The drive over hadn’t helped.
If anything, it had given her too much time to think. Her stomach was churning even more now, and all she wanted to do was lie down to sleep. She’d done a lot of sleeping when she’d found out about her husband’s affair. It had probably been a sign of depression since Hadley was usually the busy type.
She didn’t want to go there again.
She pushed her thoughts aside and stepped out, the cold air brushing against her face as she headed toward the kennel.
Inside, Juno lifted her head as Hadley approached. Her tail thumped once against the bedding, and her puppies slept in a cluster around her.
“Hey, girl.” Hadley crouched beside her.
She ran a hand gently along Juno’s side, checking her over, then glanced at the puppies.
Everything looked good.
Normal.
For a moment, Hadley let herself breathe. Animals had always been where she’d found her comfort. But since she’d lost Latte to Ethan, she’d tried not to get too attached.
After all, she’d gotten attached to Ethan, and that had ended in heartache. She’d gotten attached to Emma also, and she’d lost her.
Maybe getting attached was the wrong choice.
She glanced at Juno again, and her heart softened.
Sweet Juno didn’t have a home, and she couldn’t stay here at the kennel forever. Someone had probably dropped her off at that other shelter because they knew they couldn’t handle the expenses of a pregnant dog. She didn’t deserve to suffer because someone had changed their mind about her.
Like Ethan had changed his mind about Hadley.
She leaned closer to the dog and whispered, “Don’t you worry. I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of. I promise you that.”
Then she straightened and headed back outside, crossing toward the main house. Deputy Vaughn was sitting in his car in the driveway. He nodded as she walked by.
Hadley opened the side door to Refuge Cove and stepped inside. The warmth wrapped around her as soon as she did. The scent of something savory—maybe beef and gravy—still lingered faintly in the air.
“Hey,” Naomi called from the kitchen. “I thought I saw you pull up. I wasn’t expecting to see you here today.”
Hadley offered a small smile as she stepped closer. “I just wanted to check on Juno. She’s doing really well.”
“Isn’t she, though? I checked on her earlier too. She seems to be settling into her role as mama very well.” Naomi placed a bottle on the drying rack and turned toward her, Grace in one arm.
She looked like an expert with the baby, even though the child wasn’t officially hers.
“In about eight weeks, we’ll have to find homes for those little puppies.” Hadley felt heaviness press on her at the thought. She sat at the breakfast bar.
Naomi sat beside her. “I’m sure people will want to adopt them. It’s Juno I worry about. People usually want puppies. What’s Juno? Three or four years old?”
“That’s how it appears.”
“You know we’ll keep her here for as long as necessary.” Naomi cast her a look as if trying to interrupt her melancholy.
“I feel better knowing that.” Hadley hesitated, her thoughts circling back to the email and everything she’d just learned. She wasn’t sure how to bring up the subject without sounding accusatory.
“What’s on your mind?” Naomi paused and turned toward her.
“You could always read me a little too well. I was actually hoping?—”
A small, startled sound cut her off.
