Page 48 of Stutter

We stop at a diner, the only thing open, and order double bacon cheeseburgers and fries to-go. I dip into the bag every now and then to steal a fry, feeding my love fries, his lips lingering alittle too long on my fingers and fuck if it doesn’t make me want him.

We make it home just as the snow is accumulating, at least three inches has gathered on the snow that was already on the ground. After he helps me down, he grabs the brown bag of burgers from my hand so I can put in the code to the alarm. It smells delicious, like snickerdoodle cookies and vanilla, a soft glow coming from past the foyer. I remove my coat and all the extra when I hear a bark and I tense.

“Shh!” I hear Jonas whisper.

My heart beats a little wildly, inching closer to the living room, I see lit up garland wrapping from the bottom of the banister and when I turn, tears spring to my eyes. “SURPRISE!” they all yell and I can’t catch my breath.

It all glitters! The enormous, twinkling Christmas tree has a shiny purple and silver bow with tresses tucked into it, all the way to the bottom branches, large and small ornaments hang from it as well as purple candy canes. The mantle of the fireplace has garland and purple ribbon and of course, more lights, candles, and picture frames that weren’t there before.

But the biggest surprise of all that makes the whooshing in my ears almost rattle my brain?

There, in the now ready-for-Christmas living room, are Damon, Jonas, a gorgeous giant Doberman with a just as large red bow tied to its spiked collar, and a small kitten by his feet with a tiny bow on its collar. I run, skidding to a stop and drop to my knees, wrapping my arms around the Doberman, touching him, feeling his silky coat and breathing in his scent, feeling little paws on my ribs and I look down to see the tiny thing reaching up for me. I pick it up and through my tears of joy, notice the name in the collar saysLucifer. The one on the pupper saysKronos.

“I guess she likes them.” Damon chuckles.

Like them? I’m fuckingsobbing. I love my guys and my fur babies so much.

“Holy shit, he’s huge, Jonas!” I hear from Mav.

“I know. Isn’t he awesome?” he chuckles.

I look up at the loves of my life through blurry vision, bursting into tears all over again. “Th…ank you.” I say, rising to kiss them all.

“You did a great job keeping her distracted. A tattoo parlor? Really?”

I sink back down to acquaint myself with my babies. Kronos is just perfect, and Lucifer is so soft. I hug them repeatedly, promising to love them forever.

“You said permanent. Besides, you’re gonna love what she got.”

“Baby, what did you get?”

I raise my wrist to show him it’s still wrapped, breathing in Kronos’s doggy breath. He snuggles into me, letting me touch all over him, putting his paw on my hand when I stop petting so I can pet some more. He’s perfect. They both are.

They all are.

“He’s a service animal, baby.”

“I love him!” I cry out, a new wave of tears flood my face. And I wrap my arms around Kronos’ neck, clinging to him, surprised he lets me as I tremble.

“Luci was the last kitty left at the shelter because he hid behind Kronos and with the storm coming through, I couldn’t leave him behind. Damon said it was okay.”

I am so happy.I sign because I clearly can’t talk right now. I’m so overwhelmed with emotion all I can do is tug Kronos closer, Lucifer climbs into my lap.

Kronos, my big baby, sticks to my side as we eat, never asking for a scrap of food, and goes back to the living room when he sees I’m okay, taking a curious Lucifer with him by the neck like an annoyed big brother to let the adults speak.

“That’s not normal, is it?” Damon asks about the fur babies.

Jonas shrugs. “Does it matter? At least they’re not trying to kill each other.”

I concentrate on my food, eating rather quickly so I can get back to them. I get up from my seat and Damon holds me down.

“You aren’t done eating.”

I look longingly at the living room and back into his warm silver eyes.

I ate on the way here.

“She’s lying. She plucked a few fries, and I ate the majority of them.”

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