Page 81 of Whispers of Redemption

CHAPTER 33

Cassie sat beside Wade in his car, holding onto Angel’s wriggling little body as she hung out the passenger side window, the wind from the drive blowing the white fur back from her little button face.

The car slowed and Wade pulled into the Lakeview Medical Care Facility driveway. He parked the car and they sat in silence while Cassie buried her face in the fluffy softness of the little dog’s back. Angel’s tiny paws tickled her thighs as she danced around on Cassie’s lap, anxious to explore whatever awaited outside.

Cassie lifted her head and looked into Angel’s face. A tear slid down her cheek, and the dog, sensing something, licked it away and whined softly.

Cassie looked over at Wade, and his face looked as sad as she felt.

“I wish we didn’t have to do this,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said.

Last night, they’d had such a great time. And then the awesome news about Ani and Hugo. She’d been riding such a high, and then Wade’s words at the end of the night had brought it all crashing down.

“What about Angel?” she’d said.

“We found her owner.”

“After all this time!”

Wade nodded. “Apparently, the owner has been ill. She broke her hip and was in the hospital for surgery. Then there were complications after that. She doesn’t have family nearby and she’d asked her neighbors to check in on her dog. When they realized Angel was missing, they didn’t have the heart to tell the owner right away, thinking it might impede her recovery. But she’s in rehab now and they broke the news to her yesterday. She was so upset, she called the police right away to file a missing person’s report for her. I happened to take the call. I went to meet her yesterday afternoon before I came over to see you. After talking with her, and seeing pictures of her dog, I’m sure it’s Angel.”

Cassie was crying freely now. She couldn’t believe how much she’d come to love this tiny, smart, ferocious, adorable little pooch who now sat on her lap, nudging Cassie’s shoulder with her wet, black nose. She had the bright pink leash gripped between her teeth. The habit she’d developed whenever she wanted Cassie to take her for a walk.

Wade leaned over, twisting awkwardly in his seat to wrap Cassie in his arms, the dog squirmed in the middle of their embrace. Cassie appreciated the strength and comfort of his arms, but she still felt hollow inside at the thought of losing Angel.

Finally, with a sniff, she pulled away from him. Tears made her long eyelashes stick together and diffused the late afternoon light, making everything look unnaturally bright and a little blurry.

Wade fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to her.

In the midst of her tears, she couldn’t help but smile. “A handkerchief? Really? Can you be any more old-fashioned?”

Wade grinned sheepishly. “Hey, my Pops taught me to always be prepared.”

Cassie blew her nose. And Angel poked her in the shoulder again, giving another little whine.

“Okay, okay, Angel girl,” Cassie said. She stroked the dog once more and then attached the leash. “We may as well get this over with.”

She opened the car door and Angel hopped down, straining at the leash, anxious to explore.

Cassie and Wade led her toward the building, entering the wide-open lobby of the rehab facility. Wade had already gotten special permission to bring Angel in. So, after signing in as visitors, the receptionist instructed them where to go.

Hallways jutted off from the main lobby in four directions. They learned that Angel’s owner was on the first floor of the north wing. They walked up the sterile white hallway until they arrived at the correct room.

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