Page 54 of When to Call a Blitz

But in the worst possible scenario, Juniper walks out from her bedroom. “Oh you have Theodore?” she asks Heidi.

Heidi grins in response, holding him up “He’s gotten even friendlier.”

I feel the color drain from my face. “Friendlier?”

“Well,” Heidi says, tucking him back into her arms like a god damn baby. “They’re not as mean as everyone says.” I open my mouth to argue, but she cuts me off. “And they don’t carry diseases! Did you know that, Emmett? That’s amazing!”

“What are you doing?” I hiss, gripping the back of the couch.

“Well,” she kisses his head again and I want to gag. “He got caught in that hailstorm the other day and was scared. We took him in and warmed him up.” Heidi smiles. “He wasn’t a huge fan of us at first but he’s been so friendly.”

“And he’s in my house.”

“Yes.”

I blink at her, trying to figure out the best response to having this… thing in my house.

He turns his head back to Heidi, setting it carefully on the curve of her breast.

“Is that thing sleeping?” I ask incredulously.

Heidi looks down, her smile widening as she cradles the thing tighter. “I think so. He’s adorable, Emmett. I really think you’ll grow to love him.”

Before I can say anything, Juniper is in front of her, petting his fuzzy little head.

Fuzzy little head, god dammit Emmett, get your shit together.

“Okay this is a little out of hand,” I say finally. “I assume you guys are going to ask about keeping him and the answer is no.”

Juniper’s eyes whip toward me. “Dad.”

“Juni.”

“Look at him.”

I do. His little ears twitch.

“I don’t think it’s legal to have him,” I try.

Juniper and Heidi look at each other.

“He can live outside,” Juniper says.

I throw up my hands. “Wasn’t he outside when you found him?”

“You could build him a house.”

“That would be owning him.”

“Dad.”

“Juniper.”

“Puh-lease.”

No matter what I say or do, this is going to end badly for me.

Sighing, I watch as Juniper turns to Heidi, reaching her small hand up to run her fingers through… Theodor’s… fur, his small beady eyes closing at the contact.

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