So, he did what his wife needed for a change. It was time for him to carry her. It was such a small thing in the grand scheme of things.
“I think we should keep him,” he said.
That surprised her.
“What? Why?”
Ethan shared.
“He lost his person, and it’s clear he found a new one. Putting him in a shelter likely won’t make him happy. He’s a horse of a dog, and I’m sure he eats a ton of food. We can afford him, and he deserves a chance. Raphael said he was sitting by where his person died. That’s loyalty. I can appreciate that in a dog, and in any animal—human or not. If he chose you, who am I to say no? I can buy shoes. I can’t buy you peace.”
What was this?
Was she having an episode where she forgot where and who this man was?
Was he?
“He was.”
Ethan smiled.
“Well, then, he’s definitely a good dog. If he gets along with our dogs, he stays. If he doesn’t, we’ll foster him until you can find him a good, decent home where he won’t go in and never come out. The last thing I want is for him to be put to sleep because no one wants him, when clearly, someone wants him.”
She lifted a brow.
“And you’re not yanking my chain on this one? You hate dogs. I’m not going to get attached and lose this dog, am I?”
He stopped her.
Yeah, he’d made her miserable, and he could see it. While he couldn’t give her DC back, now, he could give her a little joy in another way.
So, he was honest.
“I like dogs. I hate my shoes being eaten. I realized that you give up a lot. You birthed children. You accepted each person into this family, and you adjusted. My father ran, and you chased. I’ve been difficult for years. You’re staying in a place you hate for me. You’ve never asked for anything, except to get a dog here and there, and I selfishly quashed that. For that, I’m sorry.”
She listened.
“You deserve to have what you want too, Elizabeth. I sometimes get bossy, and that’s not fair. You’re a person with wants, feelings, and desires too. If you want the dog, and he doesn’t try to eat our dogs, he’s yours. Put a dog bed in our room for all I care. He can stay.”
Holy shit.
This was…surprising.
And not how she saw this conversation going.
Not.
At.
All.
“Did you fall down some stairs? Should Chris check you again? Did you hit your head when Jeffrey tossed us around? I don’t know how to handle this.”
He laughed.
“That tells me all I need to know about how I’ve been difficult. I’m sorry for that. Going forward, I’m going to suggest we don’t get more dogs. I’m not ordering you not to. That’s notfair. If you find one that needs a home, then, I’m going to assume that’s the universe putting us on a path. I’m done being the wall, Elizabeth. I want to be the pathway instead.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes.
