spooked her. In the hallway Abbey glanced both ways trying to decide which way the little dog had gone. The kennel was on the right, along with all the dogs barking. To the left were the exam rooms. She turned to the left, hoping Cottonball was seeking some quiet.
Her father came in as Abbey found the bichon under the chair in the second exam room. “I’ve learned today she’s scared of loud noises.” She picked up Cottonball and cradled the dog’s shaking body against her chest. “You’re okay, girl. Let’s take you back to Madison. She’s worried about you.”
“I’m sorry, Abbey. I wanted to make the child feel special. Instead she’s crying in the reception area. She thinks she did something wrong, and Cottonball is going to be hurt.”
When Abbey heard her father’s words, she hurried from the room and came to a halt near the doorway where Madison had wheeled herself.
Dominic’s sister raised tear-filled eyes to Abbey. “You found her. I thought I had lost her because I didn’t hold on to her tight enough. I promise I’ll be careful next time. I don’t want to lose another dog.”
Abbey placed Cottonball in Madison’s lap, then knelt in front of her. “You did fine. None of us knew Cottonball doesn’t like loud noises. They don’t bother Gabe or my other dogs.”
Her father stopped behind Abbey. “Now that we know, we’ll be more careful in the future with Cottonball. I’m Abbey’s dad, Dr. Harris. I’ve heard a lot of nice things about you from my daughter. Are you ready for a tour of the animal hospital? We had a pregnant dog left on our doorstep this morning, and she delivered a few hours ago. She has three puppies.”
“Why did someone leave her here and not come back for her?”
“Probably because they didn’t want to deal with a litter of puppies. Sadly it happens sometimes.” Her dad started walking toward the kennel area of the hospital.
As Abbey wheeled Madison behind her father while he showed the girl the play yard for the animals that were staying overnight, the large cages each pet had and the operating room, she remembered the desperation in Madison’s voice when she’d said she couldn’t lose another dog. She thought back to the death of her first pet. It had devastated her, and she’d never wanted to care for another animal. Her dad had taught her the best way to get over her grief was to give her love to another animal rather than hold it close to her heart. After that she started caring for another pet, then another. That might work with animals, but she didn’t think it would work with people.
And yet, she ached to be a mother again. Was that why she was drawn to Madison in spite of the feelings and memories she evoked? Abbey wasn’t quite sure.
* * *
Later that night a bark penetrated Abbey’s sleep, followed by something cold against her hand, nudging it. She opened her eyes to find Gabe staring at her, a soft light from the hallway streaming through the doorway into the bedroom she was using next to Madison’s.
Gabe yelped again.
“What’s wrong?” Abbey sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Is it Madison?”
He barked once.
Abbey quickly rose and started for the hall. Gabe ran ahead of her. Something must have happened to Madison, or she was having one of the nightmares Dominic told her about. Abbey’s heart pounded as she increased her pace.
When Abbey entered the child’s room, Madison fought with her covers, moaning and sobbing. Cottonball stood watching the girl, trying to lick her cheek and console her.
Abbey rushed to the bed and scooped the child against her while switching on the lamp on the bedside table. She clutched Abbey, her sobs evolving into screams.
“Madison, wake up. Come on, honey.”
Dominic’s sister’s eyes bolted open. She stared at Abbey without really seeing her for a long moment.
“Madi? Are you okay?”
She blinked, recognition dawning in her gaze. She clung to Abbey. “I heard Mom
Her father came in as Abbey found the bichon under the chair in the second exam room. “I’ve learned today she’s scared of loud noises.” She picked up Cottonball and cradled the dog’s shaking body against her chest. “You’re okay, girl. Let’s take you back to Madison. She’s worried about you.”
“I’m sorry, Abbey. I wanted to make the child feel special. Instead she’s crying in the reception area. She thinks she did something wrong, and Cottonball is going to be hurt.”
When Abbey heard her father’s words, she hurried from the room and came to a halt near the doorway where Madison had wheeled herself.
Dominic’s sister raised tear-filled eyes to Abbey. “You found her. I thought I had lost her because I didn’t hold on to her tight enough. I promise I’ll be careful next time. I don’t want to lose another dog.”
Abbey placed Cottonball in Madison’s lap, then knelt in front of her. “You did fine. None of us knew Cottonball doesn’t like loud noises. They don’t bother Gabe or my other dogs.”
Her father stopped behind Abbey. “Now that we know, we’ll be more careful in the future with Cottonball. I’m Abbey’s dad, Dr. Harris. I’ve heard a lot of nice things about you from my daughter. Are you ready for a tour of the animal hospital? We had a pregnant dog left on our doorstep this morning, and she delivered a few hours ago. She has three puppies.”
“Why did someone leave her here and not come back for her?”
“Probably because they didn’t want to deal with a litter of puppies. Sadly it happens sometimes.” Her dad started walking toward the kennel area of the hospital.
As Abbey wheeled Madison behind her father while he showed the girl the play yard for the animals that were staying overnight, the large cages each pet had and the operating room, she remembered the desperation in Madison’s voice when she’d said she couldn’t lose another dog. She thought back to the death of her first pet. It had devastated her, and she’d never wanted to care for another animal. Her dad had taught her the best way to get over her grief was to give her love to another animal rather than hold it close to her heart. After that she started caring for another pet, then another. That might work with animals, but she didn’t think it would work with people.
And yet, she ached to be a mother again. Was that why she was drawn to Madison in spite of the feelings and memories she evoked? Abbey wasn’t quite sure.
* * *
Later that night a bark penetrated Abbey’s sleep, followed by something cold against her hand, nudging it. She opened her eyes to find Gabe staring at her, a soft light from the hallway streaming through the doorway into the bedroom she was using next to Madison’s.
Gabe yelped again.
“What’s wrong?” Abbey sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Is it Madison?”
He barked once.
Abbey quickly rose and started for the hall. Gabe ran ahead of her. Something must have happened to Madison, or she was having one of the nightmares Dominic told her about. Abbey’s heart pounded as she increased her pace.
When Abbey entered the child’s room, Madison fought with her covers, moaning and sobbing. Cottonball stood watching the girl, trying to lick her cheek and console her.
Abbey rushed to the bed and scooped the child against her while switching on the lamp on the bedside table. She clutched Abbey, her sobs evolving into screams.
“Madison, wake up. Come on, honey.”
Dominic’s sister’s eyes bolted open. She stared at Abbey without really seeing her for a long moment.
“Madi? Are you okay?”
She blinked, recognition dawning in her gaze. She clung to Abbey. “I heard Mom
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