Page 109 of Now and Forever

“As you can see, I put the scarf you made on him. By the way, he’s totally mute.”

“Ooooh, I could eat you up, Iceman!” I say, laughing, and kiss him again.

Wrapped up in that lovely moment, I’m stroking Susto, who’s so happy, he won’t stop wiggling, and I see something in Simona’s hands. It’s a white puppy.

“And this little beauty?” I ask as I look at Eric in a daze.

Without letting go of my waist, he walks with me toward Simona.

“He was in the same cage as Susto. He seems to be the only one from his litter that survived, and they told me he must be about a month and a half old. Susto didn’t want to come with me if we didn’t bring this little guy too. You should’ve seen how he grabbed him in his mouth and came running out of the cage when I called him. After that, I couldn’t get the little puppy back in the cage.”

“You’re so kind, sir,” Simona murmurs.

“He’s the best,” I agree, happy. And then, looking at Susto, I say, “And you’re a helluva dad.”

“What I don’t know is what breed he is.”

I affectionately pick up the puppy. He’s plump and fluffy. A beauty.

“He’s a Heinz Fifty-Seven.”

All three of us laugh. A happy Simona goes to tell Norbert. I set the puppy down on the floor, and Eric holds Susto so he won’t jump on top of me.

“You like your presents?”

Delighted and in love, I choose not to question his change of heart and kiss him instead.

“They’re the best presents, darling,” I whisper. “And you’re the best.”

“Then I’m happy. They can stay in the garage for now, until we build a doghouse for them outside.”

“OK ... But let them stay in the house tonight. It’s so cold.”

“In the house?” he asks.

At that very moment, the puppy, who’s walking along the floor, pees. A lot, given he’s so little! Eric looks at me. He’s trying so very hard.

“Inside the house?”

I wink at him and whisper, “To be clear, you just expanded the family. There are five of us now.” My German closes his eyes. He understands perfectly what I said, and before he can come out with one of his gems of wisdom, I hurry him along. “C’mon, Eric,” I say while I pick up the puppy. “Let’s give Flyn his surprise.”

“Won’t Susto scare him?”

I shake my head no.

Not making a sound, we head up to Flyn’s playroom. I carefully open the door and let the dog in.

“Susto!” the boy yells, and he hugs him.

Flyn’s laughter is wonderful. It’s so loud! And the dog flips over on his back so Flyn can scratch his belly. The boy seems completely happy for a while, until he sees something in my hands that catches his attention. His eyes grow as big as saucers.

“Who’s this?” he asks.

“When I went to find Susto, he was with him in the cage,” Eric says. “Susto didn’t want to leave him behind, so he came with us.”

Amazed, the little boy looks up at his uncle, and I put the puppy in his hands.

“This little one is going to be your superfriend and superpet. So, you have to give him a name.”

---