back there. He raised an eyebrow and texted, while checking out the bottle

"I would have never guessed you were 21!"

I nodded. I'd heard that a lot. My face was a round/heart-shape and my big blue eyes and minimal makeup easily pegged me as being a kid. He took his phone back

"Guess my age."

Fox was tall and thin with big hands and feet that he appeared to still be growing into. I wouldn't peg him for a day over 17. I answered with my gut

"17."

He looked like he lost a game, and signed"yes", which looked kind of like nodding his right hand in a loose fist. He typed

"You got it. I turn 18 this summer though-- July 6th!"

I gave him a smile, and thought of maybe making him a painting for his birthday, of a fox perhaps? Maybe that was too cliché.

...

Fox helped me unload the bike and supplies. I let the puppy down and she immediately ran around her new surroundings, stopping every 10 seconds to smell something. She was limping on that back leg, which concerned me. Now, before painting or anything, I'd need to get her looked at. Fox texted me, seeing the limp too

"My brother is a vet. He does house calls. Here's his his #"

I thanked him and the shiny green truck left the same way it came.

I took the new puppy inside, setting her up with a few piddle pads, some water and food, and her dog bed. She ate hungrily, and beside her I scarfed two toaster pastries and a banana before drifting off to sleep... My day had started with a plane ride, and ended with a puppy.