Chapter Twenty-Six

It was Wednesday in the late afternoon now and Evan found himself sitting all alone in the Martís' personal limousine, heading to the charity event.

The animal shelter was found in Île des Gardénias —it was an island in the eastern north of Île Paraíso, so Jerome would need to drive around forty-five minutes to take Evan there, if the traffic wasn't so heavy, obviously.

Unfortunately, the traffic on the bridge that connected Île Paraíso with Île des Gardénias was indeed very heavy that day…

Evan could see the water of the shimmering ocean waving calmly beneath the bridge the car was on. The annoying, noisy sounds of the other vehicles' honks filled the air, so he decided to close the car's window, even when he was enjoying the sweet scent of fresh gardenias that the island was impregnated with.

He grabbed his phone to quickly text Michel a brief and apologetic message that warned him about his late arrival.

"Hey hon, I'll be getting there a bit late because of the traffic on the bridge. I'm really sorry, I promise I'll make up, though." He finished the text with a winking emoji and sparkles.

After sending that message, Evan opened the window again, letting all of the ear-shattering honkings invade the limousine's interior again. He quickly checked the traffic jam formed on the bridge: full, heavy, there was no use in waiting patiently for it to finally get decongest.

Evan closed the window again as he let himself plop nonchalantly on his seat. He decided to bring up his phone again and use the best method ever made to combat the stress: listening to a lo-fi hip-hop radio on his preferred platform for music and podcasts.

They used to stream relaxing and chill tunes every day and all day long, so it was perfect for him to just enjoy the sights as he delighted his ears with some calm and inspiring music while waiting for the vehicles to finally move.

He put on his earbuds and opened the app, looking for his radio of choice. He tapped it and, suddenly, the annoying noise of the honks got drowned with synthesizers and smooth, serene music beats.

Without even realizing it, Evan fell into a deep slumber.

…

He could barely descry the small hills beside the white sand and the radiant sea inside of the lens of that vintage camera, they were too tiny and the illumination was dim, although the day was cleared out and the sun shone with splendor.

"Why did you even bring the vintage camera, love? I'm bad at taking analogical pictures, I'm telling you!" He complained, not even sounding annoyed, though.

He found himself standing on the Alfa Romeo of Michel, on the copilot seat and with the car's roof down. It'd have been such a pity to keep it closed with such a marvelous day…

Michel laughed, both of them were wearing sunglasses and summer clothes, it was indeed hot. The car was moving at a rather fast pace through the highway, which was absolutely empty. Both of them looked happy and, apparently, heading to an important event, but he wasn't sure of where exactly.

"Just take some pictures, babe! One of them at least will be focused, I promise." Michel replied, his smile looking more charming and radiant than ever, and his curls getting swept backward with the breeze.

...

Evan saw that fleeting sequence flashing through his mind for what seemed only a minute or two, but he felt something burning inside of him with it… Not only the day was warm, but his entire being was, too. Warm, light… Light as a feather, like not worrying about anything at all anymore. Free, like the summer breeze gently whipping his face and Michel's. Complete, as if he were a puzzle with his pieces solved. Tranquil and mirthful at last.

He opened his eyes hesitantly, the driver's seat was empty and he could hear Jerome speaking in French with some strangers out of the car..

It was just a dream…

His heart shrunk and his stomach made a tickling flip. How he wished that dream would come true someday soon…

Jerome got back in the limousine, but before he sat down on the driver's seat again, he noticed Evan had woken up after the trip.

"Oh, Sir Clarke, you're awake, that's good. We've arrived forty minutes late, but luckily the Royal Family isn't upset about it. Prince Michel is waiting for you in the shelter." The chauffeur informed Evan, his voice sounded clear and expectant.

Evan rubbed his eyes, trying his best to ginger up.

"Okay… I'm going…" He pronounced with a still groggy voice.

Jerome quickly walked up to the backseat's door and proceeded to open it for Evan.

When Evan got out of the car, three ripped-looking men dressed in black trousers and t-shirts were waiting for him.

"These are the security guards that will escort you to the interior of the shelter, Sir Clarke. I'll be waiting at the parking lot until you have to get back to the Martí Manor, which will probably be by the evening before time for dinner." Jerome explained to him briefly.

Evan simply nodded in understanding. Then, he muttered a simple "thank you" and began walking up to the shelter's backdoor.

But something in the middle of the short way interrupted him, or, to be more precise, someone did interrupt him…

He got suddenly tackled down by a huge ball of golden fur, right at the minute one of the guards was opening the back gate. It seemed to have dashed at an incredible high speed towards him, as if it were waiting for his arrival.

A large, humid, and soft tissue licked his freckled face, completely soaking it in canine saliva and, why not, also getting rid of his glasses as it attacked him mercilessly with kisses on the grass.

Evan couldn't help but laugh at the dog's affection as the guards yelled things in French and tried to separate the animal from the redhead.

"It's okay, it's okay…! I'm not hurt, I promise!" He exclaimed, suddenly feeling excited as he regained his composure and put his glasses on again.

He took a better look at the dog: it looked like a Golden Retriever, but its ears and tail were different, so he assumed it must have most probably been of a mixed breed, but he couldn't really tell which ones they could have been.

It was wiggling its long, furry tail and barked at him amiably, like asking him to pet it without fear.

"Hey there, little friend. You seem excited, want some pets?" Evan talked to the dog, offering it his hand so it could sniff it first.

But the dog licked it enthusiastically, so Evan proceeded to pet its snout and head, giggling at the tender sight.

