Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
We reached the animal hospital in about fifteen minutes, and they took Cooper to a room right away. After a full examination and X-rays, we found that he had no broken bones, which was a huge relief.
However, Cooper yelped when the veterinarian palpated his ribs, and the doctor said that showed he had some deep bruising. From the placement of the pain, the vet guessed that Cooper was kicked. When my sweet man heard the words, he broke down into tears again, and received a hug from me and the vet.
The doctor gave us a bottle of pain pills for Cooper to use as needed until his bruising healed up, and sent us on our way.
I picked up some fast food in a drive-thru on our way home, making sure to get my little hero a special treat as well. Once we were back at his house, Sterling refused to eat until Cooper scarfed down the cheeseburger and chicken nuggets I got for him…which took all of about six seconds. It was a very good sign that he was going to be just fine.
“It feels strange having the house so quiet,” Sterling said as the three of us cuddled on the couch. Ordinarily, we’d be watching something on television or listening to one of his audio books, but they were all gone. “I can’t believe he took everything.”
“All of those things can be replaced. You are what is important to me. Sterling, I couldn’t go on if something happened to you.” For the first time since I heard the news, moisture filled my eyes. I had been so focused on being there for Sterling that things hadn’t fully hit me yet.
He was attacked. He could have been seriously hurt. I could have lost him. All because of someone’s greed and heartlessness. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I pulled him close, squeezing him so tightly that I hoped he could still breathe. But Sterling didn’t complain; he held me just as tightly as we cried together.
The day had been an emotional roller coaster; it started off so well, with Sterling’s career epiphany and plans for the future - the best day of our lives, just to end up in turmoil.
But I reminded myself that things could be worse; Sterling and Cooper were both still here. Nothing irreplaceable had been taken. No one had been seriously injured. For everything terrible and heartbreaking in the world, there was always something good to counteract it. And everything good in my world was lying in my arms.
Sterling and I snuggled each other in silence for hours until my sore eyes grew heavy. It had been a taxing day and we all needed rest. I let Cooper outside to use the bathroom before sleep, and when I returned with him to the living room, I found Sterling tapping his thighs.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“It’s just…I don’t know if I should leave Cooper alone out here all night,” he replied, motioning in the direction of his dog bed. “He might get scared. Maybe I should sleep on the couch tonight.”
There was no way in hell I was sleeping apart from Sterling after everything that happened, but I understood his need to be close to the pup as well. “Why don’t we let Cooper sleep in bed with us, just for tonight?” He gave me a grateful smile and nodded.
There wasn’t much room in the bed by the time we were all tucked in; I was lying on my back with Sterling plastered to my side, and Cooper took up the remaining third of the mattress, lying spread eagle in the least graceful position possible. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I kissed Sterling goodnight and held him close, vowing to never take him for granted, and to never let him go.
Chapter Ten
It had been a week since the break-in, and I had yet to go back to work. I took some time off to make sure that Sterling was okay, and to move into his place. I had never called off as long as I worked at Evanston, so I didn’t feel a bit bad about it.
The house was coming together, and all signs of the break-in were gone. I replaced everything that had been taken with items from my apartment, including kitchen appliances and two televisions, which I discovered had audio description channels built into the setting options. The only thing we had to purchase was a new tablet for Sterling.
I also brought some other items from my apartment, like my comfortable recliner which was now positioned in the living room, and several pictures which graced the walls. Sterling insisted that I hung a photograph of my parents in a place of honor, so that they'd always be watching over me.
Though the physical effects of the robbery were out of sight, the emotional effects could still be felt. For the first couple of days, Sterling didn't want to take his usual walk. He said that he wanted to give Cooper time to heal fully, but I had a sneaking suspicion that he wanted to avoid the path.