Footprints on my Heart

By Julie Rowe

Gemma Foster had the perfect life until a horrific crash took her husband and her hearing. Every day is a struggle but she finds strength, love and support from her guide dog and maybe…possibly…hopefully from her dog's trainer.

Hank wants more than friendship but he's afraid to make a move and Gemma needs to know why.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julie Rowe
• Release date: Nov 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393970460

Julie Rowe

Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the North West Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She is the author of the Biological Response Team series, The Outbreak Task Force series, and the Trapped with Him series. You can find out more about her books at her website http://www.julieroweauthor.com. You can find her at www.julieroweauthor.com , on Twitter @julieroweauthor or at her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JulieRoweAuthor

Book preview

Footprints on my Heart

Julie Rowe

Published by Julie Rowe, 2020.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

FOOTPRINTS ON MY HEART

First edition. November 30, 2020.

Copyright © 2020 Julie Rowe.

ISBN: 978-1393970460

Written by Julie Rowe.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Footprints on my Heart

About the Author

The look on Cloe’s face clearly told Gemma Foster that the dog thought she was an idiot. The black Labrador retriever didn’t make a noise or move an inch. Instead, she waited for Gemma to figure herself out—patient, but ready.

Trust your dog.

Pay attention to what Cloe’s body language was telling her.

Trust your dog.

Allow Cloe to navigate all the hazards Gemma herself couldn’t detect anymore.

Trust your dog.

It was the mantra Hank Bryant, Cloe’s trainer, signed and mouthed to her over and over. Gemma had to trust Cloe or having a service dog would do her no good.

Trust was a funny, though. Once it was broken, even if the thing that broke it only took a second to tear your life apart, it was never the same again. Earning that trust back might take the rest of one’s life.

Gemma had had her trust in how the world worked, the decency of people, and the idea that happiness was achievable, smashed by a steel-framed, crumple-zoned, angel-white assassin on four wheels. And its fleeing driver.

Though the altercation was long over, that vehicle came at her again and again in her nightmares. A huge white truck, with the speed of a shark, colliding with her and Marshall’s fuel efficient, compact car.

The car, and Marshall, never stood a chance. How Gemma survived with only one major injury was a miracle. Or so people told her. It didn’t feel very miraculous. The grief she fought through every day wasn’t wondrous. It hurt like an open gut wound, leeching away her strength day by day, until she dreaded getting out of bed every morning.

This morning had been no exception.

Cloe sat on the pavement, her gaze attentive and focused on Gemma’s face.

Yup, the pup wasn’t going to move until Gemma indicated she was ready.

Was she?

This was supposed to be their final exam. Their task, to navigate two blocks of busy New York City foot-traffic, cross two streets, enter Central Park, and present themselves to their trainer Hank and Hank’s canine partner, Tank.

They were standing with one of Hank’s other trainers, stop watch in hand. He’d indicated she and Cloe could start at any time.

That was five minutes ago. But, Gemma’s heart still raced while her head stood stagnate in a soupy fog.

She could do this. She would do this.

Gemma shifted her weight, grabbed hold of Cloe’s harness handle with her left hand and took a step toward the busy sidewalk a few feet away.

Cloe moved with her, but slower, putting physical brakes on Gemma’s too nervous walking speed. Gemma slowed down, smiling at her dog’s head. Cloe was in the zone, her head moving back and forth, keeping track of the people around them, the cars on the street, and the sounds Gemma couldn’t hear anymore.

The fog was never going to lift. She’d never hear another song,