Chapter Four
Emily
“Get the balls!” Hudson yelled.
Four furry bodies charged after the balls we threw. Gigi had been with us for a couple of weeks now and had become an honorary member of our fur family. Luke, Moose, Rufus, and Gigi raced back to us, the yellow tennis balls tucked between their jaws. On command, they dropped them at our feet.
“Good job!” he said, patting each of them with me as we rewarded them with rubs to their heads and ears.
Luke’s giant, lolling tongue dangled from his mouth as he smiled up at us. Of course, he wasn’t really smiling, but for a dog, that’s exactly what it looked like. This dog still yanked at my heartstrings. For as much trouble as he was sometimes, he was just like my boys—wanting love, affection, and praise.
Gigi, in true fashion, sat prim and proper. She hardly needed any commands. Celine worked with her daily on her routine, and part of that was a morning run-through before she took her on a walk.
I jerked my head toward the edge of the fence line. “You want to see who will win?” I asked Hudson.
He grinned, nodding enthusiastically. “I think Moose will,” he said as we moved to the starting line.
“You do? Hmm,” I murmured. “I think Luke will.”
Our racers sat on their invisible markers.
“Okay, on three,” I said to Hudson, then waited for him to count down. We threw the balls as far as we could and yelled “Race!” together.
Four lithe bodies raced for the balls.
Hudson and I clapped, calling to the dogs.
“Whoa!” he said, stroking Gigi’s curls when she arrived before the three boys. “I didn’t know she was that fast.”
“Me either,” I answered, genuinely surprised.
I made a kissing sound to Gigi, one of the things Celine liked to do. Gigi looked up at me and lifted her paw. Luke cocked his head at the sound, then jumped up like he was giving me a hug.
“You’re a good boy, aren’t you,” I said before pushing him off and telling him to sit.
“Dad says he’s psychotic.”
I laughed. “Your dad just thinks he’s hyper. Which he is. But he’ll grow out of it.”
Hudson pet Luke’s head, studying him. Luke licked Hudson’s hand and lifted his paw.
“Are you getting excited for Halloween?” I asked Hudson.
He nodded. “I’m going to be Batman.”
“I’m surprised you’re not going as someone from Star Wars ,” I said. Hudson and Chris were Star Wars enthusiasts. Hudson had an array of toys from the franchise, and his room was a veritable shrine. I added to the décor a couple of months ago, hanging glow-in-the-dark stars all over his ceiling. It was actually one of the coolest rooms I’d ever seen.
“I was Logan the Science Guy last year.”
“From Logan’s Laboratory ?” I asked, just to confirm he was talking about the kid from his favorite show.
His smile told me he was proud that I remembered. “Yep. I’ve already been Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Are you going to dress up with us?”
“Your dad dresses up?” I asked, genuinely intrigued.
“He always gets a costume to go with mine. It’s our thing.”
I chuckled. “Why am I not surprised?” Chris was an amazing dad, but part of me thought he liked to dress up just for the fun of it. He had a young-at-heart kind of vibe. “What’s he going to be?” I asked.
“The Joker,” Hudson said, then immediately asked, “So will you?” His big brown eyes regarded me with hopeful adoration.
“Yes. But don’t tell your dad, let’s surprise him,” I said.
“Okay!” he cheered, holding up both hands for me to give him a double high-five.
“Who’s your favorite girl character?” I asked him.
“Dad likes Harley Quinn. I like Catwoman because of her cats. I wish I had powers like that with dogs.”
“It would be pretty cool to communicate with animals like Catwoman does,” I agreed.
“You kind of do,” he said, looking up at me. “They all listen to you.”
“It took some time and a lot of practice to be able to do what I do. You’re doing great with them, Hudson,” I said. “Someday, you’ll be even better than me.”
Hudson continued to play with the dogs.
I wielded a plan to knock Chris’s socks off with my Halloween costume.
It took me the entire night, but by the time Chris and I were done cleaning up after dinner, I had everything worked out. Tomorrow, I’d hit the stores to find exactly what I wanted.
I was planning my route through town when Luke and Rufus’s barks rumbled from outside.
“Hudson,” Chris said, “can you see what’s going on out there?”
Hudson turned the light on out back and opened the slider. Moose dutifully followed him. Gigi raised her head from her perch, sniffed the air, and then laid her head on her crossed paws, looking like the prim and proper lady she was.
“One of the best installs I paid for,” Chris said, referencing the dog doors that lead from the laundry room to the garage and out to the large dog run out back.
Hudson ran back in, out of breath. “Um, Dad, there’s a skunk out there.”
“What?!” Chris and I yelled together.
“It stinks.”
“Oh no!” I said, running to the laundry room door and sliding the cover into the grooves so Rufus and Luke couldn’t come inside. Not knowing how bad the damage was, I didn’t want them bringing the smell of skunk into the house.
“Hudson, stay in here with Moose and Gigi,” Chris said as we made our way outside.
By the time we got to the dog run, there was no sign of the skunk. However, from the odor lingering in the air, it was very clear that Rufus and Luke had made close contact.
“What in the actual fuck?” Chris said.
Luke cowered in the corner, ashamed of himself. His big brown eyes said, “I’m sorry.”
I felt bad for him.
I felt even worse for Chris.
“This is going to be fun,” I said sarcastically.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“For what?”
“I’m sure Luke brought this on. I told you he’s the devil. Fucking Lucifer!” he hollered, scowling.
I giggled. “I haven’t heard you call him that in a long time.”
Chris had referred to Luke as Lucifer when we first met because Luke was so unruly. He was an absolute handful for several months, but he had potential. I’d witnessed his antics and wild ways for sure. With time, practice, and follow-through, Luke had simmered down—for the most part.
Tonight was proof that he still had some of those precarious puppy tendencies that took time to work out.
“What are we going to do?” His voice begged for me to have some kind of miracle cure.
I didn’t.
I sighed. “Well, we’re going to be up for a while.” It was almost eight o’clock. “Why don’t you get Hudson ready for bed, and I’ll make sure they’re okay?”
“Okay? They’re not okay,” Chris said. “They smell like shit!”
It was impossible not to laugh at his outrage. Chris did not think it was the least bit funny. My laughter did not help subdue his irritation. “Babe, I need to check them over to make sure they’re physically okay. If they got sprayed in the face, we might need to take them to the vet tonight.”
“Christ! I swear to God, Luke, if you have to go to the vet, I just might leave you there, you little shit!”
Luke whimpered. It might have been from embarrassment, but most likely, he understood Chris’s threat and knew his master just might follow through this time.
I pulled on Chris’s hand. “Stop. You’re scaring him.”
“Good! Little fucker should be scared.”
I smacked his arm, hushing him up. Inside, I pushed him toward Hudson, who was full of questions. I said good night to Hudson and laughed as I went to the garage to do some damage control.
My poor man was beside himself.
After ensuring there was no need to go to urgent care, I corralled the dogs and got everything I could think of for bathtime.
I poked my head in Hudson’s room.
The stars I’d hung months ago still glowed brightly all around. I’d covered the walls and ceiling, creating an imaginary Star Wars kind of feel for the little boy who’d become my universe. My heart melted every time I looked at him.
Especially times like right now.
He was tucked under his blankets, his soft, wavy brown hair against his pillow, and his big brown eyes—just like his father’s—fighting to stay awake.
“They’re okay, sweetie,” I said. “They’re going to be just fine.”
“Okay,” he said, his voice betraying his fatigue.
“Goodnight,” Chris said. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Hudson echoed, finally shutting his eyes.