Chapter 51
Ileft Allie covered in puppies while I disappeared for a quick secret mission with Meg and Luna. The jeweler was pretty equidistant between the three of us so we met there. Meg had been excited after our discussion, and while I knew Luna was probably still a bit skeptical, she had still agreed to come and I counted that as a win.
We all immediately gravitated to the gold options, ignoring the platinum completely.
One of the staff approached us. Hello and welcome. What can I help you find today?”
“An engagement ring.”
“Two?” he asked. “For these lovely ladies with you?”
Luna snorted. “We’re just the second and third opinions, not the recipients.”
The staffer nodded in understanding. Are there any particular styles youre looking for? Do you know their ring size?”
“Size six for her ring finger.”
“How do you know that?” Luna asked.
“I asked her mom for all her jewelry sizes.”
“What can you tell me about the woman youre proposing to? That might help us narrow down some styles.”
“I need something as sweet and beautiful as her. Bold, bright, definitely with some color.”
“Most brides actually want a diamond, even if they’ve said otherwise. She’ll be disappointed if you get something else.”
“Absolutely not. She has enough sparkle on her own; she doesn’t need a diamond just because it’s tradition.”
“Sidney’s right,” Luna piped up. “Allie would love something more unique.”
“I agree,” added Meg. “If we did go with a diamond, it would have to be something with more pizzazz.”
The staffer tapped his chin. “Hmm, what about something with a mix? Do you know what color she’d prefer?”
“Red is her favorite,” I told him.
He looked through a few of the trays. “We have a few red stones on hand. Red diamond, ruby, red beryl, which is also known as red emerald. Is there a specific accompanying color you’d like? Clear stones tend to make the central gem shine, but we can cater to the bride’s preferences.”
“What do you think?” I asked Meg and Luna. “Gold and red already look great together. Would it be too much to add a third color?”
“What about playing with shape instead of color?” Meg offered.
That lit up something in the staffer’s eyes. He pulled out one tray and slid a ring onto a display piece for us to look at. “How about this one?”
The red stone in the center was shaped like a heart, and the gold band around it was formed into tiny leaves with minuscule diamonds added in strategically to give it extra sparkle. I could already see it on Allie’s finger, the stone matching her favorite lipstick, the diamonds glittering just like her eyes when she was happy.
“What stone is this?”
“Red beryl, or red emerald, depending on which name you prefer. The smaller stones are diamonds.”
It was beautiful, whimsical, and sweet just like Allie. I glanced between Meg and Luna. “Thoughts?”
Luna’s expression was so soft and filled with longing as she stared at it, but it lasted only a half second. I’d never seen her look like that before, and it made me wonder how much of a wall she’d built against the world for it to only sneak out a second at a time.
“I think she’ll love it,” Luna replied.
“She definitely will,” added Meg.
“Okay, then, if we’re all in agreement, I’ll take this one.”
“You’re also in luck that this is already a size six so we don’t have to worry about resizing anything.”
I walked out of the store with the ring in a velvet box and took the ladies for a quick lunch.
“Thank you for coming with me.”
Luna eyeballed me. “Thanks for wanting us there.”
“Do you have any plans for the proposal?” Meg asked.
“Is it too cliché to have it served on top of a dessert at a fancy restaurant?”
“Not too cliché,” said Luna. “Mostly because Allie would love that. Combining sweets and sentimentality? You’ve got a recipe for a happy omega.”
“There’s a gorgeous French place we’ve walked by a few times she always looks longingly at, but the reservation list is a mile long,” Meg told me.
I pulled up the restaurant on my phone, knowing exactly which one she meant. “This one?”
“That’s it!”
“I actually have a reservation for it. She was all starry-eyed over it on one of our walks the week after we bonded, so I just made a reservation for it that night. It’s coming up in a few weeks.”
“Perfect timing, then.”
“Can I ask you two something?”
“Sure, whatever you need,” said Meg.
“Any secret tips for helping Allie through grief? She’s having a really hard time with the fosters getting adopted.”
“I wish I had something to tell you.” Meg sighed. “Our girl has a big heart and bigger feelings. Is the little pit bull up for adoption?”
“He is. He could officially be taken home this weekend.”
Meg perked up. “Really? How would I apply to adopt him?”
