Page 89 of Housebroke

“That was delicious. Thanks for including the bacon.”

“Wouldn’t be an awesome breakfast burrito without bacon in it.”

She laughed. “I’ll make a note of that for future breakfasts. Sausage would be good in it as well.”

“I like either.” He reached over to squeeze her hand. “Are you feeling better?”

She cocked her head to the side. “I feel fine.”

“I mean about Freddie. You were so worried this morning. And then I was worried about him and you.”

Her heart did a little flutter in her chest. “Oh. I’m good. And, yes, I was worried about him.”

He leaned back in the chair. “What would you do if someone called today and wanted to adopt him?”

“Today? I’d tell them he’s not feeling well and a meet and greet would have to wait a few days.”

“And then?”

She didn’t understand why he was asking the question. “I guess I’d take him to meet his prospective new parents. Why are you asking?”

“No reason. What about Gordon? What if someone wanted Gordon?”

She snorted out a laugh. “I think Gordon’s a permanent member of my family. Not too many people want to adopt senior dogs.”

“Some people do. Would you give him up? Would you give up Freddie?”

Now her heart fluttered for an entirely different reason. “It’s my job to give them up.”

“It was hard on you to let go of Boo.”

She shuddered in a breath. “It’s hard to let any of them go. Butit’s not like I can take them in and keep them all. I knew that when I first decided to foster. My job is to get them comfortable and happy and confident so that they are ready to be adopted.”

“Huh. You make it sound easy.”

She looked out over the yard where Lilith was lying protectively next to Freddie, who was napping under the palm tree. Gordon and Mitzi were fussing over a toy together, and Penny was sitting on the top pool step intently watching the pool vac snake around the bottom.

“It’s never easy. I love them.”

“What if you could keep them?”

She jerked her head toward him. “What?”

“If you had the opportunity to keep them, would you?”

“There’s no point in even thinking that way since it’s never going to happen. So I just... turn that part of myself off.”

“You know it’s okay to allow yourself to feel things. Even the hard things.”

“I’ve felt a lot of hard things the past few years, Linc. More than my share.”

He paused, then smoothed his hand down her arm. “Of course you have. I’m sorry. I can see why you’d want to shut down your emotions.”

“I didn’t say I was shut down. I feel... things. Just maybe at a less intense level than other people.”

He studied her, frowning. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Maybe because it hasn’t happened to you. Maybe someone hasn’t shattered your heart to the point where you resolve not to feel anymore.”

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