Page 85 of Not Until I Found You

The worker leads us through the gate, and we all take a seat. She sets a small brown-and-white dog into Annabelle’s lap first, who immediately licks her. Then, she places a gray cat with oversized ears into Maxinne’s arms. I’m handed a black puppy with paws too big for its body, its tail wagging happily. I give it a pat and remind myself that one dog is enough for now, no matter how cute this little guy is.

“They just ate, so they’re in a cuddly mood. They might have an accident if they get too excited, so be careful.”

“Does that mean Annabelle gets to help clean it up?” I joke, trying not to laugh as Annabelle makes a disgusted face.

“Do I really have to?” she asks, her nose scrunched.

I shake my head, a laugh bursting out of me. “No, princess, I was only kidding.”

The worker chuckles before walking out of the room. We sit together on the floor, our laughter filling the space as the animals crawl, purr, and lick aimlessly. Annabelle’s earlier tears are now forgotten and replaced with delighted giggles.

“Uncle Z,” she says seriously, hugging the dog close, “I want to take him home.”

I glance at Maxinne, who’s watching Annabelle with a soft smile, the kitten in her lap kneading contentedly against her arm. “That’s something you’d have to talk to your daddy about,” I say.

Annabelle groans but quickly gets distracted when the little dog wiggles in her arms, licking her chin again.

Maxinne laughs softly, adjusting the kitten in her lap as it climbs higher, its tiny claws catching gently in the fabric of her shirt. “I think she likes me.”

“Yeah,” I say, watching as the kitten settles against her. “Sven will be jealous.”

She glances up at me then, her smile softening a little. “He has nothing to worry about. My heart is all his.”

“Oh yeah?” I lean in closer. Our knees brush, and it’s a fleeting contact that somehow lingers longer than it should.

“Yeah.” She nods as the kitten stretches, one tiny paw pressing against my leg as it shifts closer to her, bridging the space between us.

I reach out and give it a scratch behind the ears. “That’s good to know.”

Her eyes linger on mine for a moment before she dips her chin, returning her attention to the kitten. Across the room, Annabelle lets out another burst of laughter, shattering the moment. Maxinne exhales and glances over her shoulder. “We should probably make sure she doesn’t walk out of here with the dog.”

“Probably,” I agree, but I don’t move away.

The worker checks in after a bit, giving Annabelle a gentle reminder that the animals have to stay for now, which Annabelle accepts with surprising maturity. She presses one last kiss to the dog’s head before we give them back to the worker.

Eventually, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Raine

We’re home.

“Hey,” I say gently. “Your mommy and daddy are home.”

Annabelle nods then looks up at Maxinne. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Maxinne leans down and hugs her. “Anytime.”

I grab my items for Sven before we leave, the bell chiming again once we step back out into the evening sun. Annabelle skips ahead a few steps, humming to herself, no longer aware of the cuts on her knees.

Gratitude overwhelms me as I look at Maxinne and reach for her hand. I give it a squeeze, and she peers up at me, a small grin taking over her face.

“Thank you.”

Her expression softens. “It was nothing.”

“It was so much more than you know. You didn’t only help with her cuts. You helped her heart too.”

She shrugs, but there’s something thoughtful in her eyes. “Sometimes we need to make sure we heal both.”