Epilogue
1 Month Later
Ford
“Shh, shh, settle down,” I told Ruby, kneeling next to her and trying to quiet her excited barking. “You’re supposed to be a surprise.” I laughed as she put her paws up on my shoulders and attacked my face with kisses. “Yes, I know, I love you too.”
How could I not? She was the sweetest dog I’d ever seen. I knew it from the moment I met her nearly two weeks ago, when Keegan took me to the dog shelter for the first time. He wanted me to meet his canine friend, and show me the work he did there. He said they could always use more helping hands, and I was happy to pitch in.
We fed, bathed, and walked the animals in the shelter. Keegan pet and talked to all of them, but his obvious favorite was Ruby. He had a special bond with her; he’d brought her out of her shell and taught her to trust. I could feel the love they had for each other as I watched their interactions.
I knew immediately that I needed to support and nurture that bond, which meant getting the dog out of the shelter and home to my boy. Keegan couldn’t have a pet in his apartment, which caused me to quickly knit together a master plan. I’d spent the past two weeks planning, preparing, and buying items in secret. I was proud to say Keegan didn’t suspect a thing.
“He’s here!” I told Ruby when I heard a car door closing outside. My exclamation sent her tail wagging and knocking against the wall. “No, no, you have to be quiet.” She didn’t understand; her tongue lolled out of her mouth as she jumped around eagerly. “I know, I’m excited to see him, too. But you have to stay in here for just a minute, okay?”
I felt guilty shutting her inside the bedroom, but I knew it was only for a short time. I wouldn’t be able to keep the secret much longer.
But all of my focus ripped from Ruby when I heard the front door close and Keegan’s cry of, “Daddy!” call out to me. His voice was shaky and filled with despair.
I ran as quickly as I could into the living room, where I found my sweet boy falling apart. He was still in his work uniform. Tears streamed down his face and he clutched his chest. “Baby, what’s wrong?” I took him in my arms and rocked him back and forth while he sobbed into my neck.
“It’s…Ruby,” he hiccupped. Oh shit, did he find out about my surprise? Does he not like it? Was I totally wrong about what he’d want?
“What about Ruby?” I asked with a grimace, hoping I hadn’t royally screwed something up.
“She’s gone,” he wailed. “I stopped by the shelter after work to drop off some food, and her cage was empty! The other volunteer said someone adopted her today. I’m happy she found a home, but…I never got to say goodbye!”
My heart shattered. I didn’t mean to cause my boy any strife. I wasn’t counting on him stopping there. But it didn’t surprise me that even though he was eaten up with grief, he was still happy to think about Ruby finding a family, even if it couldn’t be him…as far as he knew.
“I think I know something that will cheer you up.”
He sniffed loudly as he shook his head. “I’m sorry, Daddy, but I don’t think anything could cheer me up right now. I-” he jerked and paused when the sound of barking cut into the air. “What…what was that?”
I released him from my grip and told him, “Why don’t you go see? I think it came from the bedroom.”
Keegan sprinted down the hallway, coming to a stop in front of the bedroom. He gasped when the barking sounded again, and he threw open the door. Out bounded sixty pounds of hairy excitement.
My boy gasped and dropped to his knees. Ruby licked the tears from his face, as if telling him there was no need to be upset; she hadn’t gone anywhere, and was right there with him.
“Oh, my sweet girl,” he cooed, hugging her around her neck. “Wait, what is this?” He backed away to inspect her collar. Hanging from the nametag was a silver key. Keegan ran his fingers across it, and looked up at me. “Daddy, I’m so confused.” His intense and fast-changing emotions weren’t allowing his brain to wrap around what was happening, and he needed my help to understand.
“I’m the one who adopted Ruby,” I explained, even though that part was probably obvious. “I wanted to surprise you. I didn’t know you’d be stopping at the shelter. I would never upset you on purpose. As for the key, it’s yours if you want it. It’s to this house, which I want to share with you. I want to make a home with you and Ruby. I want you with me all the time. I want to spend every day making you laugh and watching you play, and every night making love and snuggling you close. I want everything with you, but only if it’s what you want too.” As Daddy, I took the lead, but I would never force him into anything.
“It’s everything I want!” Keegan rose to his feet and leapt into my arms, and Ruby barked happily as she circled us, wagging her tail like crazy. “I can’t wait to live here with you and spend every day together. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Without a doubt, and with everything I was.
I kissed him deeply, and when I pulled away, Keegan sighed and nuzzled his head against me. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“So have you, baby.” Keegan gave me purpose and joy. He completed my family and filled my heart with more love than I ever believed it could hold. My arms were wrapped around my entire world, and I was never letting go.
Thank you for reading “Pretty in Pink”!