Page 43 of Road Refugees

When Town left, Unity gave me a warm, knowing glance. “He’s in love with you.”

“What? Oh, pshaw! We barely know each other. How much of that food did Mickey eat?” I gestured at a plate of wet dog food.

“Oh, maybe three tablespoons. Here. Try again. You’re her mom, so you should feed her. Listen, Heaven. I was abused by my stepfather too. He performed ‘breath play’ on me. You probably don’t know that’s a polite way of saying ‘strangulation.’”

Mickey had raised her head and gingerly touched her lips to the spoon of wet food I held. “Shut the front door! Then you know the feeling of hopelessness.”

“You’re not alone, Heaven. I escaped just like you did.”

Mickey took an actual bite and swallowed, and my heart nearly burst with pride. “You just walked out into the night?”

Unity chuckled. “Sort of. I moved my things out bit by bit so no one would notice. My mother never took my side. One day I just dumped a bowl of spaghetti over the asshole’s head and that was my final day of abuse.”

I couldn’t tamp down the laughter that bubbled up, though I knew it was serious business. I wished I could’ve made a final stand against Orson, but it was far too dangerous. I couldn’t just walk out a door. I had to walk many miles to get away from him. “These dogs are a new beginning. I want to get to this puppy mill and sabotage them, but I know the leaders here wouldn’t approve.”

Unity nodded. “Especially if you’re going to become an old lady. You have to learn the ropes, the rules and regs. Like do nothing without asking permission first. And the answer is usually no anyway.”

I giggled. “Well. I’m used to that.”

And Mickey took another bite.