Page 120 of Wag More Bark Less

“A few?”

“We need to get you on the road,” I said, focusing on the task at hand. It was the only way to keep the crack in my heart from splitting wide open. It wasn’t fucking fair. I was supposed to have more time.

“I’m sorry I’m checking out early⁠—”

“The only thing that matters is you getting home to your sister.”

As soon as she hit the road, I’d refund her entire stay. It didn’t seem fair to charge her for a rental she hardly used. But I didn’t want to argue about it now.

“Home,” Maggie mumbled, staring at the floor for several beats.

I wanted to comfort her. I wanted to draw her into my arms and hold her tight. Hell, I wanted to get in the car and go with her. I hated that she’d be traveling alone. But I had responsibilities here I couldn’t abandon. I was supposed to drive a goddamn tractor in a couple of hours. And I was back on the schedule tomorrow with not one but two of my officers taking leave of their own.

“Where are your suitcases?”

“Next door.”

“I’ll get them. Go grab a shower if you want one.”

I flew into action, jogging from deck to deck to retrieve everything from the neighboring unit. Ellie kept on my heel, pacing and whining. She didn’t understand what was happening, and that nearly broke me.

I returned with her bags and started a pot of coffee while she showered.

If I’d known she’d be getting on the road so damn early, I wouldn’t have let her keep me up. I would’ve insisted she get some rest.

I debated making breakfast, but settled with toasting a bagel she could take on the road instead. I packed some road snacks, bottled water, and tucked some of the apple cider she loved in one of her tote bags.

I was spreading the bagel with the strawberry cream cheese she loved when she appeared in the kitchen, hair wet and dripping from her shoulders. Her expression was stoic, but her eyes were red-rimmed.

“You don’t have to do all this,” she insisted.

“You have a long drive ahead of you.”

I finished preparing her bagel, filled my biggest travel cup with coffee, and started packing her Forester.

And just like that, there was nothing else to do.

An ache filled my chest because I knew what happened next. Maggie and Ellie get in the car and drive away.

“I wish I had more time,” Maggie said, her smile watery.

I tugged her into my arms for a hug because I couldn’t stand to see her cry. I didn’t want to face what this meant until she was ten miles down the road.

Holding her in my arms, I nearly broke. I love you and I want you to come back, were on the tip of my tongue. But I bit back the words. She wasn’t ready. She needed this time with her family, not pressure from me. “I want you to text me to let me know you’re safe.”

“Okay.”

“Tonight at your first hotel. And tomorrow when you get to Lansing.”

“Will you tell everyone I’m sorry I can’t stay?” She sniffed. “Tell Walter—” I glanced across the street, but his windows were dark. “Tell your family I’m sorry I’m going to miss dinner.”

“It’s time for you to go,” I said, my voice nearly cracking as I untangled her from my arms and opened the driver’s side door. “Your sister needs you.”

Maggie dropped into the driver’s seat and started her Forester. I held the back door open for Ellie, but she just stared at me.

“Ellie, you have to go with your mom.”

She ran a circle around my ankles, whining.