Chocolate-Covered Chaos by Lori R. Taylor

Author:Lori R. Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sterling & Stone

Chapter Nineteen

Chloe hadn’t been this excited since before state trials, and it certainly didn’t help that Abby was behind her in the car, bouncing in her seat.

Orchestra didn’t start until 4, and Dad had decided it made good sense for both her and Abby to be there for Max's official adoption, so he’d actually fetched them early from school.

Chloe was the first out of the car, the first to the door of the shelter, the first inside. Adopting Max felt important, deep-down, gut-level essential to Chloe in a way she couldn’t quite understand that this happen. If Dad changed his mind, she would lose it.

The young woman behind the desk seemed to recognize Dad and Abby. “Hey, guys. What can we do for you today?”

“We’re here to adopt Max,” Chloe answered before anyone else could, almost before the woman had finished her question.

“Thank you, Chloe.” Dad nudged her aside, not with any particular force, but with a firmness that told her that her time was up, and Chloe felt the eagerness inside her deflate like air leaking out of a balloon in her chest. "But that is what we're here to do."

The woman smiled. “Excellent! I’m so glad he’s found himself a good home. He’s such a sweetie.”

Chloe moved to take one of the chairs on the other side of the room. Abby followed, and the bounce she’d had in her step just a moment before had also dimmed.

“Alright?” she whispered as they both sat down.

Chloe sat up a little straighter, then smiled at her little sister. “Fine. Great. I’m so glad we’re keeping Max.”

This brightened Abby’s smile. “I know, right? I was a little worried at first that Dad would decide not to. But since he stopped peeing on the carpet—”

“It really wasn’t hard to do. Dunno why no one had managed it before.”

“You’re just really good with him.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “You are, too.”

“Not like you, though. You’re, like, a dog whisperer.”

“Liar.”

Abby tried to look offended. “Am not.”

“Are so.”

“Not.”

“Oh, so you really think anyone believed you when you said a squirrel made a mess of your room?”

“That was a long time ago!”

“That was two months ago.”

“Which is a long time ago. I was only nine, and nine-year-olds don’t know better.”

“And ten-year-olds do?”

“Yes.”

“Liar.” But now Chloe was grinning, too, a genuine smile like only Abby could encourage out of her.

An older woman emerged through the door behind the desk. “Nick!” she said to Dad with real familiarity, which made Chloe think this must be the famous Leslie.

She nodded approvingly at the papers on the desk, then rounded the desk, her hand already half-extended as if to shake. “You must be Chloe.”

Chloe stood and shook her hand, already liking her. “I guess Dad’s talked about me?”

“Only good things, I promise.”

A little surprising, but she tried not to let that show.

“Your father said you’ve been doing most of Max’s home training. He’s made more progress in a week at your place than he's made in the previous month.”

Chloe looked down, her cheeks warming.

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