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I sighed as I remembered the first time she’d looked up at me with her eyes pleading for me to help.

“The minute I saw her I fell in love with her. She was so tiny and well, as you know, she looks a bit unique so a lot of people don’t appreciate her. She was so scared to be in the shelter, huddling in the corner and shaking. I couldn’t leave her there, so I adopted her on the spot. Stephen was livid when he found out what I’d done.”

I blinked back tears, taking a sip of coffee to clear my throat. Esmerelda nudged my thigh to let me know she was there, and I reached down to scratch between her ears.

“He said such hateful things about her and honestly, Esmerelda didn’t like him either. She was always growling at him. You know she’s very protective of me and I’m pretty sure he was mean to her when I wasn’t around, although I could never prove it. Then one day I came home from working out with my stupid trainer and she was gone.”

Joshua frowned. “Gone where?”

“I didn’t know at first. I was looking all over for her, thinking she somehow went out a window or something, and then Stephen comes home with a freaking labradoodle puppy, totally calm. He tells me if I’m going to have a dog it should be a purebred, not some ugly mutant mutt.”

“He stole your dog?” Joshua asked in shock.

I was shaking with anger just remembering what happened. Esmerelda nudged me again, always in tune with my emotions.

“He thought I could just trade this snooty designer dog for my sweet baby. I freaking lost it. I demanded to know where he’d taken Esmerelda and finally he admitted that he’d dropped her at county animal control and told them he’d found her walking the streets as a stray,” I explained. “I packed a bag and went right to the shelter to get her back. The poor thing was so upset she followed me around for weeks, even when I went to the bathroom. We moved into the spare bedroom at my friend Renee’s house that night and I got a good lawyer and filed for divorce.”

“Good for you,” Joshua said.

“Stephen was shocked that I filed for divorce. He kept thinking I would, as he said, come to my senses and realize he was right about Esmerelda. Messing with me was one thing, but messing with Esmerelda was something else.” I patted my dog’s head. “When I adopted her I promised to protect her, and I meant it.

“He shouldn’t have messed with either of you,” Joshua said firmly. “He sounds like a dick.”

I nodded. “I went to therapy after I left him, and I’ve learned my value since then. I won’t let a man control me – or hurt me or my dog – ever again.”

Joshua

After hearing Mabel’s story I could have very happily punched her ex-husband in the face. What an asshole. I was glad that his stunt with Esmerelda was egregious enough that she dumped his sorry ass, but the other stuff was just as bad. Making her feel inferior. Implying that she was fat or ugly or weird. I didn’t like that. I didn’t like it at all.

It explained why Mabel seemed a little oversensitive about being criticized. I supposed after being criticized for everything for years, she was particularly attuned to it now.

“I’ve got to get to the clinic soon,” I told her regretfully.

Mabel started bundling Esmerelda into her carrier bag. “I should probably get some work done too.”

I walked them back to my apartment then gave Mabel a kiss goodbye and headed towards the clinic. The lobby was bustling with patients and their owners.

“What’s going on?” I asked Elaine.

“We got three emergency consults for dogs coughing and wheezing,” Elaine said. “None of them have Bordetella or Canine Influenza vaccines on file. They all spent time at the doggy daycare over in Johnson Creek recently, so I’m guessing they’re having an outbreak of something respiratory over there. Everyone else is here for a scheduled appointment, but Dr. Jacobs is running behind because he had to take a surgery case so you might have to pick up the overflow.”

I blew out a breath. “I’m sorry I didn’t come in earlier,” I said. “You should have called me.”

“I heard you were having breakfast at the Little Red Hen,” she said. “I figured you could take another thirty minutes to grab a bite with your lady love, especially when it looks like you’ve got a long day ahead of you.”

I opened my mouth to respond but she shooed me away.

“Go on now, put on some scrubs and get these poor coughing canines some relief.”

We had a steady stream of animals come in as the day progressed. In addition to what I determined was a canine influenza outbreak I saw two separate dogs who’d gotten injured in scrapes with other dogs, a complicated pregnancy, and a dog the size of a pony who’d gotten hit by a car and needed stitches.

By the time I got back to my apartment it was after nine p.m. and I was too exhausted to think.

“You’re home.”

Mabel jumped off the couch, coming to help me take off my jacket. I toed off my shoes, kicking them towards the closet.

“You poor thing, you look dead on your feet.” She pulled me into a hug. “Why don’t you clean up and I’ll feed you before you go to bed.”