Love in the Headlines

Copyright Love in the Headlines Copyright ©2023 by Penny Zeller www.pennyzeller.com www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com All rights reserved. Published by Maplebrook Publishing No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact Penny Zeller at www.pennyzeller.com. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. Any brand names or trademarks mentioned throughout are owned by the respective companies. © 2023 Cover Art by Cora Graphics © Depositphotos.com Editing by Mountain Peak Edits and Design Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Print ISBN: 978-1-957847-05-4 Contents Also By Dedication Bible Verse 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. Epilogue Author's Note The Inspiration Behind Love in the Headlines Acknowledgments Don't Miss Love Under Construction About the Author Check Out Dedication Dedicated to my favorite niece, Ally, and her dog, Sulley Jaxx, the inspiration behind Sullivan Theodore IV’s character. Bible Verse This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24 Chapter one It had been an exhausting day, and Carleigh Adams figured a hot bubble bath followed by snuggling up with a good book and a cup of tea was the perfect agenda for a Tuesday evening. The article she penned from last night’s long-winded and interminable city council meeting had taken its toll. She unlocked the front door of her house, stepped inside, and slipped off her shoes.Finally. Time for some rest and relaxation. An over-exuberant Sullivan Theodore IV bounded toward her, his white fur blowing away from his face with the breeze he caused with his rapid rate of speed. He slid on the wood floor, reminding Carleigh of a race car driver struggling to maintain control on a slick track.She set her purse on the counter and gave Sullivan Theodore a pat. “Hey there, boy.” Sullivan Theodore lasted about three seconds before impatiently wiggling away from her. He ran toward the door, his little yips loud in the otherwise quiet house. “All right,” she said, traipsing toward the back door to allow him outside. But Sullivan Theodore would have none of it. He dodged past her in a quick one-eighty degree turn and sprinted as fast as his short legs could carry him back toward the front door. He barked, his fluffy tail wagging so fast it rivaled a high-powered fan. “You know I am not going to let you out front, Sullivan Theodore.”He ceased barking for a split second and cocked his head first to one side, then the other, as if to say, “And why not?”“Come on, let’s go out the back door.” At least in the backyard, Sullivan Theodore was corralled by a fence. Instead of obeying, the dog edged closer to the front door, resuming his series of yips.Carleigh sighed. What harm could it do to allow him into the front yard to do his business just this once?“All right, all right. But you have to stay by the porch.”Sullivan Theodore’s suspicious lack of eye contact concerned her, but giving her pooch the benefit of the doubt, Carleigh opened the front door and stepped outside. She closed her eyes for a second, longing to feel any warmth from the soon-to-be-setting sun. It was a welcome change from that morning’s snow, which still lined parts of the lawn and sidewalk. Forget April showers bringing May flowers. More like early May snow showers bringing June flowers.She opened her eyes just in time to see Sullivan Theodore escaping down the sidewalk at an excessive rate of speed, determined to catch a squirrel that was equally determined not to get caught. “Sullivan Theodore IV, come back here!” The shih tzu paid her no mind and continued bounding away from her house.A car full of teenagers whizzed by and Carleigh prayed they wouldn’t run over her pet. Eyeing her flip flops, she slipped them on over her socks and took off down the sidewalk, trying to keep her pet in sight. In doing so, she nearly slid on a random clump of snow. The things I do for you, Sullivan Theodore.Pausing to adjust her feet more securely into her turquoise flip flops, Carleigh marveled that she still had the “gift” of wearing such shoes with thick socks. Perfected in childhood, she hadn’t realized just how handy her “talent” would be later in life.Heart racing, Carleigh continued down the sidewalk as fast as she could, but lost sight of Sullivan Theodore a few seconds later. Stopping less than a block from her house, she looked first to the left, then to the right and called his name at least a gazillion more times. Where is he?He couldn’t just disappear. Carleigh strained her eyes in hopes of seeing where Sullivan Theodore may have ventured to. Did he make a turn she hadn’t noticed? Was he hiding in someone’s backyard? Was he in plain sight?“Excuse me.” Her wheezing breath drew the attention of a couple walking nearby. “Have you seen a shih tzu? He’s white with a navy collar.”“Sorry, we haven’t,” answered the woman.Desperation consumed Carleigh. What would she do if something befell her precious pet? If only Sullivan Theodore was a Siberian husky or Saint Bernard. Such an enormous dog would be harder to lose than one weighing a mere seven pounds.Panting for breath, she trudged up one side of the street, turned around, then repeated her route. He couldn’t have gotten far.