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Emma collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably as she stroked Riley’s fur. Tears poured down her face as she whispered to him, her voice quivering. “I’m so sorry Riley, Momma’s here. Stay with me. Don’t leave. Please don’t leave me.”
Memories flooded her mind of the day she adopted him from Second Chance Rescue, his bright eyes and wagging tail. She had promised to always be there for him, to protect him from harm. But now, as she watched his labored breaths and felt his body grow limp, she felt like she had failed him. Emma couldn’t bear the thought of life without her faithful companion by her side. She held onto him tightly, her sobs echoing through the empty street.
“We have to go now!” Jeremiah interrupted. “We’ve got to get him to the animal hospital.”
Jeremiah sprang into action, bent down and carefully grabbed Riley, trying to hold him as gently as possible.
“Put him in the backseat!” Emma cried, opening the car door. Glancing up, she noticed Chad’s car was still there, but he had vanished. But none of that mattered now. All that she cared about was Riley.
“Can you drive?” Jeremiah asked.
Emma looked at him, still in shock, and murmured. “I—I don’t know.”
“Give me the keys,” Jeremiah ordered. “Get in. We’ve got to go now!”
Chapter 42
Luke
Luke was just unloading the dishwasher when he heard his phone vibrating on the counter. It was Jeremiah calling him. That’s strange, he thought. He didn’t even know he’d left the house.
“Hello?”
“Dad! Dad, you’ve got to get over here! It’s Emma’s dog, Riley. He’s hurt.”
Panic arose in Luke’s throat. “Jeremiah? What are you talking about? Is Emma with you?”
“Yes, I’ll explain later. Just get over here. She’s needs you.”
Luke grabbed his keys and hurried to the front door. “I’m on my way. Where are you?”
“All Creatures Animal Hospital. On the emergency side, in the waiting room.”
“Okay. I’ll be there soon.” Luke hung up and ran out to his car. Peeling out of the driveway, he sped down the street, receiving a discerning look from Ada, who was outside gardening. He’d could apologize to her later, because right now he had to get to Emma as quickly as possible.
As Luke parked his car and dashed through the front doors of the main entrance, his heart was racing with anticipation. His eyes scanned the signs on the wall until they landed on the one marked, Emergency. With a determined stride, he hurried down the hall, his mind focused on finding Jeremiah and Emma.
Finally, he caught sight of them. Emma’s face was red and raw from crying, and Jeremiah’s expression was one of deep concern.
His heart hammered in his chest as he rushed toward her. “Emma, I drove down as fast as I could. What happened?”
“Luke!” She leapt up from the chair and clung onto him sobbing, as he stepped back to anchor himself. He hugged her tightly with his strong arms, feeling her body tremble with every shaky breath she took.
“Emma, I’m so sorry. What happened?”
“He was hit by a car,” Jeremiah said, his voice laden with sorrow.
Luke’s face paled as the news sank in. “Did the vet give an update on him?”
Jeremiah shook his head. “Not yet.”
“We’ll wait here as long as it takes.” Luke took a seat next to him. “Jeremiah, can you tell me what you were doing there?”
Emma lifted her head and looked into Luke’s eyes. “Jeremiah was the hero. And so was Riley.”
She began to cry all over again as Jeremiah passed her a box of tissues, his own eyes brimming with tears.
“Thank you,” she said, grabbing his arm and squeezing it.
