Chapter 40
CHAPTER FORTY
Finn
“Sophie.” I walk into the kitchen and trip over another pile of chew toys in the middle of the floor.
I stop, slowly taking in everything around me that wasn’t there when I left.
Freshly washed food and water bowls drying on the counter.
An assortment of treats in chicken and beef.
Another bag with bones and a dog bed sit on the table halfway hanging out of a big bag from a pet store in Montgomery.
“Sophie,” I holler once more than hear a bark echo from the backyard and my heart feels like it stops. “She didn’t,” I say as my feet start to move.
Pulling back the curtain on the window above the sink I see a streak of white go running across the backyard and my shoulders sag in defeat.
“She did,” I mumble, hanging my head in defeat.
In her defense I did say build our home. Apparently that includes a furball I didn’t know we needed.
Another bark, followed by a second one and my heart races.
“No, she didn’t.”
I step out the back door and onto the patio to find both Jillian and Sophie sitting in the grass as not one, but two, puppies jump around them happily. They are barking and playfully biting making both the girls laugh.
I stand watching, neither of them aware that I am there.
I can’t help but smile too, seeing how excited Sophie seems to be. She is loving this and though this morning when I left a dog, or two dogs I should say, were the last thing I expected to come home to tonight.
Dogs are messy and they chew things. They require continuous observation and potty breaks. But her face and that smile make it all worth it.
But two, really? She had to get two?
“Are you mad?” Sophie asks and I glance back at both ladies who are now watching me. Sophie worrying her lip and Jillian with not a care in the world as she leans back and both puppies leap into her lap.
“You look mad,” Sophie adds and I take a few steps toward them and lower myself to my knees. The two fireballs decide I’m their new chew toy and instantly shift gears, bolting in my direction. One after another tug on the edge of my shirt, nip at my hands, and bark over and over.
I hear Sophie and Jillian giggle.
“Not mad, babe, just surprised,” I tell her as I pick up the smaller of the two. “One wasn’t enough?” I ask, looking over at her to catch the tail end of her rolling her eyes as she glances over at Jillian.
Then she looks back at me noticing I saw and smiles at me.
“I did only get one,” she states. “It just so happens that Jillian got one too.” Shrugging she smiles at me.
“Two sisters. The last two and they looked so sad. Jillian decided instantly that she wanted one, and when I saw the last puppy sitting in the crate all alone it broke my heart. I couldn’t just leave her there. ”
“You could have,” I say, looking at the two still wildly jumping around and imagine the scene she just played out. Truth is I probably would have done the same thing.
“So which one is ours?” I ask and she points to the raptor currently chewing on my boot.
Scooping her up I turn her around and notice how she has multiple different shades of coloring.
Brown, black, almost a silver blue, and white, but one eye has a patch around it, and the coloring of her eye itself is brown, while the other is blue.
She is mostly white but the coloring is unique.
“Australian Shepards,” they answer my silent question. “That is Lily and this,” Jillian picks up the second one who’s coloring is pretty close to the same, “is Rose.” She snuggles the puppy kissing the top of her head before releasing her little wiggling body once more.
Rose’s coloring is more brown and white with a few patches of black. You can definitely tell them apart.
“Aren’t they sweet?” Sophie asks hopeful. “Before you ask, they are crate trained and do very well. The breeder started working with them immediately.”
“They’re just shy of six months old. And they love each other so much. You should see them nap, they are all snuggled together so sweetly.”
“You two plan this all out?”
“Plan what?” Sophie asks me and I arch a brow, knowing they did.
“This speech, you rehearse it with each other? The what to say, what not to say.”
“It was an accident,” Sophie says with a sigh.
“We were walking down the sidewalk after grabbing a coffee. I wanted to look at the cute little shop around the corner for some things for the house. We were talking and rounded the corner then the little barking hit us. There they were all cute, soft, and cuddly. Both jumping up and down, practically screaming pick me.”
“So we did, and I think it’s adorable, because they can play together. They aren’t separated and they’ll always have each other.” Sophie shrugs and scoops the one I now know is ours.
Lily.
“Welcome home little lady.” I reach out and pet her head.
“You too, little one.” I toss a toy to Rose who is still sitting on Jillian’s lap.
She leaps off, going after it and rolls as she tries to stop.
Her sister chases after her and suddenly the two are forgotten as they decide to chase each other instead.
Back and forth, round and round as we all watch.
Both girls smile happily and Sophie glances over at me. She mouths a thank you and I offer a wink.
I never imagined this was where I’d be. A new house, a girl I love, and a puppy.
Jillian and a second puppy as a bonus. My family was growing and though I may try to put on like I’m hard and stern, I’ve become nothing but a big softy inside.
At least when it comes to my girl, because truth is I’d give her just about anything in the world if it meant she’d smile at me the way she is now.