wretched pain, but when Kate laid her hand on top of his head, he swiveled to look at her.
Brown eyes so full of regret. Maybe for the life he had. Maybe for the life he always dreamed of but didn’t get. Human eyes, wise, accepting, and yet still full of kindness, though she knew his owner decided he was worthless and disposable.
I’m better than this fate. I’m worth something more.
The voice expressed from his eyes hit her hard. Kate knew in that moment he was her dog. Meant for her. A low hum of energy tingled her palm, as if she had met part of herself. And she turned to the vet and gave the order. “Save him. I don’t care how much it costs or how you do it. I love him.”
The vet’s startled gaze changed to compassion and a determination to win. “Then I will.”
It was a turning point for them both. Even though they were both damaged, they were worth loving. How many times had Kate cried herself to sleep, thinking of herself as a freak no one could love because she couldn’t speak likeeveryone else? The torturous years in school, ashamed to read aloud, to say hello, to be teased mercilessly on the playground and bullied nonstop. But she’d risen above it all and made a success from her life. Just like Robert. The rest of the world could go to hell.
It took weeks for the healing, a ton of medical bills she guessed the vet helped her out with, and a wonderful charity that donated the scooter so Robert, now paraplegic, could learn to walk again without using his back legs. Kate learned to empty his full bladder when needed. She took him to physical therapy, learned new skills of how he could lead a full life, and hired someone to come in a few hours per day when she was at work.
She had regrets in her twenty-six years. She’d never traveled. She’d hung her head in shame for things that weren’t her fault.
But never Robert. He was the only decision that made her proud.
He finished his run, and she undid the cart, giving him a quick kiss on his head. “I’m exhausted. I snuck out on the crew and I don’t even care. Kennedy will be so pissed.”
Robert’s deep brown eyes gleamed with understanding. “Why don’t we go to the dog park this Saturday and you can meet Arilyn’s new rescue? I think you’ll like him. He’s got a long road to travel, like you did, but I think if he saw you he’d be more inspired to heal.”
Robert cocked his head and nodded.
She headed toward the small galley kitchen painted red. “Cool. Meaty bone or chewy bacon strip?”
He barked twice. “Bacon it is.” He politely tugged the strip from her fingers and wheeled off to his orthopedic mat to settle and treasure the treat.
She headed toward her pj drawer when the knock stopped her. Kate peeked through the window and flung open the door to see her best friend. “You missed Mugs.”
Genevieve MacKenzie dragged herself over the threshold, still in her scrubs. “Extra shift. Forgot to eat. Help.”
Kate shook her head and returned to the kitchen. Robert scurried from his mat to greet his second-favorite person, pushing his nose into her palm as Gen rubbed his head and gave him a kiss. “How’s my favorite boy? Good day or bad day?”
Kate opened the refrigerator and pulled out a variety of lunch meats. “Good day. Bladder is emptying fine lately. No bedsores.”
“That’s my baby,” Gen crooned, rubbing behind the ears. “I’m sorry I barged in before pj time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you live right down the road.” Kate stacked ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a big roll and set it on a plate. “Sit down and eat. What the hell are you doing to yourself lately, babe? You can’t save the world if you collapse on me.”
Her friend dropped onto the red stool and began shoving the food into her mouth. Kate grinned, pouredher some water, dumped out a few chips, and slid onto the seat next to her.
“David sprang a research article on me to complete. We were supposed to be collaborators,
Brown eyes so full of regret. Maybe for the life he had. Maybe for the life he always dreamed of but didn’t get. Human eyes, wise, accepting, and yet still full of kindness, though she knew his owner decided he was worthless and disposable.
I’m better than this fate. I’m worth something more.
The voice expressed from his eyes hit her hard. Kate knew in that moment he was her dog. Meant for her. A low hum of energy tingled her palm, as if she had met part of herself. And she turned to the vet and gave the order. “Save him. I don’t care how much it costs or how you do it. I love him.”
The vet’s startled gaze changed to compassion and a determination to win. “Then I will.”
It was a turning point for them both. Even though they were both damaged, they were worth loving. How many times had Kate cried herself to sleep, thinking of herself as a freak no one could love because she couldn’t speak likeeveryone else? The torturous years in school, ashamed to read aloud, to say hello, to be teased mercilessly on the playground and bullied nonstop. But she’d risen above it all and made a success from her life. Just like Robert. The rest of the world could go to hell.
It took weeks for the healing, a ton of medical bills she guessed the vet helped her out with, and a wonderful charity that donated the scooter so Robert, now paraplegic, could learn to walk again without using his back legs. Kate learned to empty his full bladder when needed. She took him to physical therapy, learned new skills of how he could lead a full life, and hired someone to come in a few hours per day when she was at work.
She had regrets in her twenty-six years. She’d never traveled. She’d hung her head in shame for things that weren’t her fault.
But never Robert. He was the only decision that made her proud.
He finished his run, and she undid the cart, giving him a quick kiss on his head. “I’m exhausted. I snuck out on the crew and I don’t even care. Kennedy will be so pissed.”
Robert’s deep brown eyes gleamed with understanding. “Why don’t we go to the dog park this Saturday and you can meet Arilyn’s new rescue? I think you’ll like him. He’s got a long road to travel, like you did, but I think if he saw you he’d be more inspired to heal.”
Robert cocked his head and nodded.
She headed toward the small galley kitchen painted red. “Cool. Meaty bone or chewy bacon strip?”
He barked twice. “Bacon it is.” He politely tugged the strip from her fingers and wheeled off to his orthopedic mat to settle and treasure the treat.
She headed toward her pj drawer when the knock stopped her. Kate peeked through the window and flung open the door to see her best friend. “You missed Mugs.”
Genevieve MacKenzie dragged herself over the threshold, still in her scrubs. “Extra shift. Forgot to eat. Help.”
Kate shook her head and returned to the kitchen. Robert scurried from his mat to greet his second-favorite person, pushing his nose into her palm as Gen rubbed his head and gave him a kiss. “How’s my favorite boy? Good day or bad day?”
Kate opened the refrigerator and pulled out a variety of lunch meats. “Good day. Bladder is emptying fine lately. No bedsores.”
“That’s my baby,” Gen crooned, rubbing behind the ears. “I’m sorry I barged in before pj time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you live right down the road.” Kate stacked ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a big roll and set it on a plate. “Sit down and eat. What the hell are you doing to yourself lately, babe? You can’t save the world if you collapse on me.”
Her friend dropped onto the red stool and began shoving the food into her mouth. Kate grinned, pouredher some water, dumped out a few chips, and slid onto the seat next to her.
“David sprang a research article on me to complete. We were supposed to be collaborators,
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