Page 123 of The Making of Marnie Jones

Olivia looked at Kennedy. “Where are the others?”

“Torah came and selected her four soon-to-be service dogs. The other two are with their new families. This little girl is the only one left. “

Dropping to the ground, Olivia scooped the puppy in her arms. “My favorite. She's such a little cuddly one. How did they not select her? She's perfect.”

“I agree, she is perfect,” Kennedy assured her. She raised her eyebrows at Marnie. “Are you going to tell her, or will I?”

“Well, let me phrase it as a question.” Marnie grinned. “Olivia, would you like her to come home with us?”

Olivia's eyes watered.

Marnie’s chest constricted. Had she made a mistake? Misread Olivia’s obvious love for the puppy?

“Are you sure it's okay, Marnie? We can bring her home?”

“There is nothing I’d want more.”

“I'll be the best owner ever.” Olivia buried her face in the puppy's fur and was rewarded with a thorough tongue bath to her cheek. “I’ll love her forever.”

“Well, that's good, because the trunk is full of puppy paraphernalia, and I'm glad I don't have to return it.” Olivia almost knocked her over when she launched herself into Marnie’s arms.

“I love you.”

Marnie held onto Olivia as fiercely. “I love you too, sweetheart. Now, she needs a name—”

“Bianca. Can we call her Bianca?”

Laughter resonated through the barn.

“Bianca is a great name.”

***

Chuckling, Marnie put down the book she was reading.

Jake lay on the floor petting poor exhausted Bianca.

She’d been walked, fed, bathed, and played with. Now she was flopped on her side on the floor, receiving a tummy rub.

“You’re going to spoil her.”

“Never.” Jake was affronted. “There’s no such thing as too many belly rubs.”

As if sensing the moment, Bianca angled her head to give him a kiss.

Marnie cringed, but relented. Monday night, Kennedy’s sister Torah was coming over to give the first obedience lesson. Marnie figured she and Olivia needed lessons as much as Bianca.

“Should I worry Olivia is with Tristan two nights in a row?”

Marnie closed her book, placing it on the side table. “They're going out in a group tonight, to the Mission City Raceway. After that, they're going for coffee. Uncle Jake, they'll be fine. Stop worrying.”

“What about his friends? What do you know about them?”

She left the chair and laid on the floor on the other side of Bianca. “Jake, take a deep breath. I trust Olivia and I trust Tristan. Now I'm asking you to trust me.”

“Touché.” He seemed somewhat appeased and kept rubbing Bianca’s belly.

“Let the girl rest, Jake.” Marnie leaned across Bianca and jokingly punched him in the arm which elicited a mock reaction of pain. She giggled until he swooped in for a kiss. Her eyes drifted shut as his tongue slid along hers. Desire, previously unknown, unfurled deep in her belly. It no longer scared her as it once had.

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