When my fiancé Matt and I took his twin daughters on a vacation, I thought it was a relaxing break before our wedding. But one afternoon, I returned from the pool to find his things gone—and a cryptic note: “I have to disappear. Soon, you’ll understand.” No calls. No texts. Just me and two confused little girls trying to keep it together.

Heartbroken and panicked, I brought the girls home alone. But when we walked into the house, there was something wrapped in a blanket… moving.“A puppy!” the girls screamed, giggling as it licked their faces. I spotted another note tucked under the blanket. Matt had…

Matt had, rushed home to adopt a St. Bernard puppy—because I once told him how my childhood dog, Max, saved me from drowning and was my greatest protector. He couldn’t let someone else take Max Jr.

A moment later, Matt walked through the door, full of apologies and puppy supplies. I was ready to throttle him… then I kissed him instead.Because sometimes love looks like panic, a wagging tail, and the wild things we do for the people (and pups) we adore.