CHAPTER 33

Cassie sat beside Wadein his car, holding onto Angel’s wriggling little body as she hung out the passenger side window, the wind from the drive blowing the white fur back from her little button face.

The car slowed and Wade pulled into the Lakeview Medical Care Facility driveway. He parked the car and they sat in silence while Cassie buried her face in the fluffy softness of the little dog’s back. Angel’s tiny paws tickled her thighs as she danced around on Cassie’s lap, anxious to explore whatever awaited outside.

Cassie lifted her head and looked into Angel’s face. A tear slid down her cheek, and the dog, sensing something, licked it away and whined softly.

Cassie looked over at Wade, and his face looked as sad as she felt.

“I wish we didn’t have to do this,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said.

Last night, they’d had such a great time. And then the awesome news about Ani and Hugo. She’d been riding such a high, and then Wade’s words at the end of the night had brought it all crashing down.

“What about Angel?” she’d said.

“We found her owner.”

“After all this time!”

Wade nodded. “Apparently, the owner has been ill. She broke her hip and was in the hospital for surgery. Then there were complications after that. She doesn’t have family nearby and she’d asked her neighbors to check in on her dog. When they realized Angel was missing, they didn’t have the heart to tell the owner right away, thinking it might impede her recovery. But she’s in rehab now and they broke the news to her yesterday. She was so upset, she called the police right away to file a missing person’s report for her. I happened to take the call. I went to meet her yesterday afternoon before I came over to see you. After talking with her, and seeing pictures of her dog, I’m sure it’s Angel.”

Cassie was crying freely now. She couldn’t believe how much she’d come to love this tiny, smart, ferocious, adorable little pooch who now sat on her lap, nudging Cassie’s shoulder with her wet, black nose. She had the bright pink leash gripped between her teeth. The habit she’d developed whenever she wanted Cassie to take her for a walk.

Wade leaned over, twisting awkwardly in his seat to wrap Cassie in his arms, the dog squirmed in the middle of their embrace. Cassie appreciated the strength and comfort of his arms, but she still felt hollow inside at the thought of losing Angel.

Finally, with a sniff, she pulled away from him. Tears made her long eyelashes stick together and diffused the late afternoon light, making everything look unnaturally bright and a little blurry.

Wade fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to her.

In the midst of her tears, she couldn’t help but smile. “A handkerchief? Really? Can you be any more old-fashioned?”

Wade grinned sheepishly. “Hey, my Pops taught me to always be prepared.”

Cassie blew her nose. And Angel poked her in the shoulder again, giving another little whine.

“Okay, okay, Angel girl,” Cassie said. She stroked the dog once more and then attached the leash. “We may as well get this over with.”

She opened the car door and Angel hopped down, straining at the leash, anxious to explore.

Cassie and Wade led her toward the building, entering the wide-open lobby of the rehab facility. Wade had already gotten special permission to bring Angel in. So, after signing in as visitors, the receptionist instructed them where to go.

Hallways jutted off from the main lobby in four directions. They learned that Angel’s owner was on the first floor of the north wing. They walked up the sterile white hallway until they arrived at the correct room.

Cassie took a deep steadying breath, and then picked the dog up before knocking at the door.

“Come in,” a thready voice called from within.

With Wade beside her, Cassie entered the room. It had two beds in it, but only one was occupied, the one furthest from the door. A curtain separated the two beds and they could only see the end of the occupied one, bathed in daylight from the large window beside it.

Cassie and Wade stepped around the curtain to find a very frail-looking woman lying in the bed. She was petite with delicate bones. Her short, white hair fell in soft waves that framed her face. Her pale, translucent skin nearly matched the cream-colored pillow she lay back against.

The woman’s watery blue eyes lighted on the dog in Cassie’s arms, and her face instantly brightened. “Athena!”

The dog squirmed in Cassie’s arms and she loosened her hold. Angel jumped down onto the bed and padded up to her mistress, giving her a lick on the cheek, her tail wagging.

The woman slowly raised a weak hand and gently stroked the dog, murmuring words of love into the tiny face. Finally, she looked up at Cassie and Wade.

“Thank you for bringing Athena back to me,” she said. “I’ve missed her so much. I was devastated when my neighbor told me she’d been lost for weeks.”

Angel was turning in tiny circles on the hospital bed, pawing at the covers as she prepared to lay down.

“This is your dog’s rescuer, Mrs. Cook,” Wade said, placing a hand on Cassie’s lower back and gently urging her forward. “Cassie Sherwin.”

The older woman gave Wade a stern look. “I told you yesterday, please just call me Olivia,”

“Sorry, Mrs.—er, Olivia,” Wade said, blushing slightly.

“He can’t help it,” Cassie said with a grin. “I think it’s part of his genetic makeup.”

Olivia laughed out loud at this, and Cassie felt an instant liking for the woman.

Olivia looked at Cassie, her hand resting on Angel’s back. “I’m more than grateful to you for taking such good care of my Athena. She looked down at Angel who was resting her head on her paws, her dark eyes moving among the group. Then Olivia’s eyes met Cassie’s again. “I understand from Wade that you’ve grown quite attached to Athena.”

Cassie nodded slowly. “Yes, she’s a wonderful dog. I’ve never had any kind of pet before. And I never thought I could become so attached to a dog. But...she’s special.”

“That she is,” Olivia agreed, with a soft smile, and continued. “As you know, I’ve been very ill. And I recently learned that I won’t be able to return to my home after my treatment here ends. For some ridiculous reason, I don’t bounce back from things in my eighties the way I did in my twenties.” Her eyes sparkled with mirth, and Cassie smiled.

Olivia’s expression grew serious. “The fact is, I won’t be able to take Athena with me. And in truth, I haven’t been able to give her the care she needs for quite some time.” Olivia’s fingers threaded through Angel’s fur. “If I can’t take her with me, I want to make certain she is placed in a stable and loving home.”

Cassie’s heart ached for the woman. She knew how much Olivia cherished Angel. “Do you have any family nearby who can take her in?”

“No, unfortunately,” Olivia said, her voice trembling a little. “My daughter lives in another state and she can’t have pets where she lives. Olivia’s eyes lifted to Cassie’s. “Wade told me about everything you’ve done for my Athena. So, I have a proposal for you.”

Cassie frowned slightly. “What sort of proposal?”

“I was wondering if...you might be willing to adopt her?”

Cassie could hardly believe what she was hearing. “Of course I’m willing!”

Olivia smiled wide and held up a delicate hand. “Wait, before you accept, I have a condition?”

“Yes?”

“I’d like you to bring Athena to visit me now and then. I’m being moved to Shady Acres next weekend.”

“I’d be happy to!” Cassie said, unable to suppress the huge smile lighting up her face. “Angel is such an amazing dog. I promise to take wonderful care of her, and we’ll come visit you every week.”

“Angel?” Olivia smiled gently with a questioning look.

At the sound of her new name, Angel lifted her head to look at Olivia.

Cassie’s face flushed. “I’m sorry. When we found her she didn’t have any tags on, so we had no idea what her real name was.”

Olivia looked thoughtful. “You know what? She is and always has been a little Angel. So, if you want to call her Angel, that’s fine with me.”

At the sound of her new name being repeated, Angel lifted her head and gave a short bark, making everyone laugh.