I was going to return the dog.
Once he was asleep, I’d quietly load her into the car and drive back to the shelter. Leave a note, maybe. Or tell the staff it didn’t work out. It happens. No one would blame me. Not really.
I waited until the house was quiet. I slipped on my shoes. Grabbed the leash. Opened the door to the garage.
“Mom?”
His voice stopped me cold.
I turned around. There he was. Standing at the top of the stairs, his eyes wide and shiny with tears. And behind him… Daisy, tail wagging softly, like she didn’t realize she was about to be taken away.