"Oh, there she is!" A feminine voice became audible suddenly.

A young woman with tanned skin and narrow brown eyes appeared in the scene, running towards Evan and the dog. She was wearing the animal shelter's uniform and her black hair was tied into a low ponytail, she looked concerned.

Right after her, Michel appeared in the scene as well.

"Evan! You made it here!" He exclaimed, sounding exhausted after the sudden chase, yet still excited in a way, and smiled widely for Evan, even when he looked overly agitated.

"Yeah, I fell asleep on the way, but this little buddy here managed to ginger me up." He said, petting the dog's ears, the guard that opened the back gate was trying to hold it back with a rope leash.

"Oh, so it seems she likes you, too! This is the dog I'm going to adopt, by the way." Michel added, catching his breath and grinning as he approached them.

"She? Is she a female?" Evan asked with curiosity, he was surprised about how a female dog could have so much energy, she must have probably been a puppy, then.

"She is indeed a female. We call her 'Nana', she's a four-months-old mix of Golden Retriever and German Shepherd. She's very friendly with everyone, and, as you must have seen already, she's full of energy!" The animal shelter's clerk said, sounding almost proud of the puppy, and she should have been, Nana was adorable!

"We were in the process of going up to the shelter's office to finish up the adoption's papers. But when she heard the limousine parking, she suddenly wasn't there anymore, it was almost as if she were waiting for you to arrive or something…" Michel added, his voice sounded amazed.

"Oh, that's strange… I mean it's you who will adopt her, but I still find it endearing." Evan replied, looking at the thrilled puppy. "She's gonna be the best little girl ever, right? Nana? Or what should I call you?"

Michel chuckled a bit, seeing Evan this fond of a puppy really melted his heart.

"I'll let you pick the name, don't worry. But first, let's head to the office room." Michel reassured, sounding firm and eager to bring the dog home to the royal palace at the same time.

The shelter's clerk picked Nana in her arms and the three of them began walking in direction to the interior of the building and into the office where adoptions were granted to potential new owners.

They walked past a large field where many dogs were running around and playing with toys or between them, some people were with them, too, playing with them or petting them and giving them treats.

Evan could also see from afar another field but it was filled with cats instead.

The shelter seemed to be quite large indeed, but none of the buildings had more than one story, so he assumed that the funding charity event was to enlarge it and give the animals a bigger and better temporary home.

He found it utterly loving, how the royal family was even caring for the animals.

When they finally reached the office room, the clerk put Nana on top of a steel examination table that fitted her size just perfectly, and the dog simply stared at Michel and Evan with a Golden Retriever's characteristic cheerful face.

"So, you can decide whether to give Nana a new name or keep the current one, Your Highness. Meanwhile, I'll check and fill this pet adoption formulary, take all the time you need, please." She said, leafing through a folder and grabbing a pen to start filling the blank spaces.

"Alright. Evan, I told you to choose a name for her since she seems to like you a lot, do you have anything in mind? Don't pick something too freaky, please, she'll be my dog after all." Michel said, teasing Evan.

The redhead hummed, thinking of a possibly good name for Nana, something cute and meaningful.

"How about Hermione?" He suggested.

Both the clerk and Michel tried to suppress heavy laughter.

"What? What's so funny?" Evan inquired, looking slightly bewildered.

"I'm not going to name my dog after Hermione Granger, she'll be like my daughter. I should have seen something like that coming…" Michel replied, covering his face with his palm as he kept trying not to laugh out loud.

"Hey! I like the Harry Potter sagas, okay? Maybe… I don't know… Luna? After Luna Lovegood? That's a good name, isn't it?" Evan defended himself.

The shelter's clerk chuckled lightly.

"I actually like that name." She confessed, sketching a smile.

"Yes… Well…" Michel let out, seeming still hesitant about it.

"Come on, Michel. Just admit it already. Luna is a pretty nice and adorable name." Evan insisted, not willing to give up on making Michel surrender and name her 'Luna'.

"Okay, okay… Luna is a beautiful name, I confess... But, let's ask her first." Michel stared at the dog, who tilted her head, as if she were waiting for him to ask her the question. "What do you think, sweetie? Would you like to be called 'Luna'? Once you choose, there'll be no way back."

The dog began wiggling her tail frantically and she let her tongue hang out of her smiley mouth, then, she barked, agreeing with the idea.

"See? She likes it! I told you!" Evan exclaimed, victorious.

Michel let out some chuckles.

"Okay, you've won this time…" Michel giggled, finally giving in.

"So, Luna will be it, right? I just need your signature here, Your Highness, and then you'll be able to take Luna to her new home." The clerk announced, handing Michel the pen she was using to let him sign.

Michel grabbed the pen and quickly signed in the blank space left in the formulary.

Luna was finally Michel's pet. But more than that, Evan felt like she was going to be a small being that would unite them more and strengthen their bond every day.

Every picture of her taken, every walk they'd take with her, every trick she'd learn, that was going to be like seeing a little life growing and evolving in front of their very eyes.

Luna was certainly going to be like Michel and his daughter, their little girl that they would adore and treasure forever…

"Okay, that would be all, Your Highness. You can pick a collar and a leash for Luna at the front desk; you can go to pose for the pictures with her after that. Please, let me guide your way there." The clerk said with her voice sounding clear and polite.

Before Evan started walking along with the clerk, Michel stopped him for a second and whispered something into his ear:

"She's going to be our little girl from now on." He muttered, his voice sounded alluring and merry at the same time. "And by the way, you chose pretty well, Luna is a gorgeous name."