Shelter for Adeline Read Online Free PDF

have a seizure Coco would jump up on me, or get in my lap and not give it up. After about the third time he did it, I realized that he really was letting me know that I was about to have a seizure.”
    “Wow,” Dean said with a small smile. “That’s amazing. Bet he changed your life.”
    “You have no idea,” Adeline told him. “Coco allowed me the confidence to travel more, to be able to drive, to go out on dates…in short, he let me live without fear of embarrassing myself for the first time in my entire life. I applied and was approved to make Coco an official service dog, so now he’s allowed to go anywhere I do.”
    “That’s awesome,” Dean told her.
    “I think so. The only thing it didn’t change, unfortunately, was how others treat me. Many people don’t understand epilepsy and are embarrassed when I have a seizure, even a small one. I told Bud in one of our online chats about my disease, and he reassured me that it didn’t matter. But obviously he didn’t understand the severity of my condition, because he acted as if I’d told him I was going to strip off all my clothes and dance naked around the table.” Adeline rolled her eyes.
    “I probably should’ve been upset with the way he reacted when he found out I was about to have a seizure, but honestly, I only felt relieved to learn how he really felt now, on our first date, rather than later.”
    Dean looked her straight in the eyes as he said, “You don’t ever have to worry about that with me. I learned from my sister that what’s most important is the person you are inside. And Adeline, from everything I’ve learned about you today, I like who you are. I hate that you have to go through the seizures, but it doesn’t affect how I feel about you.”
    “Thanks.” Adeline wasn’t sure exactly what she was supposed to say to his impassioned words, but her response seemed to please him because he continued.
    “For the record, just in case my pager goes off before we’re done, I’d love to take you out again…when I’m not on shift and don’t have to be worried about rushing out on you. Can I give you my number?”
    She must’ve stared at him in disbelief too long, because Dean said a bit sheepishly, “I figured if I give you my number, then the ball is in your court, so if you’re only here because you’re still out of it from your seizure or you really think I’m a creeper, you could just delete it the first chance you get.” He was teasing…but Adeline saw a bit of insecurity in his eyes as well.
    Hating that, she hurried to reassure him. “I’m sorry, yes, of course I want your number. And…I’m happy to give you mine as well…if you want it.”
    “Yes. I definitely want it,” he said immediately, and then smiled at her and held out his hand. “Here, give me your phone and I’ll put my number in then just text myself, if that’s okay. That way I’ll have yours too. Easier than both of us having to punch in our numbers.”
    “Sure.” Adeline unlocked her phone and handed it over. Her lips quirked up in a smile when Dean tilted his head in concentration as he punched in his number. She heard his phone ding a moment later.
    “There. All done. Now if I get called away, we can still get ahold of each other and I won’t have to stalk the restaurant in the hopes that you’d someday show back up.” He smiled, then visibly relaxed, changing the subject. “So, you have a sister?”
    Adeline relaxed into her seat as well and nodded. “Alicia. She’s younger than I am and married her high school sweetheart.”
    “And your parents?”
    “Both alive. Like your parents, they’re still very much in love.”
    They smiled at each other for a beat before Dean said, “It’s nice to have good role models, isn’t it?”
    “Very,” Adeline agreed. “But I also know that sometimes people grow apart.” She shrugged. “I would never want someone to stay with me because he thought he had to. I’d be happier divorced than