Chapter 9 — Brenda offers a clumsy apology to her granddaughter — Then Chloe wipes her tears and smiles
Brenda swallowed hard and cleared her throat.
She knelt down beside Chloe on the hallway rug.
“I am so sorry, sweetheart,” Brenda whispered softly.
Chloe slowly lowered her hands from her face.
Her eyes were red and wet with tears.
“I really thought you did it,” Brenda admitted, shaking her head.
“I jumped to conclusions way too fast.”
Chloe sniffled and wiped her cheek with her sleeve.
She looked over at Barnaby lying patiently on the rug.
The golden retriever thumped his tail once against the floorboards.
Chloe let out a small, wet sigh.
Then a tiny smile broke through her tears.
She reached out her small hand and gently patted Barnaby on the head.
The fluffy culprit blinked his brown eyes and leaned into her touch.
Brenda let out a long breath of relief.
“Come on, let’s get this floor cleaned up before it dries,” Elena said.
Elena turned around on her heel and headed toward the back of the house.
Elena grabs a bucket of warm soapy water and a sponge from the utility closet.