I stepped into the foyer and set the carrying case on the floor. “Do you want to meet your foster grand-puppy?”
“Yes.” She gave me a grin. “I’ve been hearing her in the background barking for the last few weeks. Bring her out. But I thought she would’ve been with her owners by now.”
“Yeah, they’re military people. Wherever they are, they thought they could bring her, but when they got there, they realized that it’s not ideal for a puppy. So, she’s still with me.” I bent down and unfastened the lock. I reached into the case and Mocha sidled up to my hand. “This is Mocha Darling. They named her Mocha; I added the Darling part.”
“She’s so cute.” My mother took her from me. “And so tiny.”
Mocha tried to lick her face. “Are you gonna be able to give her back after having her for so long?”
“Right? At this point, she’s mine. They’re gonna have to fight me for her,” I joked. “Nah. If they want her back, I’ll give her to them. But the lady from the agency, Tiffany, thinks they’re gonna end up relinquishing her.”
“She’s sweet, but she better not pee on my carpet.”
“She peed when we got off the plane. I’ll take her out in a little bit.”
“Did Chris Cross fly you and Genesis in on the private jet?”
I rolled my eyes playfully. “You know he did. You know he doesn’t let Gensie or his kids fly commercial.”
“And where is tonight’s game?”
“New York. Day after tomorrow, they’ll head to Philly. Genesis and I are meeting Zy at that game. Will you and Daddy be available to watch your grand-pup?”
She pretended to sigh. “I guess so. We’ll have Chris Cross’s kids. What’s one more?”
I chuckled.
“Well, go get settled, unpack, and all that stuff. I fixed up the room for you. And I made your favorite foods.”
“Fried chicken and macaroni and cheese?”
She smiled at me. “Fried chicken and macaroni and cheese, Ry.” She held Mocha out to me. “Now take your fur daughter and let me go wash my hands. I have stuff to do in the kitchen.”
Feels good to be home, I thought as I made my way up the stairs.
Being home was exactly what I needed. I spent my days either with Genesis at the home she and my brother owned in Pecan Shores or with my mom. I walked Mocha, sat out on the back deck, ate good food, lounged on the over-stuffed sofa watching television, and slept for hours at a time. My mom gave me the injections I needed to prepare my body for the transfer of the frozen embryos. She even agreed to drive me to the reproductive clinic that my doctor recommended in Norfolk when it was time for my levels to be monitored.
When The Bison were playing in Philly, Chris sent a private jet to collect Genesis and me. It was my first game since before I got the negative pregnancy test result. I felt good to be amongst the crowd. The energy was electric and the stadium was rocking because the teams kept trading scores. Finally, Chris and Brixton were able to connect to help The Bison pull away and run the score up. When they pulled off the win, Zyah, Genesis, and I hugged and screeched.
Hours after the game ended, Christian, Genesis, Zyah, Brixton, and I loaded into what looked like a party bus from the outside but was actually a luxury vehicle on the inside and headed toward Pecan Shores. Christian used private jets, but he really wasn’t a fan. And he didn’t trust them at all once the sun went down. So, once we loaded up, we made ourselves comfortable for the five hour drive.
Brix sent me a text.
Solid Brix:
You feeling all right?
Me:
The day is catching up with me.
Solid Brix:
So, you tired?
Me:
Exhausted and I have a headache.
