“You make a good living—better than good living. More than you’d make if you were a vet.”
“Money means nothing to Daddy.” He circled his ankle as if his foot hurt. “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value, he said. Well, Einstein said it, but he believes it.”
AJ would have laughed at the notion—money was his god, the only thing hebelieved in.
Clayton lifted his other foot, twisted it, and winced.
“Why don’t you take your boots off?” Jamie suggested.
He shook his head. “Won’t be able to get them back on.”
“Your songs mean something to people,” she said. “They have value.”
“Not according to the Gospel of Doc Langley.”
Ruth banged on the glass door and they turned their heads. Her assistant’s eyes widened as she shouted something Jamie couldn’t understand.
Clayton slid open the balcony door.
“Another one’s coming,” Ruth said. “But there’s a problem.”
“Jesus,” Jamie muttered as she bolted out the door toward the pen.
“Stand back, everyone,” Nolan said. “This puppy is breeched. The tail’s coming out first.”
Almost instinctively Jamie grabbed Clayton’s hand, and he squeezed it. “Is that normal?” she asked.
“It happens,” the vet said. “Clay, take her to the couch.”
Still holding her hand, Clayton led her to the living room. “Poppy’s in good hands.”
“I think I need to lie down,” Jamie said, releasing his grip. “If anything happens to Poppy it’s on your head.”
“She’s going to be fine,” Clayton said, his voice reassuring.
“You don’t know that.”
She lay on the couch and closed her eyes, reflecting on all she’d done to keep her dog safe. She’d never left her tied up outside a store, always scheduled vaccine appointments months in advance, and insisted on feeding her only the finest, most expensive food. Yet amid all these precautions one unexpected consequence emerged: she got pregnant.
Ruth and Nolan worked as a team—he issued orders and she followed them without question. In the background Jamie could hear themdebating whether to extract the feet or perform a cesarean section. Across from her Clayton sat in a chair with his back turned, and she wondered if all this commotion was causing him déjà vu.
Although it felt like an eternity, Nolan finally said, “No surgery needed.”
Relief washed over Jamie as they waited for Poppy to deliver.
“It’s a girl!” Nolan announced with a small smile.
“Reba,” Ruth said warmly. “Welcome to the world.”
Jamie exhaled. “And Poppy?”
“Perfectly healthy,” Nolan assured him. “She’s done giving birth.”
The apartment settled into a quiet calm, the only sounds the soft squeaks of the newborn puppies and Poppy’s gentle breathing. After washing up, Ruth and Nolan took their seats—Ruth settled beside Jamie while Nolan dropped into a chair next to his brother.
Jamie reached out, offering her hand. “Thank you, Nolan.”
He shook it without hesitation. “Happy to help.”
