Page 84 of Not Until I Found You

She shakes her head, a fresh tear falling from her lashes.

“She used to take me to a pet store. Seeing all of the animals would always cheer me up,” Maxinne adds, looking up at me. “Isn’t there one down the street?”

I swallow, giving her a nod.

“If Uncle Z is okay with it,” Maxinne adds lightly, turning back to Annabelle, “maybe we could walk over there. I’m pretty sure there’s nothing a few animal friends can’t fix.”

She gives Annabelle a boop on her nose, earning a small grin from her in return.

“Can we please go?” Annabelle asks me, already pushing herself to her feet again.

“Yeah, we can go.”

We walk slowly at first with Annabelle wedged comfortably between us, one hand in mine, her other curled around Maxinne’s. I glance over at Maxinne more times than I can count, watching the way she keeps pace with Annabelle, and how her attention never fully leaves her.

It amazes me how naturally she handled that situation. She didn’t panic or second-guess what to do. She jumped right into action and made everything okay. I’m learning that she does that with everyone in her life. She did that for Derek. When Ashton needed her help with their dad, she swooped right in to be there for them.

But when has someone ever done that for her?

“Do you always carry a first aid kit with you?” I finally ask.

She chuckles softly. “Yeah. I always carry one around with the normal stuff, but the spray and ointment I made myself.”

That stops me in my tracks. “You made them?”

She nods, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. “The spray’s a botanical antiseptic I made out of calendula and lavender and a few other things. The balm helps with healing and inflammation. I’ve been making stuff like this for years. It’s something my dad taught me when I was a kid.”

I shake my head, thoroughly impressed with this amazing woman. An idea hits me. “You know, Covewood Botanicals would probably love your stuff.”

She glances over at me, surprise widening her eyes a bit. “What?”

“You’ve been there and seen that they sell handcrafted products.” I gesture vaguely. “I don’t think they have anything like what you’ve made. People would love it.”

“That’s funny that you say that, because my ultimate dream would be to run my own store like that one day. I’d love to sell things like these, natural cleaning products, herbs and spices, and so much more. That’s why it’s so important for me to finish my degree. I want to do something good in the world by using plants.”

“I hope you know how incredible you are, Max,” I add, and her lips curve into a small smile.

Before she can respond, Annabelle announces that we’re almost there. We cross the street toward the pet shop, and the bell above the door gives us a cheerful jingle as we step inside. Annabelle’s grip on my hand tightens with excitement as we make our way farther into the store.

The space smells faintly of cedar shavings and animal stench. Sunlight spills through the front windows, reflecting on glass tanks lined with bright gravel and plastic castles. There are rows of cages filled with colorful birds chirping softly at us and shelves stacked with pet toys shaped like bones, mice, and ropes. A golden retriever mural stretches across one wall, its painted eyes reminding me of Sven, and I make a mental note to purchase a few toys and bones for him before we leave.

Annabelle’s head swivels in every direction as she takes it all in. I know she’s been in here several times before, but that’s the thing about childhood. The world is always exciting and full of fun new things to discover, no matter how many times you’ve entered the same space.

Maxinne leans down toward the counter. “Do you happen to have any cats or dogs?”

The woman behind the register brightens instantly.

“We do,” she says, already stepping around the counter. “We’ve got a few rescues in the back.”

Maxinne explains quickly, nodding toward Annabelle. “She had a rough fall a few minutes ago, and we thought some animal snuggles might make her feel better.”

“Well, animal therapy is the best kind,” the woman says with a grin. “Come on back.”

We follow her through a short hallway lined with framed photos of past adoptions. Families are smiling together, kids holding onto leashes, and animals mid-lick. A low gate separates us from a small play area layered with blankets and pillows. Several barks echo from somewhere, followed by a soft meow.

Annabelle gasps when she sees the dogs and cats.

“Oh my goodness, they’re so cute,” Maxinne whispers.