Chapter 1 #2
Avery patted Gus’s back. He sure hoped so. Gus deserved to find his forever person. Just like Avery had.
* * *
Avery
“Daddy! I’m home!” Avery called after he’d closed and locked the front door behind him. He hung his backpack on the hook by the door before unzipping it and removing his lily.
He turned as Noel, his yellow Lab, ran into his legs.
“I’m in the kitchen,” Jace yelled. “I’ll meet you upstairs.”
Bending over, Avery got a mouthful of hair as Noel jumped around him excitedly. Avery tried to give pats and kisses but Noel was too busy trying to get his own.
Avery loved on Noel the best he could until Noel heard something that snagged his attention and ran in the direction of Daddy. Since Jace was probably making dinner, Noel was most likely looking for some treats. Jace spoiled Noel almost as much as Avery did.
Kicking off his shoes, Avery placed them in the little cubie where they belonged before strolling into the living room. Jared the giraffe was still sitting on the pillow Avery had left him on that morning.
Avery patted Jared’s head before wrapping lily around his neck. He had a routine for when he came home from work and he didn’t need Jared or lily yet. It had been a good day and Avery couldn’t wait to tell them all about it.
He skipped all the way to his nursery, thinking about Grumpy Gus maybe getting his forever person.
The program that they ran required any applicant for a canine companion and service dog to stay in one of the cabins that had been built on site.
For six to eight weeks the veteran had to learn about proper care for his dog as they met different ones to see which canine would be the best fit.
Clint wasn’t going to put the person or dog in a situation that either could be harmed. What they did was too important.
Entering the nursery, Avery grinned as he started at one end of the room and began to greet all his stuffed friends.
He did this every night so that they all knew that he’d missed them.
There were so many stuffies that had been collected over the years that Avery would never be able to play with each one every day.
They didn’t mind. Each stuffie had a name and stayed close to their other stuffed friends so they were never alone.
Avery tried not to play favorites but Jared and Buster Brown were the two that waited downstairs for him to come home from work.
“Hey, baby boy.” Jace strolled into the room wearing a pair of faded jeans and a T-shirt.
“Daddy!” Avery bounced. “I missed you so much!”
“How much?” Daddy asked, stopping in front of him.
Avery had to think what was the largest number he could come up with. When the answer didn’t come easily as his mind was already beginning to regress, he spread his arms as wide as he could. “This much, Daddy!”
Jace blinked and grinned. “That’s a whole lot.”
Bobbing his head, Avery agreed. “It is, Daddy! It’s sooooo much!”
“I missed you too.” Jace picked him up before scrunching his nose. “But you smell like dog.”
“Woof, woof!” Avery said with a giggle.
“Okay,” Jace drawled. “Daddy’s silly boy needs a shower.”
“Bath?” Avery asked. Baths were the best. He could play and splash.
“Hmm,” Jace said. “Did you eat all your lunch today? I can hold off on dinner unless you’re hungry now.”
“I can wait,” Avery assured him. “And I did eat all my lunch. Promise!”
“And your snack?” Jace questioned.
Avery froze. He didn’t want to lie.
“Baby?”
“But Gus loves apple slices, Daddy,” Avery confessed. “He was nervous about maybe finding his forever person. I had to share.”
Jace nodded. “You asked Clint’s permission?”
Avery held up three fingers. “He said I could feed Gus this many.”
“Okay, I guess that does mean that you ate most of your snack.”
Avery was relieved. Daddy packed his lunch and a snack every day but sometimes Avery was so busy that he forgot to eat it. It wasn’t a problem when Clint or one of his co-workers was around to remind him. Today he’d eaten in Clint’s office as they went over applications.
“So Grumpy Gus might have found his person?” Jace asked as he carried Avery out of the nursery and through the master bedroom to the bathroom.
“Clint thinks so. A new guy arrived this morning. We gave him time to settle in and Clint met with him. They were walking the dogs as I left so maybe.”
“And you’ll be okay with that?” Jace asked with concern. He placed Avery on the long countertop and cupped his face. “I know how much you love him.”
“I do love him,” Avery said. “Gus is so awesome that I know the person that he picks is going to be perfect.”
“I’m so proud of you.” Jace kissed his forehead.
“I didn’t do anything,” Avery claimed.
“You believe in Gus. Refuse to give up on him even when he gets a little…grumpy,” Jace said.
“He’s just a little grumpy,” Avery promised.
“I know, baby. Now let me start your bath.”
“Don’t forget the bubbles, Daddy,” Avery told him. Bubbles were real important.
“Would I do that?”
“No, Daddy, you would never forget. You’re the best Daddy ever,” Avery replied truthfully.
Jace chuckled as he walked over to the tub and turned on the water.
Sitting on the counter, Avery kicked his feet as he waited. He watched his Daddy carefully, making sure that Jace didn’t skimp on the amount of bubbles he poured into the water. Immediately the bathroom started to smell like strawberries and Avery clapped his hands.
Grabbing the backet attacked by suction cups to the tile wall beside the tub, Jace dumped all the toys as the tub filled.
“Yay!” Avery cheered. “Good job, Daddy!”
“Thank you, baby,” Jace said as he returned to Avery. “Arms up.”
Avery lifted his arms, allowing his Daddy to tug the T-shirt he wore over his head.
When Jace helped Avery down from the counter, Avery leaned against him.
Now that Avery had finished with all his classes, he could focus all his attention on his work, his Daddy, and their makeshift family made up of good friends.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, boy?”
“I’m gonna play with my friends soon, right?” Avery asked. He felt bad that his weeknights had been dedicated to school and that he hadn’t seen his friends for a couple of weeks.
“Tomorrow night Mitch, Caleb, and Hayley are coming over for a playdate,” Jace told him. “Then you’ll see everyone at your graduation party on Friday. Now that school’s over, you’ll see them more.”
“But they’re not mad?” Avery asked, worried.
“They aren’t mad,” Jace said. “They’re so proud of you. You know that.”
Avery nodded. He did have good friends. And they knew why he had been working so hard.
They’d been to the camp to take the tour and for benefit nights.
Caleb, Mac, and some of them that had lots of money even donated to make sure that the camp ran smoothly.
Best friends Avery could have ever asked for.
“You’ll feel better once you get in the bath.” Jace finished undressing him before picking Avery up and carrying him to the tun.
Avery was set on his feet beside the tub that was nearly full. Jace turned off the water then offered Avery his hand.
Carefully Avery stepped into the hot water and sank down. He didn’t want to get in trouble for letting the water splash out and have his toys taken away.
Picking up his pride rainbow duckies, Avery got them ready to start a race. Jace settled on the side of the tub as Avery began the countdown.