“Pretty much this. It looks like Shadow’s milk is in and the pups are going for it. I find it so amazing that they just know how it all works.”
“Do you worry about them getting lost or squished?”
“Yes, we need to keep constant count. Shadow might lean over to groom one and we have to make sure another one doesn’t crawl under Shadow to stay warm. They’re so tiny, Shadow won’t even feel them.”
“When do you name them, or do you? Do they remain numbered until the new owners?”
“You and I are going to name them, but I don’t want to assign a name until we see the characteristics a little more.”
“Do you have names in mind?”
“I went through the internet and I’ve made a list of possible names, male and female. I assume we’ll name the alpha Bear if he’s male.”
“How do you decide who the alpha is?”
“It doesn’t relate to size. It relates to assertiveness. He or she will be the first to get to the best nursing station, the first to the door, the first to the feeding bowl. It will be pretty obvious. Every litter has an alpha.”
“The alpha can be male or female?”
“Yes. If our alpha is female, I’ll name her Shadow.”
“What other names do you have?”
Molly retrieved a notebook from the box with her medical kit.
“The list I’ve made is mostly German boy and girl names.” Looking at her list, she continued, “For females, I’ve got Heidi, Greta, Brita, Elsa, Lottie, Gretchen, Aida, Stella, Roxy, Mia, Callie, and Rosie. For males, I’ve got Hans, Baron, Max, Duke, Rocky, Jax, Cooper, Gunnar, Rex, Scout, Maverick, Beau, Buddy, and Ranger.”
“Good names. I like Maverick.”
“Yeah, right, says the guy named after Bart Maverick.”
“Molly’s a nice name for a dog.”
“So’s Bart.”
While Shadow nursed and fussed over her brood, Molly and Bart made a big breakfast, a huge pile of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and homemade hash browns. Bart was a great kitchen partner. He was comfortable in the kitchen, knew how to use a knife, and had basic cooking skills. Well, he should, he cooked three meals a day for his family in the wild.
After breakfast, they set up their laptops on opposite sides of the kitchen table and worked. Molly put on an easy listening country playlist at low volume, periodically checking on Shadow. Bart withdrew into his work, almost like a trance, staying focused on his screen, reading carefully, occasionally typing. When he typed, it was with the speed of a professional. He seemed happy. She assumed his writing took him to another world, hopefully a happy place. But it was a world of his creation.
She liked that they were working together, quietly but comfortably. She had her spreadsheets, emails from her team and vendors, and always budget and financial plans. He had his books and the business of writing.
“You up for a photo?”
They’d been working at the kitchen table for a couple hours. It was late morning, but Molly wasn’t hungry after the big breakfast. They were on their second pot of coffee.
“Sounds complicated.”
“I want one to document the process. Show Shadow and Bear, the owners, and the litter in the pantry, where it all began.”
“Like I said, it sounds complicated.”
“It’s all part of the marketing. We want the owners and parents to be appealing and sell that it was a happy beginning. And I want to send a photo to your family.”
“Makes sense.”
“You do know that your family likes the photos, don’t you?”
“Whatever.”
