Chapter 6 — Rebecca Witnesses the Evidence on the Dog’s Nose
Rebecca took a slow step forward.
Her expression remained tense and tight.
She looked down at the dark wooden floor between them.
The trail of sticky white paw prints led directly from the ruined cake station to where the golden retriever was now standing.
She let out a long breath through her nose.
She looked past Andrew and stared directly at Buster.
The golden retriever blinked innocently.
He let out a soft whine as the bright kitchen overhead lights hit his face.
Rebecca reached out one hand slowly.
She extended her index finger toward the dog.
Buster sniffed the air and leaned forward.
Rebecca pressed her finger gently against the tip of the dog’s wet black nose.
Her finger came away smeared with thick, sweet white frosting.
She lifted her hand up to the light.
She examined the frosting clinging to her skin.
It matched the exact same dessert that had been sitting on the marble countertop.
Rebecca closed her eyes for a brief second.
Realization hit her hard.
She had spoken far too harshly to Chloe just minutes ago.
She had let her frustration over the ruined dessert override her common sense.
Rebecca turned her head back toward the living room.
Chloe was still standing near the couch in tears, watching them with a heartbreaking expression of uncertainty.