Page 41 of Spicy Nick

While all this is going on, Cole, seated on the couch between Scout and me, is bouncing excitedly chanting, “Uppie! Uppie! Uppie!”

“You are up, bud,” I tell him, frowning in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t think that’s what he’s saying,” Scout says, sounding equally confused. “What is it you want Cole?”

“I think he wants to come over here and open his present,” Kate says. “Is that it, Cole?”

“Yes!” Cole replies as he slips off the couch and runs over to stand beside Seth.

Kate glances at Scout and me and adds, “Don’t you want to see, too?”

“Of course, we do” I tell her. I look at Seth and point toward the coffee table, and ask, “Wouldn’t it be easier if you put it on the table?”

Seth shakes his head. “Honestly? I think it’s better if we do it this way.”

“C’mon,” Scout says, nudging me; “Let’s go see.”

So we get to our feet. Scout circles one way around the table and slips to her knees next to Cole. I circle the other way and come around to stand behind them. After which, three things happen at once.

Cole, still chanting, reaches for the box; Seth lifts his hand away—maybe to stop Cole, maybe not; the cover of the box goes flying off—seemingly by itself. And then a little black dog with floppy ears, whose bright brown eyes are barely visible beneath the white brim of the Santa hat she’s wearing, sticks her head up and looks around.

“Puppy!” Cole shouts, which, I now realize is what he’s been saying—or trying to say—all along, and lunges for the box.

“Hold up,” Seth says, holding him back. “She’s a little too heavy for you to lift by yourself. Better let your mom handle it.”

“Always good advice,” Lucy murmurs quietly, earning her a quick glance from her son, who nods and grins and doesn’t disagree.

“Oh, she’s beautiful,” Scout croons, as she folds the dog into her arms. Her eyes are bright as her gaze meets mine. “Isn’t she?”

“Yes,” I agree, as I come to a crouch behind my wife and slowly reach out a hand for our new dog to sniff. “She certainly is.”

“I can’t believe you made it all the way back down here so quickly,” Kate says to Deirdre. “Thank you so much.”

“Of course,” Deirdre says giving her a quick hug. “Anything for family.”

“I can’t believe you got her to keep that hat on,” Mandy tells her brother.

“That’s because he’s the best,” Deirdre says proudly. She turns her smile on Seth and murmurs, “Dog Whisperer.”

“Oh, puppy, puppy, puppy,” Cole, half draped over his mother—and the dog—continues to sing a happy tune.

“So, what’re you going to call her?” Lucy asks.

“Actually, she already has a name,” Seth says. “I mean, they can change it if they want, but...”

“It’s Luna,” Kate says. “Her name is Luna. And if you look at the markings on her chest, you’ll see why.”

Catching Scout’s eye, I nod. “C’mere a minute, bud,” I tell Cole as I lift him away from her. “Let’s give your mom some space.”

Scout shoots me a smile, then lifts the dog—Luna—turning her so that we all can see.

She’s a mostly black dog, lap-sized now, though judging by the size of her paws, she’ll probably grow bigger. But stretched across her chest is a large white patch that, even to my untutored eyes bears an uncanny resemblance to the Triple Goddess Moon Symbol.

“Wow. That’s really something,” I say.

“I know.” Kate replies happily. “She’s amazing, isn’t she?”

“It’s better than that,” Scout sighs. “It’s perfect. She’s perfect.”

---