Page 266 of Conveniently Wed
“Donny, the puppy needs to learn to sleep by himself. Besides, he can keep the cats company. That way they will all learn what’s normal. Tippy will then know what’s not normal and alert us. He’ll be a good watch dog that way.”
Donny’s arms tightened around the pup making Tippy squirm and whine.
“Your mama is right.” Bruce cupped a hand over the boy’s head. “You want your dog to be the best dog he can, don’t you?”
“I guess.” Donny’s tone wasn’t very convincing.
“Then put him down and let’s go.” Stella helped him put the pup on an old blanket close to the cats. They made their way to the door, Tippy hot on their heels.
Stella pushed the dog back and closed the door against him. The dog’s protests were loud and sad.
“Mama,” Donny wailed.
“Come on.” Stella took her son’s hand. Her jaw muscles clenched, and Bruce knew this was difficult for her.
He took Donny’s other hand. “Tippy is brave. Once he realizes you aren’t coming back, he’ll be fine.”
“He’s crying.” Donny sounded close to doing so himself. Blossom sniffled. From the way Stella rubbed her lips together and swallowed loudly, he suspected she was equally close to tears. It was more than Bruce could handle. He put Blossom onthe ground. “I’ll race you both back to the house. I’ll even give you a head start. Are you ready?”
They nodded.
“One, two three. Go.”
They took off, Blossom trying hard to keep up to her brother. The way her arms and legs pumped had exactly the result Bruce hoped for as Stella started to laugh.
He trotted after them, catching Blossom and tucking her under his arm as they raced after Donny. He made sure Donny reached the house ahead of him. The boy jumped up and down, yelling, “I beat you.”
“I wonder what’s holding up your mama.” Bruce caught the boy around the waist and jostled both children on his hips as he trotted back to Stella. “Are you coming?” He grinned at her. “Do you need a push?” The children squirmed from his arms.
Donny pushed and Blossom pulled Stella to the house. By the time they reached the doorstep everyone was laughing, and the look Stella gave him seemed to offer approval.
Her smile settled in his heart.
As she put the children to bed, he looked around the main room. Simple by most standards. Aunt Mary’s house had been bigger. But this house was full of love.
Love? Of course, the love he felt was of Stella for her children. And if he enjoyed the aroma of it, he was grateful and could expect no more despite Aunt Mary’s prayers.
He put water in the kettle and set it to boil. Sitting outside to drink their tea had proven a pleasant way to end the day, and he hoped she’d agree to do so again. The kettle sang as Stella came from the bedroom, and he warmed the pot, added tea leaves, and poured on the hot water. “They’re looking mighty sad but are consoling each other with the fact they are doing the best for their pets.” She rubbed at her forehead. “I almost relented aswe cross the yard. Thanks for making them think of something else.”
“It was easy, and you’re welcome. I made tea. I thought we could sit outside again.” He waited to see if she liked the idea.
The worry lines disappeared from her forehead. “I’d like that.” She joined him in the kitchen to take down two heavy white pottery mugs. The same ones they’d used the night before. He liked them much better than the thin china cups with impossibly tiny handles or the tin cups he used when traveling.
She filled both mugs, and they each carried one as they went outside.
They sat on the butt ends of the logs he’d put there yesterday. She released her breath in a long, quiet sigh.
“Is that a sigh of contentment, frustration, or relief?”
She chuckled. “The first. It is so right to be back home and now to have the animals back. Plus pets for the children.” She started to laugh. “Can you imagine if Donny called the dog Frank? Frank, get down. Frank, bad boy. Frank, come here.” She burst into peals of laughter.
He chuckled though he found the idea more awkward than amusing.
She sobered and wiped her eyes. “Sorry. It just struck me as funny.”
“Likely Frank wouldn’t have. And I would have found it exceedingly awkward. Him being your husband and all.”
For the length of time it took for the pink-edged cloud to move in the sky, neither of them spoke.
