I raised my eyebrows as the door to the bedroom opened and Charles walked out and into the living room.
He stopped dead when he saw what we were holding. His gaze went from one puppy to the other, then he gave Juno a questioning look.
“This one’s yours, my darling. I hope you’ll take good care of her.”
Charles seemed spellbound by the sight of the tiny puppy in Juno’s arms. Then he glanced at Vincent and Musket.
“Was there a sale? What’s going on?”
Juno stepped forward and held the female pup out to Charles. “Well, funny story. They went to collect this little puppy for you, at my request, and they decided they couldn’t bear to leave the last puppy with the breeder, all on its own.” They gave me a haughty side-eye. “And Nic likes to upstage me.”
“That’s not—“ I protested, but gave up. “Yes, and no, there was not a sale. These little beasties cost a fortune,” I grumbled.
“Are you for real, Juno?” Charles said. “You bought me a puppy? It’s really mine?”
“She’s all yours, darling. You get to name her, and you get to take her out to pee and poo in the night. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Charles laughed and gathered the tiny puppy to his chest, gazing at the three us with wonder. “I’ve always wanted a dog. My parents never let me have one. Thank you!” He pulled Juno into a close embrace that only ended when the puppy wiggled and started yipping because she was being squashed.
“I’ve got everything we need,” Juno said, kissing Charles then nuzzling the puppy. “I stashed it all in the bedroom closet.”
I put my hand on Vincent’s shoulder. “I suppose we’d better get to a pet store and purchase what we’ll need for Musket.”
Charles looked over at me. “You really bought that puppy because you didn’t want to leave it there?”
“Yep,” I said, popping the ‘p’. “I find it difficult to deny Vincent something he wants desperately, and he wanted this little guy. Maybe I’m softer than I let on.”
Juno laughed sharply. “If that’s not the truest statement in the history of statements.”
“Shut up, you. It’s all your fault.”
“Clearly.”
“All right. Let’s leave Charles and Juno alone to welcome their new family member,” I said, turning us toward the door.
We stopped at a Super Pet, and I volunteered to stay in the car with Musket while Matteo and Vincent did the shopping. They came out with two huge plastic bags and a plush dog bed that looked like it would suit a golden retriever.
“I knew this would happen. Does he really need a bed that big?”
“Heisgoing to grow, you know,” Vincent informed me as he kissed the pup in my arms while Matteo stowed their purchases in the trunk.
“What have we done?” I muttered, secretly thrilled but needing to play the part of put-upon father so badly that it hurt. “I know I’m going to regret this.”
“I don’t even care,” Vincent said, starting the engine as Matteo got in the back. “Regret it all you want. Musket belongs to us, now, and there isn’t anything you can do about it.”
I grinned. I turned to the pup in my arms. “And now your Daddy’s asking for a spanking!”
“Only once we’ve got Musket sorted out. I have to set up his bed and his food and water, then take him for a walk and—”
“I see how it’s going to be. I’ll be last on the list now.”
“I’ll have lots of time for spankings…and other stuff. Don’t forget Taylor. He can help.”
I felt a rising panic. “Now listen, both of you. We have Musket now, and Zarah’s going to deliver her baby in the fall. I don’t want any more additions to this family. I can barely handle you allnow.”
Vincent and Matteo smiled benignly as we drove home, and I quietly tried not to freak out, and to accept an unpredictable future filled with promise.
* * * *
