It Started With a Dog

By Rachel BlairSanchez

As an elementary school teacher and her loyal dog try to settle into their new neighborhood, the pandemic forces everything to come to a halt. With schools closed and the world adjusting to a lockdown, a chance encounter with a man walking his canine companion sparks a connection proving love can bloom in unexpected ways and in uncertain times.<

• Language: English
• Publisher: J & J Ranch Productions
• Release date: Oct 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798895894057

Book preview

It Started With a Dog

By: Rachel Blair~Sanchez

J&J Ranch Productions

© 2024 by Rachel Blair-Sanchez

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine or journal.

The final approval for this literary material is granted by the author. First Edition.

It Started With a Dog is a work of fiction. All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

ISBN: 979-8-89589-413-2 (Paperback); 979-8-89589-405-7 (eBook) PUBLISHED BY J&J RANCH PRODUCTIONS

www.JJRanchProductions.com

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Retail Price (SRP) $19.95 (Paperback); $5.95 (eBook)

It Started With a Dog is printed in Chaparral Pro

In loving memory of Roman.

It Started With a Dog

Contents

Intro

To Move or Not to Move Meet the Neighbors Brown Eyes

The InterrogationPorch Conversations Quesadillas & Ice Cream Inseparable

Exclusive Pool Day

First Kiss Baby

Run-dezvous

It’s a Lawn Story

Dog-emies Car Detail

Chivalry Isn’t Dead Meet the Parents Birthday Trip

Love Notes

T.P. Wars Keys Please

Holidays

I Knew He Loved Me

Valentine’s Day Mike’s Birthday One Year

Let’s Celebrate! Will You Marry Me? Sneaky, Sneaky

Let the Plans Begin

Tu Eres Mi Sueño Hecho Realidad Yes to the Dress

The Cake The Big Day

This Will be an Everlasting Love

Intro

I never would have imagined this happening to me, much less in the way it unfolded. I thought it would be the usual, run of the mill, joining of two lives. You know, the boy meets a girl at school and they fall in love, etc. Or nowadays on a dating website or app. However, I’d like to think that God has a great sense of humor because only He could orchestrate something as unique. When they say it’s a small world, it can actually be even smaller than you realize. No matter how unlikely it may seem, love will find you when you least expect it, even during a pandemic.

This is our story and it started with a dog.

To Move or Not to Move

After the loss of my grandfather, I moved into a small starter home in the Houston area. I had lived with my grandparents on and off since I was little. However, I was very nervous because I had never lived on my own. I was so grateful for my dog, who was only a puppy at the time. I’ll call her B. B was a Boxer and grew to be my constant companion. Over the years we went through so much together – jobs,

losses, and even Hurricane Harvey. I’ve always had a love for dogs, though. I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have a dog. I took B everywhere I could, even to Wal-Mart. I know dogs aren’t allowed, but hey! B was a gift for my birthday one year, and she was one of the best gifts I had ever been given. Everyone who knew me knew about B. We were a team and I loved my sidekick. Unfortunately, a couple months

after Harvey hit our state, her health dramatically declined and I had to make the most difficult decision of putting her down. I was teaching elementary school at the time as we were rebuilding from it. Westayed with neighbors while our place was being renovated. She made it to eleven years old, and I was grateful to be able to celebrate that last birthday with her. The loss of B hit me pretty hard. I always incorporated her into my lessons and so forth. My students were even able to meet her. Her loss was not only felt by me but also by my students. They wrote letters and made cards for me when I returned.

Months had passed since B left and it was pretty lonely. I missed hearing the sound of paws click-clacking on the floor and someone to snuggle with. I missed runs and walks, and most of all the

companionship. I knew that another dog couldn’t replace her, but I realized it would do my heart some good. So, I started searching the internet and asking around about puppies. I knew I wanted another boxer. They have been my favorite breed since I was little. I owe my

love for them to Kellie, our first boxer in the family. The choice would be to buy a puppy or to adopt one. I figured that I would try the adoption route and found a local boxer rescue, Lone Star Boxer Rescue. I was able to look at pictures and learn more about the dogs through their website. One Saturday, my neighbor and I went to the boxer rescue site and met some of their adoptees. The rescue had a few girls and boys. We