*Michael*
I set up my laptop on the dining table, which had a perfect—and distracting—view of the beach. The sound of gentle waves lapped against the shore, and the smell of a salty breeze wafted through the open windows.
Rays of morning sun bounced off the wet sand, bringing a sense of calmness that made me feel I could tackle anything even in the face of everything against us at the moment.
But before I could fully immerse myself in work, I had to check on Shelby.
I gently opened the bedroom door and crept inside, doing my best not to disturb her. She needed all the rest she could get–no matter how desperately I'd missed her. My heart twisted in my chest as I looked at her.
She rested there, nestled in a cocoon of luxurious blankets, her chest rising and falling softly in time with
