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The separation nearly a year ago had been difficult for Marley to grasp. So once that memory reappeared, Tara figured the reasoning would return. They’d been careful about how they’d explained Sam’s condition, considering Marley was so young. How could anyone truly explain drug addiction to such an innocent child?
Tara and Sam had been as honest as possible, explaining that he had to go away to get better and that sometimes people could love each other but not live together or be married anymore.
Sam hadn’t wanted the divorce, and obviously still didn’t since the papers were lying unsigned in his apartment across town. What was the purpose of dragging this out? She’d had to muster up every ounce of her courage to go see her attorney and start the process.
Her heart had shattered that day. The last thing she wanted was to be divorced, but she hadn’t seen a future for them. She worried that if she let him in he would fall down the same path and she would enable him once again. For months she’d hid his addiction, sometimes turning the other cheek because she didn’t want it to be true.
Her counselor had told her that she had enabled him, but she hadn’t purposely done so. There was such a fine line to walk when dealing with an addict between wanting to help them and trying to love them. Tara had to keep Sam at a distance, no matter how difficult...no matter how much her heart still ached to have him with them.
Tara crossed her arms and chewed on her bottom lip as she continued to watch her daughter. She didn’t want Marley to suffer more than necessary. Growing up, Tara never knew when her parents were going to be together or living in separate places. Her father came and went so much, the revolving door became the norm.
There was no way Marley would have that lifestyle. The moment Tara discovered her pregnancy, Marley’s father had vanished. When Sam came along, Tara had been so hesitant to give her heart, to share her child. But he’d been impossible not to fall for. His charm, his compassion, the way he took to Marley as if she were his own.
Tara’s heart clenched at the idea that the man she’d loved was forever gone. No matter if he was clean now, he’d been changed forever. Their worlds had been changed forever.
So keeping this arrangement, with shared custody, was at least a routine they could all get used to, because if Tara opened their home and there was another setback... Tara didn’t think her heart could handle another break.
The clatter of paws over the hardwood floor pulled Tara from her thoughts. That poor dog clearly couldn’t get traction on—
Wait. Paws? Dog?
She spun around as a massive beast came barreling toward her, pulling Sam, who held on to the other end of the leash. Tara would have laughed at the sight if she weren’t so shocked at the takeover of her home.
“What in the world?”
Tara barely got the words out before she had to plaster herself against the wall to let the animal guiding her husband by.
“Meet Daisy.” Sam gave the leash a slight tug. “Daisy, sit.”
Immediately the dog dropped to her butt. Tara’s gaze bounced between the suddenly obedient dog and Sam. What in the world was happening here?
“Whose dog is this?” Marley asked as she moved to the new dog invading their living room. “Can I pet her?”
“Yes, you can, and this is our dog. Daisy.”
Tara snorted. “This is not Daisy.”
“No. Her name really is Daisy.”
The monster was taller than Marley, which looked absolutely silly as she stood before the dog and patted its head.
Tara looked closer to Marley’s feet and the dog’s paws...and what puddled between them on the floor.
“Is that slobber?” she asked, turning her focus to Sam.
“She has a little saliva issue. You don’t want to see the inside of my truck.” Sam leaned over and unhooked the leash from the St. Bernard. “She’s sweet and loving, and the shelter said she’s great with kids, a good protector and housebroken. Her owners had to move and couldn’t take her. She’s four years old.”
Tara shook her head and attempted to regain control of her thoughts, which was all she could control at the moment because some mammoth animal was taking up the living room.
