Retribution

Chapter 38 - Decisions

We informed the police of Adam's latest stunt but of course, as there was no physical evidence to support our claim, there was nothing they could do; especially as his uncle gave him a watertight alibi. I confronted him over it, but of course, he denied it. Marco had discovered some scratch marks around the door lock on the back door telling us how he had gotten in.

An old friend of Jake's owned a converted barn about an hour away from Jake's cottage. He kindly allowed us to stay there on the Saturday evening rather than getting a hotel. I was so close to breaking point, I didn't know how much more I could take. I'd pinned all my hopes on this weekend being time for me to relax and chill out, to regain some stability in my life again. But the bastard just wouldn't leave me alone.

Sunday morning, I woke up, after weeks of turmoil, and knew without doubt what I wanted to do next.

"I'm going to get a dog," I said, the second Jake's eyes fluttered open.

"Morning, sweetheart," he replied, grinning.

I smiled back, leaned over, and kissed him. "Sorry. Good morning, darling."

"What's brought this on all of a sudden?"

I explained my reasoning behind it and how long I'd been thinking of investing in one. "Plus, he's absolutely petrified of German Shepherds," I said. "It couldn't be a more perfect fit if you tried."

"Well, I do agree. I think it would be an excellent thing for you and Harvey to connect over as well. As far as an actual personal protection dog goes, if you didn't have Marco, then it would be the best idea for sure. But I have to say I agree with Charlie here. Give an abused animal the chance to have a loving home and a good life."

I mulled over his point and decided he was right. He'd been my saviour, so now it was my turn to be someone else's. On the way home, after taking Lewis back to his mum's, we dropped in at a local rescue centre about forty minutes from my house.

Seeing all the wagging tails, big, sad brown eyes, and barks of excitement broke my heart. How could people do such terrible things to innocent creatures? Reading each dogs story on their kennel door brought me closer to tears. I wanted to take them all, show them all love, kindness, and a life they could only dream of.

"You ok?" Jake said, squeezing my hand.

"Yeah," I said, stopping to read a horrible story of a terrier losing its leg in a rabbit trap. "It's just awful being here. I mean you read about it in the papers, see it on TV, but it's not the same as seeing the actual dog in front of you while reading what the poor thing's had to go through. The reality of that is just a bit...shocking, I guess."

"It's an unfortunate part of life on earth, I'm afraid, sweetheart. Even if you saved all of them here, it wouldn't change the world."

"No, I know, but how am I supposed to pick one out of all of them? I just feel...mean."

He smiled, cuddled me against his side, and kissed the side of my head. "Just remember that you're not trying to change the world for all of them, you're trying to change the world for one."

I smiled, thinking over his words. He was right. Jake had saved me, and by doing so, forever changed my world, despite millions of other women still facing abusive partners and uncertain futures. I shouldn't pressure myself with the guilt for not rehoming all of these unwanted dogs. That's what rescue centres were for; second chances. I could only offer one second chance; what mattered is that I used it.

"Mummy, Mummy!" Harvey shouted me from down the corridor, jumping up and down whilst he pointed inside a kennel. "This one, this one!"

He was at least a dozen kennels ahead of us. He'd simply look in, decide there and then if he liked them, and move on. How simple a child's life could sometimes be.

"Don't you want to look at the rest?" I said, noting the kennels behind us, plus the handful after the dog he was staring at.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "This one. She's called Ellie."

We walked over to see what he'd fallen in love with. I didn't know what to expect; a frothing at the mouth Rottweiler or an angry Jack Russell. When I finally laid eyes on 'Ellie', I was just as sold as Harvey. She was a beautiful long haired German Shepherd. Laid down at the back of her kennel, in the shade, she watched us with her soft eyes for a few moments before finally padding over to us.

Nosing right up against the steel wire fence, Harvey put his hand in front of her nose. I instantly went to move his hand away, but all she did was lick his hand and whine. He giggled and slipped his fingers through the small mesh to stroke her.

"Harvey, please don't, poppet. You don't know her."

He looked up at me, his eyes twinkling in a way I'd not seen for months. "She's fine, Mummy. She likes me, see?"

Watching her nuzzle his hand and lean against the fence for more fuss, I knew I was making the right decision; for Harvey if anything. Whether it was this stunning girl or another, bringing a dog into our lives was only going to enrich it. And the best bit was, I'd made the decision all by myself.