Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

The sun shone brightly in the sky, a stark contrast to the heaviness that clung to my heart. Evergrove Animal Hospital was nothing but ashes and memories now, and I felt lost, adrift without my life's work. Lily and Rosario, sensing my turmoil, had planned a playdate at the neighborhood park to lift my spirits. It was a kind gesture, but I found it hard to focus on anything but my livelihood going up in smoke.

My dogs played while Comet lay down as we settled onto the grass. Lily and Rosario attempted to lighten the mood with playful banter, but the weight of recent events lingered. “Remember when Milo was a puppy and used to chase his tail for hours?” Lily laughed, trying to coax a smile from me.

“Yeah, he never did catch it.”

Rosario sat down beside me, his presence a comforting anchor. “Comet seems to be fitting right in with the pack,” he said.

“Yeah.” No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't snap out of it.

As the dogs ran around, Lily's expression grew more serious. She turned to Rosario, her tone inquisitive. “So, Rosario, what brings you to Evergrove? Sanova mentioned you were just passing through.”

Rosario hesitated for a moment before answering. “I needed a breather, a change in scenery?”

Lily, please don't do this now.

Lily's eyes narrowed slightly, her suspicion evident. “From what exactly? Are you running from something?”

The tension in the air was palpable, and I shot Lily a warning look. “Lily now's not the time.”

But she pressed on, her concern for me overriding her tact. “Sanova, you barely know him. Don't you think it's important to ask these questions, especially after what just happened? Things were kosher before he showed up.”

I felt a surge of frustration. “Lily, he's been nothing but kind and helpful. We can trust him.”

Lily's voice grew sharper. “I want to be excited for you, but what if he's hiding something?”

Rosario's jaw tightened, and he stood up, his eyes flashing with anger. “I don't owe you any explanations, Lily. My past is my business.”

“Yes, the fuck you do!” Lily shot back.

Rosario sighed and sat back down. “I used to work for a military security contractor. A mission went wrong, people got hurt, and I was blamed. I left to protect myself and others.”

I pulled my hands to my mouth. I didn't know how much bad news I could digest in one day.

Lily raised an eyebrow, her skepticism unmasked. “And what makes you think running away will solve anything?”

“It doesn't,” Rosario said, his voice pained. “But it buys me time to figure out how to make things right. I thought coming here, to a small town where no one knew me, would help.”

“Enough! This is supposed to be a distraction, not a fight!”

Both Lily and Rosario fell silent, their faces a mix of guilt and frustration. I turned away, tears stinging my eyes. “I can't deal with this right now. Everything feels like it's falling apart, and I need you both to understand that.”

Lily's expression softened, but there was still a hint of suspicion in her eyes. “I'm just trying to protect you, Sanova.”

Rosario stepped closer, his voice gentle. “And I'm here to protect you, too, Sanova. You can trust me. You both can trust me.”

The play date, meant to be a reprieve, turned into a nightmare, leaving me feeling overwhelmed. Rebuilding my life would be harder than I imagined.