“I’m glad you offered,” Luna said with a laugh. “I’d have considered adopting him just for Allie even though I am not a pet person.”
Relief filled me at the idea that Meg might want to adopt Prince. That was as good as it could get for Allie’s first foster. “I’ll send you a link to the rescue’s adoption page. There’s a form you can fill out and I can let them know you’re top of our list for candidates. You’re not thinking about it just so Allie can see him, right?”
Meg shook her head. “That’s just a perk. I wasn’t going to get a dog until I was done with my PhD, but I think getting one now would be way better for my health and actually get me out into the sunlight once in a while.”
“Heaven knows you need to be extracted from your apartment half the time.” Luna laughed. “If a dog is what it takes for that to happen more often, I’m here for it.”
“They’re definitely good for that,” I replied. “This should be great for everyone. Let me know when you’ve submitted the form and I’ll email the rescue.”
“Already done. I couldn’t wait.”
I opened up my email and quickly typed up a message to let them know to look out for Meg’s application and that we’d love for her to adopt Prince. “Awesome, email sent. Let me just grab some lunch for Allie and we can all go about our days.”
I thanked Meg and Luna again for coming out with me, and headed home with a fresh sandwich for Allie.
When I arrived home, I set the food in the fridge and glanced out through the patio doors. Allie was sprawled in the grass while the puppies ran circles around her. Eager to soften the blow of the coming weekend, I took myself straight outside. “I have good news.”
“Is it that we won the lottery and we’re gonna start a puppy sanctuary and keep every puppy that comes to us ever?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the earnestness of her tone and the shining hope in her eyes. “Not quite, but we got an application for Prince I think you’ll like.”
“Who?”
“Meg.”
Allie bolted upright, scaring the bejeezus out of Biscuit, and sending her tumbling backward. “Meg’s going to adopt our baby? I really do get to be his auntie?! Oh my god, this is amazing. Princey, Mommy’s still going to get to see you!”
Although Prince had no idea what she was saying, he scampered excitedly over to her and flopped onto his back to expose his belly. Allie kissed all over his face while she gave him some tummy scratches.
“She still has to get approved, but since we’re fostering and we can give her an endorsement, there’s basically no reason she wouldn’t get him.”
“I wonder if Luna would adopt one of the B’s…”
“Luna does not strike me as a dog person. Maybe cats, if she wanted any animals at all.”
Allie huffed out of breath. “You’re right. She’s never had pets so she doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
“You have time to figure it out for the other babies. Let’s focus on Prince right now. Did you already do his training for today?”
“I totally did. Princey, do you want to show Daddy what you learned?”
He kicked his legs and wiggled in the grass.
“Sit.”
Prince perked up and rolled onto his stomach, parking his butt in the grass.
“Oh my gosh! Who is the sweetest, smartest, bestest baby boy in all of history? That’s you!” Allie pulled a treat out of her pocket and fed it to him.
We were still years away from it, but she really was going to be the cutest parent in existence. I hadn’t lied to her about loving her more each day, and sometimes it felt like my whole chest was going to explode when I looked at her. Seeing her share the trials and joys of fostering with me was soothing an old itch I never thought would be scratched.
This life wasn’t an easy sell for a lot of people. Loving on the babies was easy, but everything else that came along with it required a specific sort of person and I was continuously relieved she seemed to be one of them. I wasn’t too worried about her attachment to Prince. I was the same with my first foster, and so was pretty much every other foster parent I had ever met.
“How do we make sure that Meg gets him? Should we have her over for a play date?”
“I’ll contact the rescue and let them know that we know her. They’ll do a home visit to make sure she understands what she’s getting into and that her home is safe for Prince. Once that’s all squared away, she’ll be able to pick him up from us.”
Banjo yipped behind her for attention and she twisted around to scoop him up, planting a kiss on the top of his head. “Yes, my little Banjo baby? Are you starving? So neglected. Are you going to wither away having absolutely nothing since your last snack?” She held him aloft in my direction. “Banjo is ready for a snack.”
I chuckled and helped her gather everyone up to bring them to eat, holding her at my side while we watched them inhale their food.
“I’m definitely going to take the little B’s to work. Maybe I should get them tiny vests that say adopt me on them.”
“It’s definitely a good marketing gimmick,” I agreed. “I’ll set you up with an info packet and a QR code people can scan to fill out the adoption forms.”
