Page 141 of Barbi and the Villain

“Let us reunite him with his family, then,” Nykander says.

He gets up and opens the door. BonBon barges in, sniffing his way to PomPom and their baby.

He licks the pup before going to PomPom and licking her everywhere.

A smile pulls at my lips at the pretty picture.

Nykander has the same wistful expression as he glances at the happy family.

We stare at them for a while before we turn at the same time. Our eyes find each other, and slowly, he reaches for my hand, covering it with his own.

He doesn’t say anything. But he doesn’t have to.

His gentle smile speaks a thousand words. And this time, it’s not directed to the dogs.

It’s directed toward me.

It dawns on me that the dogs aren’t the only family unit here.

I squeeze his hand.

We are a family, too.

22

“But he’s a puppy! His stomach can’t digest that,” I complain to Mr. Foerie as he gives me a list of foods to give to Ander, our little pup.

“He is already weaned. That means he can start eating hard foods now,” he says with a roll of his eyes.

“But… When PomPom was a pup, she had special puppy food that is not available here. Every time she had some chicken, her poop was soft. And it shouldn’t be soft. Maybe we can make a paste and dry it? That should help, no? We could at least try and?—”

“Miss Barbara. I have tended to my fair share of animals, and they all did fine with meat and rice.”

“But my PomPom?—”

“Excuse me for saying this, Miss Barbara, but that dog of yours is spoiled. I have never in my eighty years of life seen a dog more pampered, as if it were a person.”

I gasp aloud, taking a step back.

“She is a person! How dare you suggest otherwise?”

He raises a brow at me, shaking his head.

“You… You…” I stammer. How could he imply that my PomPom is not a person? She is smart and caring and loyal. She is the perfect girl.

“It is quite clear we have a difference of opinions. Please see yourself out,” he says, turning his back to me.

I stare at him, flabbergasted.

“You’re throwing me out?” I blink.

“I believe that is what I just did,” he replies drily. As he steps away from me, he mutters under his breath, “Never seen such an ignorant, empty-headed female before.”

His voice was low, his words not meant for my ears. But I heard them anyway.

I blink back tears as I find my voice.

“Why are you calling me empty-headed?” I ask in a small voice. “I just want the best for my dog and I offered some suggestions. Why are you dismissing me like this?”

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