Rescued By Nova

Chapter 1

My name is Margaret Elizabeth Zeller, but anyone that knows me calls me Maggie. I have always been the responsible one, the one that always seems to have my ducks in a row and be able to stand on my own two feet. I am the oldest of 4 kids and I have spent my entire adulthood making sure everyone else was happy. I guess I never really focused on myself.

For the last 15 years everything has been going exactly according to plan, or at least what I thought was the plan. I have worked that same good paying job, owned my home, and had been in a long-term relationship with a good guy. I worked full time as a vet tech in a great clinic, and volunteered with rescue any chance I could get. I bought my house as a fixer upper, and over the course of the last 5 years have pretty much remodeled the entire house, I have done most of the work myself and have turned it into a pretty awesome little home.

I am part of a decent sized family; I have 2 sisters and 1 brother. I am 35 years old and the oldest of the crew, but I am the only one that isn’t married and doesn’t have a bunch of kids. Macey is 30 and married to Daniel, they have 3 kids. Mandy is 28 and married to Tyler and has 4 kids. And there is Charlie, he is 26, married to Andrea, he is the baby of the family, they have 1 kid with a 2nd on the way. We are a very close family and will basically use any excuse to have family dinner and get everyone together. We all live within an hour of each other and most of the time wouldn’t wish for it to be any other way. But with all of that said, I have always felt like I didn’t quite fit in here. I couldn’t tell you exactly why, I love my family, I just always feel like the odd man out when we are together.

If I had to describe myself “average” would be the word I would use. Average height, average appearance, absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. I have long curly brown hair that is always out of control, the only way to defeat it is to wrap it up in a bun every day. I am on the heavy side when it comes to weight and really have no fashion sense to help me out. I’m surprised I don’t have men lined up at my door just begging for a chance for a date with me.

The only thing I know I can count on day in, and day out is my trusty sidekick, Nova. She is a beautiful solid black German Shepherd. She is 3 years old and my truest friend. When I brought her home, she was only 4 days old, her mom had been hit by a car, and she was the only surviving puppy in the litter. Her previous owner brought her into our clinic and asked if we knew anyone who might be willing to try and save her. I took one look at her and knew I had to try. I worked with her on socialization and basic obedience from the time she could walk, she is the best dog I have ever had. I knew that with Nova was by my side, I could handle anything.

And then there is Liam, we have been dating for 10 years. We have been living together for the last 7 years. We were introduced by some mutual friends. He has a good, steady job. He is the kind of guy you want to bring home to introduce to your family. Responsible, hardworking, easy on the eyes, all around a pretty good guy.

That’s when my predictable life began to change.