“What?” Had she just said—
“One will be lonely. See if you can get another one. But,” she added, “you get to clean up the backyard. And help with taking care of them. I am not doing it all. You and the children are going to be heavily involved. Promise—or that dog is going back.”
Zack leaned down to kiss her. “I promise. Who’s the softy now?”
“I guess we both are.” She took his hand and placed it on her rounded stomach. “I think the girls approve too.”
He smiled, feeling one—or was it both—of the babies kick. “I’d better get a boy. Cody and I are going to be outnumbered as it is.”
“We thought of a name!” Cody and Katrina trooped up the stairs holding the wiggling puppy. “We wanna call her Coco.”
“That sounds good. But Mom says we’re getting another one. So think of a boy name too.”
“Yay!” After a whispered consultation, during which the puppy peed on Zack’s foot, Cody and Katrina came up with another name. “We wanna call the boy dog Scooby.”
“Scooby and Coco sound perfect,” Laurel said.
“I’d better call him and make sure there’s another boy.”
“I’ve lost my mind,” Laurel said. “I’m blaming it on pregnancy hormones.”
“It’ll be great. Don’t worry.” Zack leaned down and kissed her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Laurel said. “Now go get that other puppy.”
He had it all now. His beautiful wife, his kids, all four of them, a career he loved, and puppies. What more could a man ask for?
The End