Chapter One
CHAPTER ONE
Allie dipped her bread into her mama’s homemade lasagna sauce, trying to concentrate on something other than her mother.
“Allie, I don’t understand why you can’t stay longer. You moved across the country, stayed away for an entire year, and only visited for a week,” her mama complained.
“I’m sorry, Mama. The new puppies begin training, and I’ve already purchased the tickets to go to the play with Erin. She’s struggled since Robert’s death. It’s important for me to keep my promise to her,” Allie argued.
“Enough, Charlotte. Allie-Cat spent a wonderful week with us. I’m sure she’ll return soon,” her daddy countered.
“Or you can come visit me. You’ll love Serenity. The people seem genuinely nice. I can’t say enough about my bosses, Chase and Kassie Winters. They’re determined to make the service dog program a success.”
Her mother pursed her lips while her father beamed. “It sounds like you found your purpose. I’m proud of you, baby girl.”
“Did you tell them about your condition?” her mother asked. Allie detected a hint of disapproval in her tone.
“Yes, Mama. They’re aware and believe it or not, they still hired me.”
“I worry about you. What happens if you suffer an episode? Your family lives on the opposite side of the country and we can’t be there every time,” she admonished. “I know what happened with Greg spurred your decision, but did you have to move so far away?”
Allie cringed. She might’ve considered coming more often if she didn’t have to endure the constant reminders with every phone call. “Let me take your plate. I want to finish packing, and then we can spend the rest of the evening together.”
Mama shook her head. “Go on upstairs and finish. I’ll handle the dishes. I made your favorite pineapple upside down cake for dessert.”
“Thank you, Mama.” Allie slid from her chair, took her plate and rinsed it in the sink before adding it to the dishwasher. Hemi, her service dog, rose and followed her. She went upstairs and pulled her suitcase from underneath the bed. Unzipping it, she opened the lid and dumped the clothes she brought with her. Hemi whined at her feet and she sat, giving him a rub behind his ears. “It’s only one more night. Then, we’ll see Erin. Do you remember her?” she asked as she gazed at her Golden Retriever. “She brought us together. We can’t abandon her when she needs us the most.”
A knock at her door caught her attention as her daddy walked in. “I see you’re hard at work. I trust my buddy, Hemi, will watch over you when I’m not there.”
“You bet he will,” Allie responded cheerfully. She watched as Hemi wagged his tail as if he knew they discussed him.
“I’m sorry about your mama. She doesn’t understand why you need this. I don’t like you living this far away either, but I get it,” he admitted.
Allie sighed. “I appreciate it. Maybe it’ll feel easier someday. It might help if she didn’t manage to bring it up every time she calls.”
Edward Parker grunted. “You and I know your mama will dwell on this till the day she dies. She’s concerned and it comes from love, even when it sounds harsh.”
She giggled. “I know.”
“Don’t use packing to avoid spending time with me. I want to spend every last minute with you before you leave.” He hugged her before leaving the room.
“Alright, Hemi. We can manage a piece of cake, some small talk and one more lecture before we leave. Once we get to New York, we’ll enjoy ourselves.”
She glanced at the closet and the wedding dress bag hanging on the door. She recalled her wedding day two years ago, feeling like it happened only yesterday.
Greg knocked on the door and Erin rushed to answer it.
“You know you can’t see her. It’s bad luck to see the bride before she walks down the aisle,” her friend chastised.
“I need to speak with Allison,” his voice sounded grave.
Erin sent her a worried glance as Allie licked her lips and nodded.
“I’ll wait outside,” Erin assured her.
Greg smiled sadly as he entered the room and pulled the stool from the makeup vanity to sit before her. His gaze wandered over to Hemi, who lay beside her.
“I can’t do it, Allie,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?” she asked, surprised as she smoothed the invisible wrinkle from her wedding gown. Her gut already knew, but she needed to hear him say it out loud.
“I can’t spend my life making plans around your medical condition and where we can take a dog. We can’t go anywhere without him. He leaves hair in my car, on my suits, and every time we go to an event, we must take him to the bathroom before and after it starts. It’s too much of a hassle. I can’t listen to another person comment on him and you explain why you need him. You haven’t suffered any issues for over a year. Sometimes, I feel you bring him for the attention,” he admitted.
Allie sucked in her breath as if he slapped her. “You’re calling off our wedding because of my medical service dog?”
“This can’t come as a shock. We’ve fought over you bringing him on our honeymoon for over a month. If you only relented and went without him for two weeks. You act like he must always stay attached to you,” Greg argued.
“Do you feel the same way about a diabetic leaving their insulin pump home for two weeks? He’s a medical service dog, for Pete’s sake,” she railed. “He alerts me so I don’t have an episode.”
Greg’s gaze drifted to the dog and back at her. He appeared genuinely sorry, but it didn’t make the pain she felt any less hurtful.
“I’ll make a deal with you. Leave him with Erin for our honeymoon and I’ll learn to deal with him,” he bartered.
Anger boiled through her veins. “What happens when I experience an episode? Will you know what to do? Can you tell me beforehand to make the symptoms easier on me?” she spat vehemently. “If you don’t understand why he’s important, you can’t accept me. Don’t worry, Greg. I’ll make it easy for you. I don’t want to marry you.”
Greg’s brows furrowed together as he stared at her. “Come on, Allie. Be reasonable. Leave the dog and all of this goes away.”
She shook her head as she gazed at Hemi with tears in her eyes. “No. I refuse to settle for a man who can’t accept me for all of me. I never asked for epilepsy. You’re one thing I do have a choice on and I no longer want to marry you.”
He stared at her, begging her to change her mind, but she steadfastly refused. Today might be about the honeymoon, but what about the next trip or special event he didn’t want Hemi to attend? She refused to spend her life with someone who didn’t understand her or her illness.
Erin held her as she cried. Hemi whined and she patted her side, allowing him to walk on the wedding dress. He placed his head in her lap, glancing worriedly at her.
“Don’t worry, Hemi. It’s not your fault. I named you after my favorite actor and fantasy boyfriend. Now, you’ll be the only man in my life,” she sobbed.
Hemi placed his head on her knee, jerking her back into the present and away from one of the worst days of her life. “I’m sorry, buddy. I got lost in the past for a hot minute. You’re still the best man in my life and we don’t need anyone else.”
Hemi wagged his tail as if agreeing with her.
“Come on, we got this,” she said as she opened her door and waited for him. Hemi gave her independence and security. He cuddled with her on lonely nights and never talked back, making him worth his weight in gold. Then why did she feel a pang of emptiness when she created a life she never believed possible?