Page 40 of Two Hearts' Christmas Homecoming

Dad gave Lex a quick punch in the arm when they’d stopped at the stop sign. “Anything is possible, Lex. It might not seem like it to you, but you’re learning at a pretty rapid pace. I’d say you’re approaching third grade level already. Just keep it up. Besides, you’re not going anywhere until you’re ready.”

Dad started driving again, taking a right at the next intersection, turning onto the long driveway leading into the Crystal Rock Animal Shelter parking lot.

Lex looked puzzled, glancing at Amy. “What’s going on?”

“I thought we could use a little more security at the house during the day with so many people roaming the property. Even if a camera would pick something up, it might be too late to do anything about it if someone was causing trouble.” After Dad stepped out of the truck, he looked at Lex quizzically. “We might not find a dog today, but Amy thinks that you should be the one to pick him out, Lex, because he would more or less be yours. You’d be the one taking care of him and making sure he gets exercised.”

Lex seemed to be stunned, Amy realized as she stepped out of the truck.

“Come on, Lex,” she urged loudly. “I can’t wait to see the dog you pick out. I hope we can take someone home today.”

Lex quickly scrambled out of the truck to follow Amy.

“Hi, Tim,” Dad said as they walked into the lobby of the shelter. Tim and his wife were good friends of Dad and Mom’s. At one time a service dog trainer, Tim Atkinson had taken over the shelter several years earlier after opting out from the Air Force. Since that time, he’d created a service animal program for wounded veterans and children with disabilities and had expanded the program into hundreds of shelters throughout the country. His wife, Emily Richardson, was also the award-winning vocalist who’d founded the music camp nearby.

“Hi, there, Gabe. Hi, Amy. I did what you asked after you called and rounded up a half dozen dogs with decent temperaments that will probably get along well with the others.”

“This is one of our newest family members, Tim. Meet my son, Lex.”

“Good to meet you, Lex,” Tim said, reaching for Lex’s hand to shake it firmly. After apparently sizing him up, he seemed to decide that he liked what he saw.

Lex still appeared to be in shock after finding out that Dad had understood how much he’d wanted a dog.

“I’m going to let Lex choose the dog,” Dad said. “It’s going to be his responsibility to care for him.”

“That’s a good idea,” Tim agreed. “It’s always better to select a dog who clicks with his caregiver. Let’s go see them. Follow me.”

Amy watched Lex’s eyes go wide when he was shown a half-dozen dogs that Tim had separated from the rest of the shelter animals.

“There are an awful lot of dogs available for adoption,” Dad observed.

“Don’t worry. Most will be adopted before Christmas. This place is pretty popular,” Tim admitted.

Lex appeared to have already made up his mind, although he didn’t say anything at first. One of the dogs had rested a paw on the cage door. Cocking his head with his tongue hanging from his mouth, the part chocolate Lab and beagle combo, at least according to the tag on the cage, had a tail that whipped back and forth nonstop.

When Lex went closer, the dog stuck his nose through the cage and began to cry when Lex got down on one knee and held his fingers closer.

Tim laughed. “I don’t know why, but I had a feeling you might like that guy. I’ll warn you, he’s not as well trained as the others, and a little younger—at about nine months, but he’ll sure love you to death. He has this weird habit of picking up sticks when he’s outside and carrying them around in his mouth. I know you have your three small dogs at home, but he’s got such a sweet temperament, he’s sure to get along with them. Plus, we know for sure that he’s got some Lab in him, and he hasn’t finished growing, so he should be a good protector.”

“Can he come out of the cage?” Lex asked.

“Sure.” Tim smiled. “Let me get a leash.”

The first thing the dog did was jump on Lex, quickly swiping his tongue across his face.

Lex sputtered as the dog dropped down onto the ground, acting like he knew full-well that his behavior was unacceptable.

Both Dad and Amy started laughing at the expression on Lex’s face, although he was eventually able to give them all a wide smile once he’d dried it off.

“If you want a new home, you’d better stop that, Brownie,” Tim said dryly.

“Is that his name?” Lex asked.

“It’s what we’ve been calling him, but feel free to come up with something better.”

“Nah. That’ll work,” Lex replied, glancing at Dad to be sure.

Grinning, Dad held up his hands. “Like I said, it’s your decision, son.”

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