“But your wife is too tough on him. She's kept him in a cage and it's really affecting his mood. You can take him back, but you'll need to promise me that she won't put him in a cage. Otherwise, he's staying put.”
Dale was caught in the middle, carefully testing the waters with me. “She said you've scared the dog so badly it's traumatized. If I bring him back and he ends up in a cage again-”
“I will never put him in a cage again,” I cut him off, my words edged with frustration.
“What? So where will you put him if not in a cage?”
“In the child's room.”
“You don't really want Rex back, do you?” Dale thought I was joking. I took a photo of the empty child's room that I cleared out this afternoon and sent it to him. My heart shattered as I packed away his belongings, my poor son, defeated in life by a dog. How could this happen?
“I'm serious, his room is ready. Hurry up and bring him home.”
“Then where will Liam sleep?”
My heart tightened at the sound of my son's name. I swallowed, trying hard to maintain my composure as I replied, “Don't worry, I've got a cozy bed ready for him to sleep.”