Page 51 of Hope and Country

It’d been almost three weeks since the attack. Most bruises were gone, and Devon had been doing a lot better. Every day the haunted look in her eyes cleared bit by bit, and she came out of her shell for longer periods of time.

The woman I met last year was returning. Back then, she was dealing with ghosts, but she didn’t let them crush her spirits. But this last episode had done her in. Now I could see the strength warring with the fear that her stepbrother had inducted in her. She would get through this. But baby steps it would be.

Each tear she cried left an indelible mark on my heart.

With my arm around her, I pulled her to my chest, my lips grazing her eyebrow. “I found a great place to adopt. Well, June did. Anyway, I’ll arrange for the puppies to be brought over. It would be a fun sight. No-nonsense June with scampering pups.”

Devon giggled through her tears. “I can’t wait to meet her. She seems like fun. Anyway, you should go by yourself. Don’t worry about me. I’m not sure you can get June to bring the litter over.”

I tightened my grip around her, unable to let go of her now that her body molded to mine perfectly.

“Why not? Let me message June to set it up.”

Devon lifted her eyes. “Riley, you don’t have to do that. Not for me. You’ve done too much already.”

I tucked her curls behind her ear and lifted her chin with my finger until she could see into my eyes. “I wanna do this. You ask nothing from me. But if I’m getting a dog, I want you two to bond. It’s important to me. You’re important to me.”

More tears fell down her cheeks, but this time, I couldn’t help but notice the soft bend to her lips. And it filled my heart with something resembling peace.

* * *

The next morning, Devon and I sat cross-legged on the living room floor, three mixed-breed puppies running around and chewing on our fingers.

Devon cupped her mouth. “Ohmygod, they are adorable. How will you be able to pick just one?” She lifted a puppy and pressed it to her heart. Her laughter, clear and addictive, resonated throughout the house. All the walls around her had fallen away. The woman radiated with glee.

I picked one furry ball up and examined it. “Which one are we supposed to choose?”

I cringed. I said we without thinking. It just flew out of my mouth in the most natural way. Devon said nothing, and I wondered for a minute if she heard me. But then, she added, “Go with your heart.” Not, let’s get this one.

I studied her as she peppered kisses on the heads of the pups. The black one chewed on the string of her hoodie, and the tri-colored one licked her chin.

Here and now. This was one of those moments I hoped would be branded to my memory forever.

The purest expression of love.

The black puppy escaped, and the tri-colored one stretched on its length, sank itself into Devon’s arms, and soon started snoring. She kissed its head. I used my phone to snap a picture, wanting to immortalize this simple display of affection forever.

“Okay, I’ve decided,” I whispered as if the normal tone of my voice would wake up the bundle of furry joy. “This one,” I said, pointing to the little guy. Or was it a she? I scratched my temple. I had no idea.

“Riley—” Devon’s eyes turned soft. “You don’t have to.”

“You two are picture-perfect together. You’ll have to tell me if it’s a guy or a girl, so we can brainstorm names.”

Devon hugged the sleepy animal, murmuring something in its ear. An unknown sensation wound up in my chest and filmed my eyes.

I blinked hard and moved to my feet, craving a breath of fresh air to define all the tingles and tangles ping-ponging inside me.

21

DEVON

Riley walked in with three mixed-breed dogs in a carrier, and my heart liquified at their sight. I loved animals. They had always brought me comfort. Even if I’d never owned a pet. When I was little, I used to go to the dog park. Just to scratch the dogs behind their ears or have them give me the much-needed attention and love.

Right now, it felt like that version of me had come back.

Riley opened the carrier door, and all the puppies came rushing into my lap, licking my face, and sniffing my shirt. A freeing burst of laughter bubbled out.

Riley moved to his feet to chase a puppy trotting around with his shoe. My cheerfulness multiplied when I saw the two playing. The puppy must have sensed Riley’s Chukka boots were worth the money and refused to give up his treasure. Giggles erupted out of me when I saw the drool slobbered on the handcrafted, pure Italian leather shoe. Ohmygosh.