Page 13 of A Home for His Omega

Henry thought for a moment. “I do have money I could put into the sanctuary.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “That’s not the point. We want you. Not your money.”

“Are you high?” Henry side-eyed Sam. “I’m just me. I don’t have an education or experience. Nothing worthwhile.”

“You helped us when you didn’t have to.” Sam slid a little closer to them. “You have such a love for all the critters that end up here. That’s the absolute most important thing.”

A sudden weight on his wrist, made him jump. Columbo scooted awkwardly to his forearm.

“Fuck off.” The parrot studied him, head tilted.

“Woof.” Journey grinned at them, tongue hanging out.

Sam chuckled. “Perfect timing, Columbo. See what I mean, baby bumblebee? We all need you here. What do you say?”

Henry closed his eyes, savoring the moment. Sam and Teague needed him. They didn’t need just anyone. They needed him. Henry Powell. Teague trusted him with his dream. It was frightening, but damn, his soul needed to hear those words.

“Are you sure? Remember, you had to teach me how to make a monthly budget. Do you really trust me?”

“We do.” Sam patted Casey’s back. “I told Teague he needed to be the one to ask, but I swear the two of you are experts at dancing around one another.”

Henry winced. “Yeah, we don’t really talk.”

“So how about it?”

The joy building in him was completely unfamiliar. Usually, a responsibility like this would have him running away to one of his favorite resorts, desperate to escape the expectations. That’s what he’d done when his eldest brother, Sterling, had wanted him to work at their father’s company.

I can do this, he thought, amazed. I help them every day and they trust me.

“If you’re really sure about it, then yes.” Henry fed Columbo a treat and watched the bird bob his head. “It’s important to help the animals no one wants. They need love too.”

We all do.

Tomás’s house was a short drive from where Sam and Teague lived. The small cabin was surrounded by trees, a little red barn, and fenced pasture. Neat flowerbeds lined the steps and walkway leading to the front door. Henry didn’t know what kind of flowers they were, but he thought they’d be pretty when blooming. They’d have to be because Tomás had planted them.

“Hey.” Tomás leaned against the doorframe dressed in jeans and a loose, long-sleeved shirt. A small dog with white fur danced around his bare feet.

“Hi,” Henry ducked his head and focused on the dog. “This must be Mitzy.”

“Yeah, she’s good with other animals if you think Journey may want to play with her.” Tomás

Journey woofed from the pooch pouch Henry wore.

Mitzy froze in her dance, sat on her haunches, and gave Journey a sweet look.

“Do you want to play?” Henry asked, pulling his dog from the pouch. The Pomeranian wore a blue and white sweater to match the occasion.

The two dogs sniffed one another a few times, then trotted off into the house.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Henry said, shrugging.

“Come on in. Dinner is almost ready. I made chicken parmesan with gnocci. It’s the nicest meal Papa taught me to make.”

“It sounds delicious.” Henry looked around. “Your house is so cute.”

Tomás’s cabin was neat and cozy, decorated in warm tones with oversized furniture. There were a lot more live plants than Henry had expected. He eyed an especially large fern that sat next to the couch.

Tomás sighed. “It’s too many plants, isn’t it? My cousins, Janelle and Zed, are plant lovers and keep bringing me cuttings from their favorites. I don’t have the heart to tell them I don’t really want any more plants.”

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