Chapter 4: The Truth at Riverside
The drive to Riverside Animal Clinic felt longer than it should have.
Every traffic light seemed frozen.
Every car in front of me seemed to move too slowly.
My mother sat in the passenger seat, holding Dad’s envelope against her chest like it was something fragile.
Like it could break.
Or maybe like she could.
Neither of us spoke.
The silence between us was heavier than any argument we had ever had.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Mom.””
She looked out the window.
“What?””
“Why did the vet say someone tried to make it look like Max was abandoned?””
Her fingers tightened around the envelope.
“I don’t know.””
I turned toward her.
“You don’t know?””
“I said I don’t know.””
The sharpness in her voice disappeared quickly.
She looked exhausted.
“I know how this sounds.””
“It sounds like you’re hiding something.””
She closed her eyes.
“I am.””
That answer shocked me.
I slowed my breathing.
“Then tell me.””
She didn’t.
Not until we pulled into the clinic parking lot.
Riverside Animal Clinic looked exactly how I remembered it.
The faded blue sign.
The old brick building.
The little flower garden Dad used to water whenever we came.
For a second, I expected him to walk out.
I expected to see his old jacket.
His tired smile.
His hand resting on Max’s head.
But the parking lot was empty.
And Dad was still gone.
Inside, a woman at the front desk immediately recognized my mother.
“Mrs. Carter?””
My mom nodded.
The woman looked at me.
“You must be Emily.””
I frowned.
“How do you know my name?””
She glanced at my mother.
Then back at me.
“Because Max has been waiting for you.””
My heart stopped.
“Where is he?””
The woman’s expression softened.
“He’s in the back.””
I didn’t wait.
I walked past the counter before anyone could stop me.
And then I heard it.
A sound I thought I would never hear again.
A weak bark.
I froze.
“Max?””
Another bark.
I ran.
He was lying on a blanket in one of the recovery rooms.
Older.
Thinner.
But still him.
His golden fur had turned gray around his face.
His eyes looked tired.
But the second he saw me, his tail moved.
Just once.
Then again.
I dropped to my knees.
“Oh my God.””
Max tried to stand.
His legs shook.
I caught him carefully.
“Hey. Hey, buddy.””
His head pushed against my shoulder.
The same way he did when Dad was still alive.
I cried before I even realized it.
“You waited for me?””
Max made a soft sound.
The veterinarian stood behind me.
“He’s been calmer since you arrived.””
I wiped my face.
“What happened?””
The vet, Dr. Hayes, looked serious.
“Your mother brought him here five days ago.””
My mother looked down.
“She told us she was surrendering him.””
I turned.
“You what?””
She flinched.
“I was scared.””
Dr. Hayes continued.
“But Max wasn’t a surrender case.””
I looked back.
“What does that mean?””
“He had a medical issue. Nothing that required giving him away.””
My jaw tightened.
“Then why did she?””
The room went silent.
My mother whispered, “Because I thought I was doing the right thing.””
I stared at her.
“You thought taking Dad’s dog away from me was the right thing?””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“I thought taking away the pain was the right thing.””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know how.
Dr. Hayes opened a folder.
“Before your mother left, Max escaped from the clinic.””
My eyes widened.
“What?””
“He pushed open the back gate.””
A strange sadness crossed his face.
“He walked almost three miles.””
“Where?””
Dr. Hayes looked at me.
“To your old house.””
My breath caught.
“That’s impossible.””
“It’s true.””
He handed me a photo.
It showed Max sitting outside our old front porch.
Alone.
Waiting.
“He stayed there until someone found him.””
I looked at the picture.
The same porch where Dad used to sit.
The same place where Max waited every afternoon for him to come home.
My mother covered her mouth.
“I didn’t know.””
I looked at her.
“You didn’t check?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I couldn’t.””
“Why?””
She looked away.
“Because I knew if I saw him there, I would know I was wrong.””
The honesty hurt.
But before I could respond, Dr. Hayes reached into a drawer.
“I also need to give you this.””
He handed me a small plastic bag.
Inside was Max’s collar.
And the metal tag.
Dad’s handwriting was still visible.
MAX CARTER.
I touched it through the plastic.
Then I noticed something else.
A folded piece of paper attached behind the tag.
My hands started shaking.
“What is this?””
Dr. Hayes looked surprised.
“I don’t know.””
I carefully opened it.
The handwriting was old.
But I knew it instantly.
Dad’s.
Three words were written inside.
My heart stopped.
*“For Emily. Always.””*
I looked at my mother.
She looked just as shocked.
“How long has that been there?””
Nobody answered.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
I opened it.
May you like
And the first line made my blood run cold.
*Emily, your mother was never supposed to find that letter.*
