Chapter 2: The Missing Collar
My mother refused to show me the message.
That was the moment I stopped seeing her as someone who had made a bad decision.
I started seeing her as someone hiding something.
“Mom,” I said quietly.
“What did Kevin say?””
She put her phone face down on the counter.
“Nothing important.””
I stared at her.
“You just looked terrified.””
“I did not.””
“You did.””
She picked up a glass of water and took a sip with a hand that wasn’t steady.
“Emily, you’re emotional right now.””
“I’m emotional because you gave away my dog.””
“He’s not your child.””
The sentence came out so casually that I almost missed how cruel it was.
I looked at her.
“No. He’s not.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“But he was family.””
She moved toward me.
“Where are you going?””
“To Kevin’s.””
“No.””
I stopped.
“Excuse me?””
“You are not going over there and causing a scene.””
“I’m not causing a scene. I’m getting answers.””
“You’ll scare the kids.””
I turned around.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?””
She frowned.
“Because there are children involved.””
“And I’m your child.””
Her face went still.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then she said, “You’re an adult now.””
I laughed softly.
“Right. Adult enough to lose Dad’s dog, but apparently not adult enough to know where he is.””
I left before she could answer.
Kevin lived twenty minutes away in a newer neighborhood on the edge of town.
The entire drive, I kept telling myself not to panic.
Maybe Max was happy.
Maybe he was sitting on someone’s couch right now.
Maybe Kevin’s kids were playing with him.
But every time I pictured Max’s confused face wondering where I was, my hands tightened around the steering wheel.
Dad used to say dogs understood more than people gave them credit for.
“They don’t forget the people who love them,” he told me.
I parked outside Kevin’s house.
Before I could knock, the front door opened.
Kevin looked surprised.
“Emily?””
“Where is Max?””
His expression changed.
Not guilty.
Not surprised.
Worried.
That made my stomach drop.
“Can we talk inside?””
“No.””
He glanced behind him.
“I want to see him.””
Kevin rubbed his forehead.
“Emily…”
“Where is he?””
A little boy appeared behind him.
“Dad?””
Kevin immediately stepped back.
“Go inside, buddy.””
The boy looked confused.
Then I heard a sound.
A collar jingling.
I froze.
“Max?””
The little boy disappeared into the house.
A few seconds later, Kevin’s wife appeared holding a leash.
But the dog at the end of it wasn’t Max.
It was another golden retriever.
I stared.
“What is this?””
Kevin looked uncomfortable.
“That’s Charlie.””
“Where is Max?””
Nobody answered.
My heart started racing.
“You said you took him.””
Kevin looked at his wife.
Then back at me.
“I need you to understand something.””
“No.””
My voice became sharper.
“I need you to answer one question.””
I stepped closer.
“Where is Max?””
Kevin sighed.
“Your mom didn’t tell you?””
The air disappeared from my lungs.
“Tell me what?””
He looked away.
That was enough.
“Kevin.””
His voice dropped.
“Max was sick.””
I blinked.
“What?””
“He started having trouble walking.””
I felt my anger turn into fear.
“No. He was fine when I left.””
Kevin shook his head.
“He wasn’t.””
“What are you talking about?””
He looked miserable.
“Your mom brought him over before you left for orientation.””
I froze.
“She what?””
Kevin swallowed.
“She said she didn’t want you watching him suffer during your first week of college.””
My blood ran cold.
“She told you I knew?””
“No.””
“Then why did you take him?””
Kevin didn’t answer immediately.
Finally, he said, “Because she said you agreed.””
I stared at him.
“I never agreed.””
“I know that now.””
My voice dropped.
“What happened to Max?””
Kevin’s wife looked down.
Kevin took a slow breath.
“Emily…”
“What happened?””
He hesitated.
Then he said something that made my knees feel weak.
“Your mother didn’t give Max away.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“She took him somewhere else first.””
“Where?””
Kevin looked toward the road.
“Your mom told me not to tell you.””
I stepped closer.
“Tell me.””
He was silent.
Then he whispered:
“She took Max to the old veterinary clinic on Riverside.””
My heart stopped.
“That clinic closed last year.””
“I know.””
“Why would she take him there?””
Kevin looked at me with an expression I had never seen before.
Pity.
“Because she didn’t want you to know what happened.””
I felt my fingers go numb.
“What happened to my dog?””
Kevin looked back at his house.
May you like
Then he said the words I was not prepared to hear.
“Emily… I think your mom was trying to hide that Max was never supposed to leave with me.””
