“Hey, honey,” she answered.
“Hey. Sorry to bother you, but Bella’s having trouble breathing and I need to take her to the vet. My car won’t start. It’s probably my battery or something.”
“Okay, I can?—”
My phone buzzed in my hand again. “Hang on, Mom. I’ll call you right back. Kincaid’s on the other line.”
“You got it.”
I switched over to the other call. “Hey.”
“I can give you a ride,” Kincaid said. His voice was careful, but clear.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. I’m already on my way over.”
“Oh, thank God. Really?”
“Of course, really. Also, you can just thank me and not God,” he teased lightly.
A watery laugh bubbled up in my throat. “Okay. I’ll see you in a few minutes. Thank you so much.”
As soon as he hung up, I burst into tears. The emotions felt like a tidal wave inside. There was Bella and Kincaid, and this whole mess I had made.
I took a shaky breath. “Okay, girl, are you ready?” I looked down at my dog.
Her breath was still heaving, but she met my eyes, and my heart ached. I would do anything for this sweet girl. She was my best friend. She’d been with me through so much.
Just a matter of minutes later, I’d updated my mom that I didn’t need a ride when I heard the sound of tires crunching over gravel, and I headed outside. Bella seemed more uncomfortable when I tried to carry her, so I let her walk slowly at my side.
Kincaid was out of his truck in a flash. “Hey, sweet girl,” he murmured as he knelt in front of her. “We got you. Should I pick her up?” he asked, glancing at me.
“I don’t know. She seemed more comfortable when I let her walk, but obviously, we have to pick her up to get her in your truck.”
“I’ll be careful.”
We watched her make her way carefully over to his truck before he gently lifted her into the small cab behind the front seats. A few moments later, we were on the road. It was late enough that the sky had dimmed to twilight. A crescent moon was rising above the mountains, casting a soft glow over the last of the lingering snow.
“Thank you,” I said into the quiet.
“Of course.” He hesitated before adding, “I’ve been meaning to call you anyway.”
“You have?” My eyes jerked toward his profile.
“I have,” he said simply. “Let’s talk later, though.”
I reflexively glanced toward Bella in the back seat. She was sitting up, alert and watching out the window. Her breathing still sounded labored.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“She’s not young,” I replied, anxiety for her twisting my heart sharply.
“No, but she’s still eating and drinking okay, right?” he asked. The worry in his voice helped me not feel so alone in mine.
“Yeah. She is.”
