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I end up leaving work early. I don’t want her getting off early like yesterday and not being able to walk her home. I wait outside the shelter for twenty minutes and when she still hasn’t come out, I decide to go check on things.
I walk inside and immediately spot my girl behind the counter. She looks upset and my guard instantly rises. I will destroy anything that tries to hurt her. She looks up and her eyes lock on mine. I expect her to look pissed but not even the sight of me can chase that sad look away.
I duck behind the counter and into the little office that she’s in.
“What’s wrong, my love?” I ask, pulling her into my arms.
She melts into my body for a moment and I feel whole. This is what I want, for her to come to me for support or just to lean on. I will always be by her side. I will always be the one to protect her and care for her. No one will ever love her more than I do.
She pulls away from me but her hands still cling to me and my hands still hold her. Her watery purple eyes stare up at me and I want to take that look away.
“What happened? Tell me, my love, and I’ll fix it.”
“She died.” She says and I watch as more tears fall down her cheeks.
“Who? Aspen?” Panic grips me. I can’t fix death.
“No. Bonnie.”
“Who is Bonnie?”
“This golden retriever mix that we found the other day. She was pregnant and she gave birth but she lost so much blood. Sh-sh-she didn’t make it.”
“Oh, my love, I’m so sorry.”
“No one will take the puppies and we don’t have room for them here or the resources to feed them. They’re going to put them down if we can’t find someone by 5.”
More tears flood her eyes and fall down her cheeks.
“I’ll take them.” I blurt out.
“What?” She asks, shocked.
I’m just as shocked. What the heck am I going to do with a bunch of puppies? I’ve never had a dog before but now I’m going to be responsible for a bunch of little ones? It’s not even a choice though. I would do anything to make Adeline happy.
“I’ll take them. I don’t know anything about dogs but I can figure it out and they won’t die.”
“You would do that?”
“My love, I would do anything for you. Ask and it’s yours.”
She stares up into my eyes and for a second, I think she’s going to kiss me but then another woman walks in and she steps back.
“Marjorie! I found someone to take the puppies!”
I tune out the excited chatter as they talk about what great news that is and I smile as my girl grins up at me. She takes my hand and leads me out of the office and down the hall to a back room.
Inside, the puppies are cuddled up together in a sleeping ball. They look like fleshy lumps but they’re kind of cute, I guess. Adeline coos over them as she explains everything that I will need to do to keep these little guys alive.
“Don’t worry, I’ll come over and help with the feedings or if you have any questions.”
“You will?” I ask, surprised by this news.
“Of course. It’s the least I can do.”
My mind suddenly comes up with fantasies of us getting close and falling in love as we care for these puppies. I want that so bad and suddenly, the idea of adopting a bunch of puppies is a whole lot more appealing.
CHAPTER 9
