a hand. “Please, let’s not go back to the old animosity. Did you call the vet?”
He stopped rubbing the wood. “I was feeling down last night, but today I have everything under control.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” She glanced at his appearance. He had on the same clothes as yesterday and he hadn’t shaved. “Have you been to bed at all?”
He went back to fiddling with the wood. “I don’t sleep much.”
“Because that’s when you dream.”
He stared at her. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I don’t have to. I know you’re barely hanging on emotionally, and you don’t sleep because that’s when you dream about your son. I’ve been there and I’m still there, and I’m still trying to cope. And I have to because I have a little girl who needs me.”
“Well, I don’t have anyone, so would you please leave me alone?”
She stepped closer to him. “No, sorry. I can’t do that. I promised you I would be here to help you with Pepper.”
Their eyes locked. His eyes were cold and dark, emitting a message that she received all too well, but it still didn’t deter her.
“I relieve you of that promise.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“This is my house, and I’m asking you to leave.” Anger flashed in his eyes. Her first instinct was to turn and walk away and let him live in all the pain he had created. But something beyond her control made her lay her hand on the box.
“This is really nice. Zack would be very proud of his father.”
Gabe froze, just as she had expected. She’d said Zack’s name on purpose, because it was the only thing that caught his attention.
“Are you dense? Get out of my garage.”
A tremor ran through her, and she knew she couldn’t continue to be stronger than she was. It was taking everything she had to stand her ground. She didn’t know what would have happened next if Pepper hadn’t come into the garage.
“Oh, Pepper is better.” She went to the dog and stroked her.
Gabe glared at Lacey and she continued to pet the dog.
“The medication helps,” he said so low that she barely caught it.
“Did you call the vet?” she asked one more time.
“Yes. And he said he will come to the house in the morning at ten and do the procedure here.”
“That would be much better and less stressful on Pepper. And you.”
“I’m not worried about me,” he snapped.
“I’m well aware of that.”
Pepper whimpered.
Lacey hugged her. “Are you in pain, girl?”
“She wants to go outside.” He wiped his hands on a rag. “Come on, Pep. We’ll go outside.” Gabe walked past Lacey through a door into a utility room. Pepper trailed behind, but she wobbled. It was clear she was very weak.
Lacey had the choice either to walk out the garage door and retreat to her house or to follow them. She did the latter. In the kitchen, Pepper’s strength gave way and she sank to the floor. Gabe picked her up as if she weighed no more than a feather and carried her out the back door.
Lacey was dumbstruck by the scene before her. The kitchen had a table and one chair. The counters were bare; nothing was on them. It looked as if no one lived there, except for the dog dishes on the floor. She gasped as she saw the wall.
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