But Olivia had a fairly good idea who would do this and why. She’d known the minute she’d lifted the puppy from the box and got a good look at him. He looked exactly like her dog, Truman.
As he began to warm up, he wriggled in her arms and stretched up to lick her face. Stroking his head and long soft ears sent the puppy into a paroxysm of delight. He rolled in her arms, treading all over her with soft paws.
“I wonder what breed he is?” Theo murmured, leaning over to stroke the puppy’s head.
“He’s a cocker spaniel,” Olivia replied.
Noticing the red collar he wore, she twisted it round to get a good look at the tag hanging from it.
TRUMAN.
She blinked back the sudden tears, and tried to swallow past the hot, hard ball of emotion caught in her throat.
“Olivia, what is it?”
She unbuckled the small leather collar and handed it to Theo, who turned it over in his hands and read the name tag.
“Truman?” he asked in confusion.
“Truman was my dog when I was a kid. My dad brought him home for me not long after my seventh birthday. We were inseparable. He was always with me, Jake, and Louisa. The night my mom died, Truman was curled up on my bed. When I heard the shouting downstairs, he followed me. It’s a bit hazy, but I remember the house being on fire and Truman jumping up at me, barking. I picked him up and wouldn’t let him go. When my dad grabbed me and dumped me in the car, I was still holding onto him, but when the cops finally caught up with us and my dad was arrested, I was put into foster care. Truman was taken away from me and rehomed. I never saw him again.”
“I’m sorry,” Theo said softly.
“I tried to find him when I was old enough, even though I knew it was a long shot.” She shrugged. “But by that point, ten years had passed. I managed to find the family who’d taken him in. He’d died an old dog, happy and contented. They were a good family, and it was obvious by the pictures that he’d been well loved, so I have to be grateful for that.”
“That still doesn’t explain why this dog was on your porch.”
“My father.” She let out a heavy breath. “This isn’t the first time he’s left me a little reminder of my childhood.”
“What?” Theo’s voice was flat, and his expression hardened.
She climbed to her feet, still holding onto the puppy, and headed over to the desk. Pulling open the top drawer, she retrieved the doll and handed it to Theo.
“This was mine,” she told him quietly. “I was holding this the night of the fire, and those blood stains are my mother’s blood. He left this on the porch for me a while ago.”
“And you are only just mentioning this now?”
“I wasn’t ready to talk about it.”
“That’s not the point, Olivia, and you know it. That bastard has been at your house, and you said nothing.”
She shook her head.
“I’m not certain he has.”
“What?”
“He can’t cross the protection lines if he intends me harm. I don’t know how he’s doing it,” she answered. “Besides, he hasn’t actually hurt me.”
“Don’t fool yourself, Olivia.” Theo held up the doll. “You can’t tell me this doesn’t hurt you.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She frowned. “I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of breaking me, no matter how many cruel gifts he sends me.”
“Jesus,” he breathed out heavily as his eyes fell on the dog curled contentedly in her arms. “What are you going to do about the dog?”
He needn’t have bothered asking, given the expression on her face as she gazed down at the sleeping ball of fur in her arms. Anyone with eyes could tell it was love at first sight.
“I’m keeping him,” she murmured. “It’s not his fault my father’s a sadistic asshole.”
