Page 89 of Gabriel & Skye

I kiss her on top of the head and Trinity jumps up, pulling my trouser leg, wanting another hold. “Gently, Trin. The gentlest you’ve ever been. Two hands.”

We arrange the paperwork with the bank info for the adoption fee, while Skye and Trinity play with the puppies. Macey grabs the puppy starter pack with a little ball and her favorite squeaky dinosaur and some food.

I’ve no idea what we’re in for now, but she already suits her name.

We leave soon after, and Skye sits in the back next to Trinity, holding Daisy in a little blanket while she sleeps. My daughter stroking her head so gently, a lump forms in my throat.

I can feel the love in the car all round, and my heart swells.

“Looks like Daisy Bassett is a bit of a hit,” I say, glancing at Skye in the rearview mirror as I turn to make a pit stop at the pet store.

Skye gives me a wink. “I think she’s going to fit in just perfectly.”

* * *

The rest of the afternoon is just as much a blur as the morning. We grab a few things at the pet store — including a little pink collar and lead — plus a water bowl and a food bowl, a fluffy dog bed and some puppy pads for the floor. Plus a whole bunch of other stuff the girls picked out. I’m sure toilet training is going to be fun, but I’ve already decided to get a little doggie door installed next week to make the process easier. The backyard is completely fenced off, so there’s nowhere she can run away to.

We drop Skye back in town so she can retrieve her car from earlier, and she follows us back to our place. Trinity spends the next couple of hours acquainting Daisy around the house, and we make a little nook for her in our mudroom to put the things we bought. Then we try her collar on, and put her little bed in the den.

By nightfall, both my daughter and Daisy are as pooped out as each other. Daisy has taken everything in her stride, not even batting an eyelid about coming home with complete strangers.

I decide to cook us all some pasta, and Skye agrees to stay for dinner. It’s been great hanging out with her all day, and she’s just as good with Daisy as she is with Trinity. Patient and kind and enthusiastic. Is there anything this woman can’t do?

“You know I’m going to have a lot of fun with little Daisy when Trinity is at school,” she says when I open a bottle of wine for us and place two glasses on the counter. I’m also ready to plate up our dinner.

We fed Daisy a little bowl of the puppy food Macey gave us and then took her outside to the lawn area so she could do her business and have a bounce around. We know she’s going to have accidents; all puppies do. Luckily, I don’t have carpets in the bedrooms anymore, and I have plenty of wet wipes and paper towels at the ready.

“You may not be saying that if she does something bad on the floor.” I swipe my hand down my face.

Skye laughs. “It’ll be fine. Macey said they’re smart little dogs. I’m happy to help toilet train her.”

“I may have to pay you extra for that,” I laugh. Now she’s offering to train my dog?

“Yeah, I’m not sure that’s part of my duties,” she jokes. “But you know I don’t mind helping out. She’s so damned cute, Gabe.”

There it is again when she says my name. My heart thuds and my palms start to sweat.

She also causes a stir between my legs, but I can’t think about that ache too much.

I pour us both a glass of wine while Trinity sings Daisy to sleep softly. She’s taken to her fluffy circular bed quite well. It’s a light rainbow color, and she gets lost inside it.

“She sure is,” I say. “I’m glad Trinity’s happy.”

Skye’s eyes dance when she says, “It was so cute the way Daisy looked like she was holding Trin’s hand.”

“They say the dog chooses you. I guess this is a perfect example.”

I hand her a glass and she smiles gratefully. “Thank you.” She pauses to take a sip. “You know, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about last night.”

You and me both. I also haven’t forgotten about that dream I had about her wrapped around me.

“Me either,” I confess.

“Gabe, it was so thoughtful of you.”

“I’ve never taken anyone there except Trin.”

“Why did you take me out there?” she whispers.

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