That Animal Magnetism

Our first encounter was magical. He took my breath away even though we briefly met. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I’d wake up at one a.m., my breathing intensified, and my heart racing. The energy between the two of us was fire. His hazel eyes held my eyes, and it captivated me. 

He seemed friendly and patient. How could I believe this about him? I don’t even know. I don’t even know him. But damn, the way he looked at me. 

In my last relationship, he was also friendly to everyone and protective of me, but could also be temperamental and sometimes stubborn. He ebbed and flowed the years we spent together, but I sure loved him. Our adventures together were unmatched, traveling the northwest in our minivan, hiking steep trails, and kayaking the bay. He had a curiousness about him that permitted me to be courageous, taking risks, blazing new trails, and looking over the edge, even though it was scary.

Then, about twelve years in, the troubled breathing, lack of appetite, and debilitating tiredness that came with a cancer diagnosis. I was angry and mentally exhausted, but I nursed him, and I told him, “You’ll get through this”, and I slept alongside him, holding him close. Despite treatments and my undying love, it took him fast. That was two years ago, and moving on proved daunting. I wasn’t ready, yet, for another commitment. Was I?

I parked the car and found the courage to go into the building. I had to do this; I was on a timeline. There were two separate lending documents for her to sign and date. The first time I came here, it was quick: just an ID verification and one signature page. This visit would take longer. There were at least ten pages to review, and I wasn’t sad about it, because maybe I could stay longer. Maybe he and I could spend more time together, getting to know each other.

The receptionist was on the phone when I entered. She smiled at me, put her hand over the receiver, and nodded. I held up my Notary ID so she could verify me. Whispering, I said, “I’m here to see Tessa Everling, please”.

She held up the OK sign with her fingers then and pointed to the row of seats just beyond the desk. I got the hint, so I found a corner seat and opened up Tessa’s file to review the documents one more time. I read it, and re-read it, and re-read it. Damn, c’mon Gina, I mused, my mind unable to concentrate on the one job I had to do today.

Oh, who was I kidding? I put the paperwork back in the file and stood up. I craned my neck, looked through the plate glass, and scanned the main room. I didn’t see him. Maybe he was in another wing today? My heart skipped a beat…I was pretty sure I saw him…no…a look alike. There was a lot of activity and people back and forth, but I couldn’t see him.

“Gina?” I turned and saw Tessa in her office doorway. She motioned to come on in with her hand. Her pencil skirt, tailored jacket, and well-manicured hands told me that she didn’t engage much with her clients. But, she was friendly enough. 

“Hi, uh, Mrs. Everling,” I said, fumbling with my papers and walking simultaneously.

“Thanks for coming back for this second round of documents.” She said. I dropped her file on the ground. “Are you, okay?” She asked, awkwardly trying to help me in.

“Oh, yeah!” I said. “I got this…sorry.” She closed the door. I composed myself and sat in the cushy chair in front of her large oak desk. Tessa sat confidently on the other side. I adjusted my reading glasses. “Let’s get these papers signed so you can get your funding.” I put all the papers in order and did my sworn duty of asking for her government ID and taking her thumbprint for my register.  

I dropped the ink pad, twice.

“Gina? Why are you so nervous?” she asked. “Funny because I’m the one borrowing a shit-ton of money for my business, not you!” She laughed. “You’re just the notary!” 

From her vantage point, this made sense. Document signing was causing me anxiety? I laughed it off, but I was a mess.

I opened up the file and we got down to work. Leaning in and going through each piece of paper with her, one by one, pointing out each signature line and date…we were getting close to finishing the signing. Then, I saw him out of the corner of my eye. The large picture window in her office looked out to the main quad area. There he was.

I stopped. I looked out the window and blushed, staring at him, twirling my pen in my hand as he sauntered by the window, oblivious to our meeting. 

Tessa pulled her glasses off her nose and dropped them on the desk. “Woah!” She said, “Look at you!” 

I turned to her. “What?” I scoffed and shrugged. I fumbled through the papers. “Sorry! Let’s keep going. So, on page ten, there’s a—“

“Your faaace,” she said, pointing at me. She tapped my arm. “You like him!” She covered both cheeks with her hands. “Oh my goodness! You two would be perfect together! Everyone loves him here, and…uh,…wait, didn’t you meet him already?” She asked, quizzically. She took out her calendar and flipped it to last month. “Yeah, yeah…” she tapped the calendar, “you were here the day he arrived.”

I looked down, then groaned and covered my face. “Ohhh, God. And I haven’t stopped thinking about him!” I shook my head. “Is that crazy?” I turned to Tessa for reassurance, for some hint of recognition of my insanity. 

“You’re not crazy, Gina,” she said. “I saw the spark between you two when he was walking in, and I was walking you out. I could feel the electricity between you both.” She put the pen in her top drawer and closed it. “Do you want me to introduce you? Formally?”

“I don’t know…uh…well,” I stammered. “I’m not sure I’m ready yet, for the work that goes into this. And, what if it doesn’t work out? What if he doesn’t like me? I’d be devastated. I can’t endure more loss.”

“You’ll never know, Gina, until you give it a try. Have you been obsessing over him ever since your first encounter?” I nodded. She dipped her head as she asked, “Sooo…?”

Tears stained my cheeks as I stared at her. I wiped them away. “I lost Oliver just two years ago; I don’t think I can do this,” I said.

She sighed. “His name is Hunter. He’s amazing, and he’s so sweet, Gina. He gets along beautifully with all the staff.” Her face softened and her eyes showed empathy. 

“Huh,” I said. “A sturdy name for a sturdy guy.” I looked out the window. “So, why isn’t he taken? Why hasn't someone else just scooped him up?”

She shrugged. “Who knows? As you said, commitments can be demanding. Maybe the right person hasn’t come along yet. And, maybe that right person is you.”

I paused, then stood up, confidently. “Okay!” I said. “Let’s do this. I’m ready to meet him, this time with purpose.” Tessa smiled, grabbed her coat, and walked me out to the quad. 

There he was, sitting, with his back to us, staring off into the distance.

She called his name, “Hunter!” He turned around.

His head cocked to one side and he looked at me. A hint of recognition? 

Bolting towards me, his ears flapped in the wind, his tongue lolled to one side, and I swore I saw a smile as big as the moon.

I quickly took my shoes off, plopped down, crisscrossed on the grass, and outstretched my arms. Hunter ran straight onto my lap, licking my face and eventually settling into the crook of my thighs. 

Wrapping my arms around his bulky body, I could feel his heart beating, and, snuggling into his soft fur, I remembered how good it felt to have a dog. A buddy, a companion, someone to come home to. This relationship may work. 

He looked up at me, his hazel eyes still captivating me; he had that, that…animal magnetism. This crazy crush we had for each other never waned.

I looked up at Tessa. “Gina, meet Hunter. Hunter, meet Gina.” I whispered in his ear, “Hi, Hunter.” I laughed and snuggled some more. 

“I told you,” she said. “You two are perfect for each other.” She kneeled on the ground and petted Hunter. “Now it’s time for you to sign some paperwork!” She laughed. “Let’s do this and get you two on your way.”