Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Can we see her?” I ask instantly.
“Yes, come this way.”
We follow the woman through the door, down a hall, and into a large room with more cages. I hate the cages.
“Here she is.”
In the back corner this predominantly gray fluff ball sleeps. I crouch down and let out a low whistle. “Hey, girl.” She picks her head up. “Come here.” I look at the employee. “Can I go in?”
She nods and undoes the latch. Peyton and I walk in just as the pup stands.
“She’s huge, Noah.”
“She’s perfect, Peyton. She’s still a pup and we can train her. Their temperament is perfect for a family. They’re non-aggressive, loyal, and very smart.”
“I won’t be able to walk her on my own when you’re working.”
I scratch under her chin. “I’ll train her to stay at your side. If that doesn’t work, we’ll hire someone, but everything in me says she’s going to be perfect.”
“How do we get her?” Peyton asks the woman.
“We run a full background check on you before we agree to adoption.”
“How long does that take?”
“A day or two. Sometimes three.”
My heart sinks. I continue to focus on this girl and the way she’s loving the attention she’s receiving from me.
“How can we make one happen within the next thirty minutes?”
“Um . . .”
“A sizable donation?” Peyton suggests. “Your adoption fee is three hundred. I’ll add a zero if you run the background checks on us now so my husband can take that little girl home.”
“Did you just tell me you’d give me three-thousand dollars?”
“We’ll double it,” I say, without looking over my shoulder. “My wife has all my personal information to get this started.”
“Okay. Well, in that case, follow me right this way.”
Peyton and the woman leave. I stay in the cage with this sweet angel. She hasn’t jumped on me once, nor has she bitten me. While sitting there, I look in her mouth at her teeth and gums, check her paws and belly, pushing on spots I’ve seen other vets do on television.
“Well, you look healthy, but we’ll take you to the vet anyway.”
She sighs and leans into me.
“You need a name,” I tell her. “Not sure how we’re going to come up with one since your new mom has asked me to come up with a list of names for our new baby.”
At the word, baby, her ears perk.
“Did whoever have you before have a baby and then drop you off here?” I pet her head, scratch behind her ear, and then nuzzle her. “That won’t happen with us,” I tell her. “You’re going to have a big family. You can swim every day, run in the sand, chase a ball, and have a best friend in Beau.”
I know it’s probably wrong for me to talk to her like she’s already mine, but I’m unwilling to leave her. This is a sign. From whom or what, I don’t know, but it has to be.
Peyton returns an hour later. “Let’s go.”
I don’t move. “Is she coming with us?”
My wife keeps her expression stoic. “You’re looking at our first child,” she tells me.
A smile spreads across my face. I pump my arm in the air, startling the pup. “Look at that, you’re coming home with us.”
“First stop is the pet store. We need everything.”
I scoop the pup in my arms and take her over to Peyton, who dotes on her. “Please don’t steal my husband.”
Moving the dog slightly out of the way, I lean down and kiss Peyton. “I love you. Thank you.”
“You better be right about this, Westbury.”
“Oh, I am.”
We thank the woman as we leave. Peyton climbs in and takes the puppy from me, while I slip onto the driver’s seat. On our way to the pet store, I say, “She needs a name.”
“She does. I say we post her photo online and let your fans decide on what her name should be.”
“Oh, this ought to be fun.”
“Famous last words, Westbury.”
At the stoplight, I look over at Peyton and our new puppy. Peyton’s loving her, just like I knew she would. Now, all we need is for tomorrow to be just as good as today.
13
PEYTON
Noah’s on the floor with Stevie Nicks, playing with her tug toy. It’s her name for now until something else sparks interest. I like it though. It’s not Stevie, but Stevie Nicks and she seems to respond well to it.
Night one was interesting, and I think it is somehow preparing us for when we are parents. I know a puppy and a baby aren’t even close in how they’re going to react, but I imagine the crying at night and wanting to be held are somewhat similar.
We bought training books and a DVD, which we watched as soon as we arrived home with the multiple hundreds of dollars we spent at the store on dog-related items. Stevie Nicks is already expensive. Who knew dogs needed beds in every room of the house? I didn’t and neither did the clerk at the store who asked why we have so many beds in our cart. I looked from the clerk to my husband and shook my head. With what we paid for everything we bought for her, she’s pricey. But she’s worth it. Noah’s in love with her, and she seems smitten with him.