Dog Whisperer Read Online Free

was going to do,” her mother went on. “But, she didn’t think she was ready to raise a child, and—well, she was leaning very strongly towards a completely closed adoption. But then, she decided that she would rather know something about who her child’s parents were going to be. And, in the end, she was generous and loving enough to be willing to allow us to have the great honor of being your parents.”
    That made it all sound really noble on her birth mother’s part, and maybe it was—but, it certainly didn’t feel that way.
    â€œAnd then, just, what,” Emily said. “Back to her normal life, like nothing ever happened?”
    She must have sounded very tense, and maybe even angry, because Zachary made an anxious little whining sound, and she quickly patted him a few times, so that he wouldn’t worry.
    Her father shook his head. “No, of course not. It had to have been a completely life-changing event for her. She withdrew from the college while she was pregnant, and ultimately ended up transferring someplace else. But, when she went into labor, we flew down right away, so that we could be at the hospital during the birth. I’m sorry, I meant, during your birth,” he corrected himself. “And then, a few days later, we brought you home.”
    That was all still a lot more vague than Emily wanted it to be. In fact, other than finding out that her birth mother had been a student, it wasn’t anything she didn’t already know. Except, wait, maybe there was another possible detail buried in there. “Flew down where ?” she asked.
    Her parents glanced at each other.
    â€œAtlanta,” her father said.
    Okay. That was something specific. “So, I’m Southern?” Emily said.
    Her mother nodded. “Technically, yes, I guess you are, although I never really thought about it that way.”
    So, she was from somewhere. From a specific place. A real place, not something she had to imagine. There were so many different questions to ask that she really didn’t know where to start. So, maybe she should just go with a really obvious question. “Was she African-American?” Emily asked.
    Her parents nodded.
    Okay. “Do I get to know her name?” Emily asked.
    Her parents instantly shook their heads.
    â€œI’m sorry,” her mother said. “But, we promised . So, we could never do that without her permission. It would be a violation of the agreement.”
    Maybe, but who would know the difference? And she should certainly be allowed to know her own mother’s name, shouldn’t she? Emily frowned. “Are you guys in touch with her?”
    Her mother didn’t quite meet her eyes—which was very, very suspicious. “Once in a while,” she said finally. “I send her occasional photos and notes.”
    â€œDoes she answer them?” Emily asked.
    Her mother shook her head. “Almost never.”
    Great. That was just great. Her birth mother wasn’t even interested in finding out about her. She didn’t realize she had clenched her fist until she felt Zack nuzzling her hand. So, with an effort, she loosened her fingers and patted him some more, instead. “Do you think she even looks at the pictures?” Emily asked.
    Her mother nodded. “I’m quite sure she does. And once every year or two, she’ll send an email and say thank you.”
    That didn’t mean that Emily was about to nominate her to be Mother of the Year, though, did it?
    â€œI know this is really hard for you , Emily,” her father said, “but I think it’s also very difficult for her. She had to make some really grueling decisions, and—well, your mother and I will never stop being grateful to her.”
    â€œIs she still in Atlanta?” Emily asked.
    Right away, her parents shook their heads.
    If they were that sure, then, they knew exactly where she did live—but, they