Owen:
Come by after dinner and meet her.
A picture comes through, and my heart sings.
He adopted my sweet chocolate girl.
Wishing I could skip this meal and drive straight to his place, I tamp down my excitement and give his text a thumbs-up, forcing myself to focus on my family and the birthday boy.
Chapter Nine
Owen
Knock... Knock... Knock...
“Owen Swift, open this door right now.”
I can’t help but smile at the sound of the demanding woman on the other side of my front door.
“Okay, girl. You need to be on your best behavior,” I whisper as I kiss the fur ball in my arms on the top of the head. “It’s showtime.”
I open the door to find Daisy holding out a bag that I’m sure has Sunday dinner from Sharon in it. “Take the food and give me the puppy.”
I knew the puppy would get her attention. My reasons for getting a dog were not all Daisy related. If I kept waiting for the right time, I’d never do it. Getting Daisy’s attention is a lovely side-effect.
She brushes past me and takes a seat on the rug in the middle of the living room, where she holds the dog up to get a good look at her.
“What’s her name?” she asks as she kisses the top of her head.
“Maui.”
She’s quiet.
Daisy McKinnon is never quiet.
Her back is to me, so I can’t see her face as she holds the pup to her cheek and nuzzles her.
Needing to see her reaction, I join them on the floor.
“You stole my baby,” she pouts.
She may not be commenting on Maui’s name, but the softness in her eyes tells me what I need to know.
She loves it.
“I didn’t steal your baby. You weren’t going to adopt her, and I couldn’t let somebody else take her. Co-parenting is still on the table.”
Once again, ignoring my last statement, she changes the subject. “Why didn’t you bring her to dinner?”
“She nearly killed me on the drive home. I thought she would just lie in my lap, but she was all over me. I need to find some way to lock her in place before I can go anywhere with her. She looks sweet, but she is a menace.”
“I don’t believe it,” Daisy says as Maui licks her nose.
“Believe it.”
“Never,” she whispers.
“Hey, while you’re here, can you occupy her? I need to set up her crate and attempt to install a baby gate.”
