"Don't be embarrassed, beautiful. It's only Kit. Why don't you see what she's holding." He whispered right in her ear so only she heard him.
Adele lifted her head away from Dominic and glanced over toward the door...and saw the last thing she'd ever expected to see. Kit stood there cuddling a little Dalmatian puppy.
"I'm not sure what is more shocking. Kit actually cuddling a puppy or the puppy itself," she said on a chuckle. Kit had always proclaimed to not have time for any canine. Dominic barked out a laugh before he added his thoughts.
"Yeah, you should have heard her grumbling the whole way into the vet's, then as soon as the little guy came out and went straight up to her, sniffed her shoes and whined to be picked up, she was done for. She wouldn't even let me put him in his seat belt. She insisted on nursing him on the way over. I wanted you to give him to Kelly, but I'm not sure Kit will give him up."
Kit paused in her patting long enough to flip them off.
"What can I say? He's cute and soft. And Kelly won't be able to look after him until she leaves the hospital; he can stay with me until she does. Can't you little fella?" She finished off in the squeaky high voice people used for pets and babies. It was so out of place coming out of Kit, Adele couldn't help but laugh again.
Ten minutes later, Adele was in her wheel chair with Dominic pushing her down the hall to Kelly's room. Kit was walking beside them, making a fuss over the puppy. As they entered Kelly's room, Adele's heart ached in her chest. Her petit fille was staring at nothing. Not blinking, not moving, barely breathing. She looked so pale and rather frail. Even her curls were looking flat. Dominic wheeled her up to the side of the bed as Kit hung back in the hallway for a few minutes.
"Hey, Kelly, I'm so sorry I couldn't come see you sooner, but they wouldn't let me. I was too sick." She watched Kelly's chest rise and fall a bit deeper than before.
"Please, cherie, look at me. Come back to us. You're free now. He's gone. Dead. He can never hurt you again." She saw the twitch of her fingers then turned to Dominic as an idea formed.
"We need to show her she's free. She went into shock when he put the collar on her. So maybe if you place her hands on her neck, so she can feel for herself that her neck is bare and free it might help." Adele watched Kelly closely as Dominic very gently picked her hands up in his and placed them, palm down, over her neck. Kelly's eyes closed and her hands moved all over her neck in slow jerky movements. Oh thank heavens, it was working. She was coming back to them.
"You are free, Kelly, and we are all here for you. Please look at me, cherie." She watched as Kelly slowly turned her head and her dull grey eyes flicked over Adele's body, taking in her cast and bandages before they settled on hers.
"He hurt you. It's my fault." Tears began to run down her face as she re-closed her eyes. Adele looked up to Dominic in desperation.
"Please, Dominic, lift me onto the bed with her, she needs me."
Dominic nodded his head once then gently lifted her and placed her on the bed so she lay next to Kelly in a way which wouldn't cause her arms further pain. Kelly slowly curled into her body like a little kitten and cried into her embrace. She used all her strength to drag her left arm over so it rested on Kelly's side--as close to a hug as she could manage. She lowered her head so her cheek rested on her hair.
"Kelly, what happened was no ones fault but Cole's. He chose to do all he did. No one forced his hand. Please don't blame yourself, none of this was your fault, cherie." She started to hum just like she did that first time until Kelly calmed.
"We brought you a present, Kelly. Would you like to see it?"
Kelly pulled her head back a little to look over her side toward the door. She didn't pull away from Adele's body, so she couldn't see her face but she heard the hitch in her breathing.
"Hey, kiddo, look who wanted to come say hi. This is the little puppy you rescued; he's all healed up now. Would you like a cuddle?" Kit brought him over as she spoke. Kelly shuffled a little away from Adele as Kit lay the puppy down between them. The puppy went straight for Kelly, licking her neck and face.
Kelly laughed.
Adele cried.
Her petit fille was back, and she was going to be just fine. Relief poured through her as she watched the light come back into her beautiful grey eyes and a smile appear on her face. She felt Dominic come up behind her and lay his hand on her upper arm as he bent down to kiss her head. Kit stood close on the other side. All three of them watched with tears in their eyes as Kelly joyously played with the little puppy.
"I think you should name him," Dominic said softly. Kelly looked up in confusion.
"But he's not mine." She looked from Dominic to Adele.