Page 33 of All I Want For Christmas

But she paused on the first step. She wasn’t sure she could face the bed alone just now. It was always hardest right after he left. Sometimes the boys would cuddle with her in the big king bed for the first couple of nights when they were all missing him acutely. But they were deeply asleep. And they might not always do that. They were getting older after all.

Before she overthought it, she turned and headed for the kitchen.

General looked up at her from his kennel.

“So,” she asked the German Shepard. “How do you feel about sleeping on the bed?”

He woofed softly.

“Excellent.” She unlatched the kennel and he followed her up the stairs. She patted the foot of the bed and he jumped up. He settled down after she slipped back under the covers, a warm, comforting weight against her calf.

She stroked his head and he gave a deep, contented sigh. She reached her phone. She took a picture and texted it to Matt.

General thinks I’m nice.

Matt’s reply was quick.Thank you. I just won $20 from Dana.

She smiled.Why?

Dana thought you’d last two days before he got on the bed.

Lindsey laughed.Well you know me, I’m a sucker for a big, warm body in this bed with me.

I think the word is EASY, babe.

She fell back to sleep with her dog against her leg, her phone against her heart, and a smile on her face.

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