Saving Her

Chapter 67

Shawn's POV

"Baby please....please can we keep him? I mean.... look at his face." I whine as I cuddle an adorable 10 month old Golden Retriever puppy in my arms, putting our faces together complete with matching puppy dog eyes and pouts; hopeful one or the other, or both of us will be enough to convince Camila that he needs to come home with us.

We started going to couples pet therapy as a way to try something new and different. We've both developed PTSD from Camila's incident and our therapist recommended a number of different ways we could work on coping and overcoming together as a couple. Of course meditation and guided imagery were things we both agreed on and I continued journaling as well, but when we came across pet therapy; we both knew this was something we had to try.

So far, we had been to a healing farm where we got to ride horses, hold baby goats and sheep and feed baby cows. We almost became proud parents to a baby chick that magically snuck into Camila's hoodie' on that trip. Needless to say, Reuben the chick remained safe and sound at his home on the healing farm.

We'd also been to the zoo and got to feed animals and swim in the dolphin tanks which made my heart do flips watching my little sunflower squeal in excitement every time she got to hold on to a fin and go for a ride. That was a very good day.

Until today.

Today was puppy play date day at the therapy office. All the puppies were up for adoption as well and were all brought in by reputable dog rescues. One of my favorites was the Golden Retriever rescue. We used their sister group that rescues Labrador Retrievers and German Shepard's for our canine unit dogs, so the thought of even having an inkling of a chance to get a puppy for one of these places would be significant for me.

"No babe, I'm sorry! Where in the world would we keep him, let alone take care of him when we're both gone at work?" Camila questions firmly as both the dog and I let out a whine in defeat. I had been drawn to the little Golden with a curl in his hair, just behind his head and a more than obvious heart shaped nose almost immediately while Camila settled for the little white fluff balls or the big all black German Shepard.

"You're no fun." I pout as I struggle to let the little puppy of out my lap. He had been sitting there all snuggled in my lap for most of the day, and I was not complaining.

Too bad he's too big to fit in my jacket.

"Time to go baby...say goodbye to your little friend." She says squeezing my hand before letting me have a minute more with my little buddy.

As I'm scratching his ears, he melts in my hand and I can't help but silently curse Camila for doing this to me.

She's damn lucky she's cute as hell or this would be considered torture!

Finally mustering up the strength to say goodbye, I gently rub his scruff and kiss the top of his furry little head before walking back to Camila who's talking to one of the rescue owners.

"I'm ready to go Mila." I say sadly as I look down at the floor. I feel like a five year old pouting because he has to finish his broccoli before he gets a cookie, but then realizes life goes on and there's always cake!

Camila being the cake in the metaphor of course. I can live without little buddy; I can't live without Camila.

Lacing our fingers together, she kisses my cheek before waving goodbye to the rescuers and our therapist. As we leave the building, she looks at me with understanding eyes and wraps her arms around my waist as we walk to the truck.

"I'm sorry we couldn't take him home Shawn. I just don't know how we could handle a puppy right now. Maybe in the future though, I think I'd like a dog." She says, smiling at me. My plan to remain stoic disintegrating because she's just so damn pretty, I can't even be mad at her.