“I know I was crying about this not that long ago, but I actually feel kind of exhilarated now.” Allie stood on her tiptoes to kiss me before dropping to her knees to pet everyone. “I’m gonna get you all the best homes ever.”
She certainly gave it her best effort. I got her set up with the puppies at her job, and on each of her breaks she walked the three of them around, collecting names of coworkers who were immediately charmed by the pups. Every time someone took a card she excitedly texted me to let me know.
Allie:
A few people want specific breeds
Do I just direct them to the rescue side?
Sidney:
Yep. There’s a notification system if a specific breed gets processed
Allie:
Cool beans
I feel like I could get the whole building to adopt after a while
Sidney:
I have no doubt about that
By the time Prince’s adoption day rolled around, Allie had worked through all five stages of grief. It helped a lot when Meg got approved as the adopter, but Allie was still reconciling that we would take Prince over and he wouldn’t be coming back home.
“I got his favorite toy, and his collar, and I wrote down the instructions for his favorite toppings on his food. Usual bathroom schedule, commands he knows…What else do I need to tell her?”
“I think that’s plenty for now. If she has questions, she knows where to find you.”
“But I want this to be perfect for both of them.”
“You’ll make it as good as you can. It’s going to be weird for everyone. Prince will have to get used to his new home and his new mom, Meg will have to learn all about her new puppy, and we’ll have to adjust to him not being here.”
Allie smoothed his fur and sucked back a sniffle, scooping him into her arms when the doorbell rang.
I let Meg in, her dark eyes bright with excitement and her hair pulled into a bun—a wise choice, considering how much Prince liked to chew hair.
“Princey, your new mommy is here.”
Meg beelined to Allie and the puppy, kneeling next to them. “Hey there, double cuties.” She hugged Allie and pet Prince.
Allie burst into tears, and I joined them on the floor, pulling her into my arms and handing Prince to Meg so she could start getting to know him. Allie snuggled into my chest and curled her fingers into my shirt.
“I know,” I murmured to her. “But Meg and Prince are going to have so much fun together and you can see both of them whenever you want.”
Allie nodded in silence.
The other puppies howled from the nursery, sensing that we had a guest. “Do you want to check on the other babies and I’ll get Meg situated with Prince?”
She swallowed hard and sniffled. “Okay, but I’m letting them all out of puppy jail.”
I gave Meg all the information on Prince, and packed his bed, blanket, and toys into a box for her. The other puppies barreled out, excitedly sniffing our new arrival.
“Oh my goodness. If I didn’t have an apartment, I might have to take all four of you home.”
“Definitely better to start with one,” I said with a laugh. I walked Meg through the basics of puppy care, talked about the obedience classes the rescue offered to adopters, and discussed his food and the growing exercise needs that would have to be met.
“Honestly, this sounds great. I’ve been slacking on the contact with other living things and getting outside.”
We took a family trip over to Meg’s, the baby B’s in a carrier in the back seat, and Prince in his own carrier that would stay in his new home. Allie seemed much more content once she was in Meg’s space, arranging Prince’s things where she thought he might like them best, and pinning up the information she had written down onto Meg’s fridge.
“I’ll take really good care of him,” Meg promised. “You don’t have to worry about a thing. Come over anytime you want, or I’ll bring him to visit.”
I knew Allie would cry when we finally left, but it still broke my heart. We detoured to get some fancy frozen coffee drinks and a cup of whipped cream for the babies to share. Their climbing all over one another to get a taste helped her mood and coaxed a small smile to her lips.
“How do you feel?”
“Sad, but okay. I just love him so much, but I know Meg will be good for him. I know I have to get used to it, because I have three more coming in less than a month, and who knows how many more after that. I think I’m gonna have to get really good at hydrating once they start hitting around their adoption age so that I don’t turn into a raisin from all the crying.”
“That’s not a bad idea. Be as sad as you need to be, and just hold on to the fact that Prince is going to have the best life because of you. Same for the baby B’s. You’ll be their first human mom no matter how old they get.”
That got her crying all over again. “I’m so full of feelings.”
“You are,” I agreed. “It’s one of the things I absolutely love about you.”
“Really?”
“Mhmm.” I nodded. “You have a big, beautiful heart, and I’m grateful every day that you opened it to me. The world needs more people who love as large as you do.”