Page 108 of Mommy

I nod, taking the food with a smile. I’m thankful that he isn’t turning this into something bigger than it needs to be. I’m fine. A little hot and all over the place, but other than that? Fine.

“Don’t you have to work?” I ask to change the topic.

Derek shrugs.

“I took the day off. I thought of a solution for the dog’s breakfast-mess and I wanted you to help me.”

Interest sparks inside me, lighting up my face with a smile.

“What’s the idea?”

Derek has been unhappy with the mess Posie makes when she eats and drinks even before the puppies came along and multiplied that chaos. I’m not sure what part exactly bothers him though, the fact that they push the bowl all over the place or the constant water drops on the floor everywhere.

“Have you ever been to Ez’s house?” he asks, watching me a little too intently as I shake my head.

Was that concern in his eyes?

“He has a kind of dining bar for Zero and Popeye.” Derek explains, tension letting go of his shoulders. “It’s part of the kitchen island and I think we could build something similar here for Posie.”

My heart does a little summer sault inside my chest before lurching into a full on sprint that leaves me feeling out of breath. There’s no oxygen left in my lungs to ask the question that fills my thoughts.

Are we keeping her? Does that mean we get to keep Posie?

We haven’t talked about it, really. Officially we only took her for fostering. Or rather, Derek took her in as a foster.

But this? This sounds serious. It sounds like long term. It sounds a little like forever.

“So, let’s call him. He can help build it.” My excitement eats the words up, mushing them together as I race through the syllables.

Derek laughs, full and throaty.

“I don’t think we need his help. It looks fairly easy to be honest. I think we can do it alone.”

We.

The storm inside my chest turns into a full on tornado, emotions swirling and mixing in the strong winds.

“Let’s do it!”

We are both taking a day off today, so it’s the perfect time to work on a little home project.

I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited in my entire life.

Chapter fifty four

Derek

I wouldn’t have expected it, but watching Ivory learn how to handle a drill is the most fun I’ve had in ages.

The giggles she produces every time she almost messes it up are music filling the house and the load of puppies crawling through the living room make the scene all the more memorable.

It reminds me a little of 101 Dalmatians. And for the first time in my adult life, I can see why the owners looked so happy and not just exasperated. Even if Ivory would actually mess something up or the puppies had ruined the work we’re putting in, I don’t think I could do anything but laugh. The sound has been growing in my stomach all day. A flower, ready to bloom.

There is no mess up happening though. At the end of the day, there’s a beautiful new addition to the house and my mind is at ease thinking about feeding Posie and her pups.

Ivory sits on the carpet a few paces away, playing with the puppies to allow Posie a moment of peace while I make tea for the both of us.

Watching her does something to my stomach. Seeing her on her knees, like she was the first time I came to visit her at the shelter.