She took one look at me. “Where’s Bandit?”
I felt like I was delivering news worse than death. “When we missed our appointment, they put him back up for general adoption, and someone took him home just before I got there.”
“No.” Mila shook her head. “He sat there for four months, and no one was even interested.”
“I’m sorry, Mila.”
She stood up. “So now he’s with some stranger, all by himself?” She started to cry. “And he’s probably scared and wondering why I didn’t come back for him.”
“Mila.”
She got more and more worked up as she talked. “I promised him. I promised Bandit that I’d be back, and he looked me in the eyes and he believed me! And I let him down.” She crumpled onto the stairs, put her face in her hands, and broke into heaving sobs.
Jordan and I exchanged looks.
“Can you make us some tea or something?” I asked him.
He jumped up, desperate to help.
I knew this was the fallout of what she had witnessed earlier today, but it was still rough to watch. She was extremely distraught. Without hesitation, I lifted her into my arms. She curled into me, clinging to my neck. “Axel, I’m so sad.”
“I know.” I started to climb the stairs.
“I hurt all over. It hurts. I feel so terrible for Bandit. I keep thinking of how he looked at me when I had to leave him. And I promised him I’d be back.”
“I know.”
“He’s probably so scared.”
“He’s a brave boy.”
She lifted her tearstained face to me. “I promised him, and I let him down, and I’m not sure I can forgive myself.”
I moved into her room and gently laid her on the bed. I pulled off her shoes for her. In response, she curled up, facing away from me.
She stopped speaking. I thought her emotional outbursts were tough to listen to, but her silence was ten times worse. A real husband, a better husband, would crawl into bed with her, hold her, and try to absorb her pain.
I wanted to be that man, but I knew in the long run, it would only hurt her more. So, I helped her in the only way I could.
I walkedout to the guardhouse, and all three of the guards stood up from the table when I knocked and entered.
I pointed at the large German shepherd lying at their feet. “Is that dog friendly?”
“Yes, boss. Would you like to pet him?”
“I need to borrow him.”
They all exchanged looks. “Boss?”
“Tonight his new role is emotional support dog for my wife.”
“Of course.”
“Come on.” I motioned to them. “You can sit inside the house tonight while he works. Bring his food dishes and whatever he needs.”
Ten minutes later,I was opening Mila’s bedroom door. She was still lying on her side, facing away from the door, and she didn’t respond when I spoke her name.
The dog looked at me and then looked at the bed.
