Chapter 2

2

Finally, the ambulance sped off with me and Buster.

While Buster was in surgery, my mom called.

"Jake, Sarah had a baby boy, but he's not doing well. You need to get to the hospital, now!" Her voice was all choked up.

I was distracted. "Mom, Buster's still in surgery. I can't leave."

She exploded. "Jake! That's your son!"

"Do you know what it was like? Her water broke, and her life was on the line. The doctors said one more second, and she and the baby could've died!"

"She begged me not to be angry, and told me you couldn't help it. I should have knocked some sense into you!"

My mom's usually a sweet old lady. This was the first time I'd ever heard her so angry.

But I was too focused on Buster to care.

When the vet came out of the operating room, I practically shouted into the phone, "Gotta go, Mom. Buster's out of surgery. Need to check on him."

I hung up and ran to the vet. "Doc, how is he? Is Buster okay?"

I was practically shaking with worry, the vet gave me a pat on the shoulder.

"He's going to be okay, Jake. We were able to stabilize him."

"He will need to be observed for twenty-four hours."

I let out a huge breath. "Okay, great. Just...great."

Right then, my dad called.

"Jake, your son's fighting for his life. Where the hell are you?"

"Get over here!"

My dad was usually a chill guy, but you could feel the rage rolling off him.

I didn't even hesitate. "Dad, Buster needs me. I can't."

That set him off. "Is that dog more important than your own wife and kid?"

"Jake, Sarah is the woman you chased from high school to college! You stood in front of everyone at your wedding and promised you'd never let her suffer!

"And Buster? She picked him up off the street eight years ago. You love him so much because of her! How can you just turn your back on Sarah after all this time?"

My dad's words got to me. Tears welled up in my eyes.

I wiped them away and said, "Dad, it's all in the past."

"Buster needs me, that's all that matters."

Then I hung up, switched off my phone, and stayed glued to Buster's side.