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“How was I to know your mutt would attack poor Stephen?” Mom asked. “I know he didn’t mean to hurt your dog.”

“Just so we’re clear Mom, you and I are done. You made your choice, and it’s not me. Don’t contact me again. Don’t come to my house. I don’t want to ever see you or talk to you again.”

I breathed out a huge sigh. It was a painful decision, but I knew it was the right one for me.

My mother sputtered in my ear. “You’re being overemotional, Maybelline.”

“I’m hanging up now, Mom, and blocking your number. I hope you and Stephen will be very happy together.”

I pressed ‘end’ and immediately blocked her number, then for good measure, I blocked Stephen’s too. I didn’t want to hear from either of them ever again.

“Are you okay?”

I looked up to see Joshua watching me. I could tell by his face that he’d heard everything. “Yeah.”

There was a little whine, then Esmerelda started moving.

“Esmerelda!”

Joshua came into the kennel, squeezing in next to me while we both looked at Esmerelda. I could tell she was high on pain meds by the look in her eyes. She did a belly crawl to move closer, and I petted her head.

“You’re going to be okay, baby. Joshua fixed you up and that mean man will never come near us again, I promise.”

The cops told me that Stephen had posted bail and hightailed it out of town, but he’d be back for his court date in a few weeks. I was pressing charges and with the crime witnessed by the town’s most respected veterinarian, it was unlikely that he’d be able to buy his way out of this trouble.

I wanted him punished for sure, but I also didn’t want to give Stephen any more brain space. My focus was on Esmerelda.

We hung out with my pup for a little while until Elaine and one of the vet techs came in with a folding table and two chairs, setting them up near the wall that ran alongside Esmerelda’s kennel on the side of the treatment room. Right behind them Erica walked in, setting two large brown shopping bags on the folding table.

“What’s up?” I asked Joshua.

He took my hand and helped me out of the kennel. “You never got your birthday barbecue, so we ordered dinner from Big Bob’s Barbecue.”

I stopped dead, looking between Joshua and the bags on the table.

“You ordered me barbecue?” I asked.

He looked confused. “Yeah. I figured you’d want to stay with Esmerelda tonight and Big Bob makes the best ribs in the state. He even sent over chocolate cake when I told him it was your birthday.”

I flung my arms around him, pressing my face to his shoulder. “Oh my God, I love you so much.”

I pulled back to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry, I know I said I wanted to keep things casual. I didn’t fall in love with you on purpose, I promise. It’s just that, you are so incredible and I’ve never felt this way and --.”

He cut my words off with a kiss that took my breath away. When he pulled back he said, “I love you too.”

“You do?” I asked. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” he said, his voice serious.

“What happens now?” I asked.

“We have a birthday barbecue.”

After eating the most delicious food ever, Joshua and I hung out in the treatment room, playing cards and keeping an eye on Esmerelda. When it grew late, we set up an air mattress that one of the other vets brought in for us and slept right there on the floor outside of Esmerelda’s cage. I could tell that Joshua’s staff thought it was weird we were sleeping over, but no one said a word about it, for which I was grateful. Joshua knowing I couldn’t leave my dog meant everything to me.

When morning came Esmerelda was clearly feeling much better. She was hopping on three legs and moving gingerly, but much more alert, good enough that Joshua deemed her well enough to go home.

After a quick stop at Joshua’s apartment for some clothes, we headed over to my house. Since it was a cold, dreary day, we set Esmerelda up in her bed in front of the fireplace. Joshua and I took turns taking a shower while the other stayed to make sure Esmerelda stayed still.