She was an eight-week-old Labrador from the same family line as Hayes. I’d spent weeks tracking down where Colson got Hayes, then tracked his pedigree and found a litter of puppiesready to be born. I’d just about hurt myself keeping the secret until our wedding.
Hayes, who had been introduced to the new puppy earlier today, sat by my side, leaning against my leg. He continued to get slower and slower with each passing day, breaking our hearts slowly at the inevitable, but like the good guy he was, he was patient with the new addition to the family.
Colson put out a big hand, hovering it over the puppy’s head before he allowed himself to give her a gentle pet behind the ears.
“What is this? Where did you get her?” He couldn’t take his eyes off of her and it made all those maternal instincts I didn’t usually pay attention to melt.
“She’s Hayes’s great-great-granddaughter.”
Colson’s gaze whipped up to mine. “Seriously?” When I nodded, his eyes took on a shine that told me just how much he loved the gesture. “What’s her name?”
I shrugged, lifting the puppy and placing her in Colson’s arms. “That’s up to you, husband, but I’m partial to Millie.”
Colson’s gaze came right back to me, eyes no longer just shiny but filled with tears. “I love you so much. Always have.”
I nodded, reaching up to kiss him over the head of our new baby girl. “I love you too. Forever.”
And then we got a puppy tongue joining in on the kiss and we broke apart laughing. Hayes joined us on the floor inside the carriage house where we played with both of our fur babies until it was time to put them to bed and crawl into each other’s arms.
