Page 13 of Since the Day We Kissed

“Yeah, probably in Alaska. Maybe I was meant to be alone forever.” Kara let out a sigh. “It’s fine, really. Between this place and everything else, who has time for dating anyway?”

Emma straightened. “All right, enough of that. You, my friend, are a total catch. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve happiness. Your personisout there. And they’d be lucky to have you.”

“I appreciate the pep talk, I really do. But right now?” She gestured around the kennel. “These guys need me. Finding them homes is my priority. Everything else can wait. It has to wait.”

“Okay, okay. I get it.” With a soft grunt, Emma pushed herself to her feet, her hand searching for Riley’s leash. “So, I guess we’ll get going so you can rest up. But if you need anything else—anything at all—you call me. Or text. Got it?”

Kara saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”

Emma fixed Kara with a serious stare. “I mean it. Anytime, day or night. Promise me.”

“I promise. Scout’s honor and all that.”

“Good. I’ll see you at the adoption event.” Emma reached out and hugged her. “Try not to work yourself to death before then, okay?”

Kara returned the hug. “I’ll do my best. No promises, though.” She grinned, then stepped back. “And thanks again for the treats.”

“Don’t mention it, girl. See ya.”

“See y’all.”

As the sound of Emma’s footsteps faded into the lobby, Kara stretched, then walked to her office. She pushed open the door, immediately confronted by the organized chaos within. Stepping over a stack of donation forms, she sidled past towers of pet food bags then ducked under a dangling pet toy—narrowly avoiding a collision with a precariously balanced box of leashes. Then she shimmied between the filing cabinet and a mountain of towels before finally reaching her chair. Settling in, she took a determined inhale and faced the mountain of paperwork awaiting her.

She’d barely put pen to paper on a grant application when her phone’s vibration cut through the quiet.

Another scam? Probably about extending my expired car warranty. If I had a dollar for every ...

She pressed the green button on the touch screen.

“Hey, who’s this?”

A female voice asked, “Hello, is this Ms. Walker?”

“Yes, this is her.”

“Ms. Walker, I’m the head ER nurse at Hadley Cove General. Is Charlotte Walker your daughter?”

“Yes, she is. What’s going on?” The world seemed to tilt and blur around the edges for a moment as Kara’s heartbeat thundered in her ears, drowning out all other sounds in the now too-quiet room. Her hand tightened around the phone and she steadied herself by gripping the edge of her desk with her free hand.

“There’s been an accident.”

A high-pitched ringing filled her ears. Her fingers, clumsy and uncooperative, struggled to maintain their grip on the phone. Charlotte’s face flashed before her eyes—her daughter’s smile, her laugh, the sound of her sweet voice she’d heard only a couple hours ago.

Kara’s mouth opened, but no sound emerged.

“Ms. Walker?” The nurse’s voice cut through the fog. “You should get up here as soon as you can.”

4

Ethan

Ethansquintedagainsttheharsh glare of fluorescent lights as he and Hero entered the hospital lobby. A whoosh came from the doors sliding shut behind them, and a sprawling circular desk sat in the center ahead.

His throat tightened as he approached, each step heavier than the last.

“Excuse me,” Ethan said, “there was a woman brought in earlier—car accident. I need to know if—”

The receptionist’s eyes flicked from Ethan down to Hero. “Sir, is that a service animal?”

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