to my lap, staring up at me with no expectations,
just unconditional puppy love.
“Thank
you for bringing her, Zoe. I think she’ll help me. What should I
name her?”
“Her
official name with the AKC is Lady Godiva of Elysian Fields. I’ve been
calling her Diva.”
“You
knew?”
She
stroked her palm over my face as she had when I was little. “Animals are
excellent for healing, Ellie. They expect nothing and give so much in
return. I thought, when she was born, that her gentle nature would match
yours perfectly.” Zoe reached down to scratch Diva behind the ear.
“She’s
taken to her training wonderfully and isn’t rough.” Glancing up and
meeting my eyes, she added quietly, “She won’t give you any trouble with a
little one in the house.”
I
stared at her, wanting to explain but should have known it wasn’t
necessary.
“Ellie,
I have loved you like my own since you were born and my best friend in all the
world broke down in happiness. You know my children were almost fully grown
then and you filled the empty nest syndrome for me. Over the years, I’ve
watched Monica’s fear for you grow. Your attack strikes at the heart of
everything your parents love most in the world. They would give up money,
possessions, or position to keep you safe and happy. I know that love and
fear can suffocate sometimes, honey. I know.”
I
shook my head and whispered, “I’m ungrateful.”
“You
are human , Ellie. You are also a young woman who has lived much
like Rapunzel – sheltered from the world even as you long to see it…to
experience it.” She took my chin in her hand and lifted my face.
“You will be an excellent mother, Ellie.”
Tears
filled her eyes and overflowed. “I am so sorry for everything you went
through but so proud of how you are handling it. Anything else,
everything else, will fall into place. Don’t stop believing in your own
happy ending, alright?”
The
first genuine smile crossed my face and I nodded as she kissed my cheeks.
“Now, let’s get some food then I’ll take you through Diva’s training.”
She stood with a sharp whistle and the doors opened, my mother and my team
watching me carefully.
With
one hand stroking her back, I told them, “This is Diva. The newest member
of my fam…my team. Each of you will have to get to know her but I’ll make
sure she doesn’t bother anyone.”
The
Hyde men approached and knelt on either side of the large puppy. As one,
they reached out to pet and scratch her until she was practically
melting.
I
am jealous of a dog.
“Strong
yet gentle. She’ll fit right in with her owner.” Again, I couldn’t
tell which of the men had spoken but the words affected me deeply. I
stared at my lap as one of them stepped behind my chair to push me manually,
bending to say close to my ear, “Freedom can always be arranged, Ellie.
You can’t take off without us again. Alright?” I nodded.
He
stood and pushed me to the dining room, the other Hyde walking at one side of
my chair and Diva on the other with an occasional exuberant puppy bounce.
As
we settled for lunch, the Hydes sat on either side of me, something they’d
never done before. My face felt warm but I ignored it. I felt Diva
rest her head on the top of my foot under the table. For a little while,
my extremely unusual life felt almost normal.
If
I stared at the sparkle of my water glass and allowed my eyes to unfocus, I
could see them both in my peripheral vision. Part of me – the young and
foolish part – imagined they were mine.
I
shook off the daydream and ate as much as I could of the baby greens and salmon
placed in front of me. I drank the cup of herbal tea Si brought me.
I dealt with the pain and pretended it didn’t cause sweat to break out over my
body.
When
it became too bad to hide from my mother, I announced that I was exhausted, and
let my team take me back to my suite. I
just unconditional puppy love.
“Thank
you for bringing her, Zoe. I think she’ll help me. What should I
name her?”
“Her
official name with the AKC is Lady Godiva of Elysian Fields. I’ve been
calling her Diva.”
“You
knew?”
She
stroked her palm over my face as she had when I was little. “Animals are
excellent for healing, Ellie. They expect nothing and give so much in
return. I thought, when she was born, that her gentle nature would match
yours perfectly.” Zoe reached down to scratch Diva behind the ear.
“She’s
taken to her training wonderfully and isn’t rough.” Glancing up and
meeting my eyes, she added quietly, “She won’t give you any trouble with a
little one in the house.”
I
stared at her, wanting to explain but should have known it wasn’t
necessary.
“Ellie,
I have loved you like my own since you were born and my best friend in all the
world broke down in happiness. You know my children were almost fully grown
then and you filled the empty nest syndrome for me. Over the years, I’ve
watched Monica’s fear for you grow. Your attack strikes at the heart of
everything your parents love most in the world. They would give up money,
possessions, or position to keep you safe and happy. I know that love and
fear can suffocate sometimes, honey. I know.”
I
shook my head and whispered, “I’m ungrateful.”
“You
are human , Ellie. You are also a young woman who has lived much
like Rapunzel – sheltered from the world even as you long to see it…to
experience it.” She took my chin in her hand and lifted my face.
“You will be an excellent mother, Ellie.”
Tears
filled her eyes and overflowed. “I am so sorry for everything you went
through but so proud of how you are handling it. Anything else,
everything else, will fall into place. Don’t stop believing in your own
happy ending, alright?”
The
first genuine smile crossed my face and I nodded as she kissed my cheeks.
“Now, let’s get some food then I’ll take you through Diva’s training.”
She stood with a sharp whistle and the doors opened, my mother and my team
watching me carefully.
With
one hand stroking her back, I told them, “This is Diva. The newest member
of my fam…my team. Each of you will have to get to know her but I’ll make
sure she doesn’t bother anyone.”
The
Hyde men approached and knelt on either side of the large puppy. As one,
they reached out to pet and scratch her until she was practically
melting.
I
am jealous of a dog.
“Strong
yet gentle. She’ll fit right in with her owner.” Again, I couldn’t
tell which of the men had spoken but the words affected me deeply. I
stared at my lap as one of them stepped behind my chair to push me manually,
bending to say close to my ear, “Freedom can always be arranged, Ellie.
You can’t take off without us again. Alright?” I nodded.
He
stood and pushed me to the dining room, the other Hyde walking at one side of
my chair and Diva on the other with an occasional exuberant puppy bounce.
As
we settled for lunch, the Hydes sat on either side of me, something they’d
never done before. My face felt warm but I ignored it. I felt Diva
rest her head on the top of my foot under the table. For a little while,
my extremely unusual life felt almost normal.
If
I stared at the sparkle of my water glass and allowed my eyes to unfocus, I
could see them both in my peripheral vision. Part of me – the young and
foolish part – imagined they were mine.
I
shook off the daydream and ate as much as I could of the baby greens and salmon
placed in front of me. I drank the cup of herbal tea Si brought me.
I dealt with the pain and pretended it didn’t cause sweat to break out over my
body.
When
it became too bad to hide from my mother, I announced that I was exhausted, and
let my team take me back to my suite. I
Similar Books
