'Taya groaned as the bright sunlight burst from behind a cloud to blind her where she sat in the back of the cab. As much as she had enjoyed last night's Hanami, the combination of a show and too much alcohol had all but destroyed her usual morning composure. And where she would normally have stayed in bed until she felt more human - which was Max's plan - she had a job to do which wasn't going to wait.
As the driver pulled up in front of Riley and David's house, she paid up with him, barely managing to get out of the car before heading for the house itself, fiddling with the key ring in her hand. The first key she tried was her own front door key; the second one was for her office at the theatre. When she realised she was trying to get into the house with her own car key, 'Taya rolled her eyes, pressing her forehead against the cool wood.
"Why did I ever agree to this?" she groaned to herself, finally getting the right key into the right lock and letting herself into the house.
All was quiet which, on reflection, possibly wasn't a good thing. There was supposed to be a puppy somewhere in here, wanting feeding and walking and all that stuff while Riley and David were in Japan. They'd set off early this morning, apparently, which explained the half-finished doggy breakfast bowl the actress found on the floor of the kitchen.
"Finn?"
There was no way in hell 'Taya was going to go searching for the dog, not in her state. Just as well, then, that the moment her voice sounded through the house, a not so little bundle of fur and energy came bounding into the kitchen, bouncing paws off her hip and nearly knocking the hungover woman off-balance entirely.
"Whoah, easy there, fluffball. Aunty 'Taya's a little bit delicate this morning."
Never mind that they hadn't met before now, 'Taya was a sucker for the big eyes and happy-to-see-you routine. She knelt down, content to rub the puppy's face and neck while he sniffed all around her own face, obviously trying to make sense of all the scents that still clung to her after last night.
"Aww, aren't you just the cutest?" she grinned, even through her headache, enjoying the puppy's attention. "Your momma and poppa have gone away for a week - one week, they promised - so you're gonna come and stay with me and Max until they get back, 'kay?" There was a pause, and she stood up. "What am I asking you for, you don't understand a word I'm saying, do you? Where's your leash, fella?"
After about half an hour of following the dog around the house, gathering up various bits and pieces of doggy possessions and packing them into her bag, 'Taya finally found the leash, coaxing it around Finn's neck. The puppy certainly seemed excited by the idea of a walk, a little too bouncy for her tastes while she struggled into the rollerblades she'd brought with her. Hey, at least he'd be tired by the time they got to Zen.
She spent a while checking the house was secure before locking up the front door and walking herself and Finn carefully down to the road.
"Okay, dude, let's go!"
Ever seen Cesar Millan rollerblading with a pack of dogs? This was nothing if not imitation at its most enthusiastic. Finn had a long stride, and after a while, 'Taya realised that she wasn't actually doing anything but holding on, laughing at the bemused expressions of the people they passed. You could say this for the dog ... he'd cured her hangover.
As the driver pulled up in front of Riley and David's house, she paid up with him, barely managing to get out of the car before heading for the house itself, fiddling with the key ring in her hand. The first key she tried was her own front door key; the second one was for her office at the theatre. When she realised she was trying to get into the house with her own car key, 'Taya rolled her eyes, pressing her forehead against the cool wood.
"Why did I ever agree to this?" she groaned to herself, finally getting the right key into the right lock and letting herself into the house.
All was quiet which, on reflection, possibly wasn't a good thing. There was supposed to be a puppy somewhere in here, wanting feeding and walking and all that stuff while Riley and David were in Japan. They'd set off early this morning, apparently, which explained the half-finished doggy breakfast bowl the actress found on the floor of the kitchen.
"Finn?"
There was no way in hell 'Taya was going to go searching for the dog, not in her state. Just as well, then, that the moment her voice sounded through the house, a not so little bundle of fur and energy came bounding into the kitchen, bouncing paws off her hip and nearly knocking the hungover woman off-balance entirely.
"Whoah, easy there, fluffball. Aunty 'Taya's a little bit delicate this morning."
Never mind that they hadn't met before now, 'Taya was a sucker for the big eyes and happy-to-see-you routine. She knelt down, content to rub the puppy's face and neck while he sniffed all around her own face, obviously trying to make sense of all the scents that still clung to her after last night.
"Aww, aren't you just the cutest?" she grinned, even through her headache, enjoying the puppy's attention. "Your momma and poppa have gone away for a week - one week, they promised - so you're gonna come and stay with me and Max until they get back, 'kay?" There was a pause, and she stood up. "What am I asking you for, you don't understand a word I'm saying, do you? Where's your leash, fella?"
After about half an hour of following the dog around the house, gathering up various bits and pieces of doggy possessions and packing them into her bag, 'Taya finally found the leash, coaxing it around Finn's neck. The puppy certainly seemed excited by the idea of a walk, a little too bouncy for her tastes while she struggled into the rollerblades she'd brought with her. Hey, at least he'd be tired by the time they got to Zen.
She spent a while checking the house was secure before locking up the front door and walking herself and Finn carefully down to the road.
"Okay, dude, let's go!"
Ever seen Cesar Millan rollerblading with a pack of dogs? This was nothing if not imitation at its most enthusiastic. Finn had a long stride, and after a while, 'Taya realised that she wasn't actually doing anything but holding on, laughing at the bemused expressions of the people they passed. You could say this for the dog ... he'd cured her hangover.