Page 80 of Holden’s Resurrection

“I won’t?”

“Leigh-Leigh—”

“No.” I put my hand up to halt him and changed course since I knew he’d fight me tooth and nail about going back to the scene of the crime. “Are you going to come over and train this puppy?”

“Yes.”

“Really. And you’re gonna walk it, and pick up puppy poop, and feed it, and buy its food, and the bed and toys and the hundred other things that come with owning a dog?”

“Yes.”

I let out a long-suffering sigh knowing he’d gladly come over and do all of those things.

“You can’t make decisions without discussing them with me.”

Holden’s body locked and his face fell.

“Damn, Leigh-Leigh, I didn’t mean to…you’re right. I should’ve talked to you first. Faith mentioned how much she loved Tank and Axel and there’s another litter from the same parents. I got ahead of myself.”

Shit. Why’d he have to go and apologize and admit he was wrong? That took the wind out of my sails and made my blood pressure lower.

Maybe a puppy wouldn’t be so bad. Faith had been asking for years if she could get a pet. And I bet if Tank or Axel had been at my side when Chad knocked, the dog would’ve torn him apart before he’d had the chance to knock me out and take my child.

Okay, so maybe a dog was a really great idea.

“We’ll go look at the puppy when they’re—”

“Yippy!” Faith shouted and twirled. “Oh, yeah, I’m getting a dog.” She continued to do some weird jig that included kicking her feet, flailing her arms, and contorting her body in a way that would have me in traction for a year.

Seriously worried about injury, I asked, “Do you have homework?”

“Yep. I have new spelling words. But they’re easy, and two pages of math.”

I had no doubt the spelling words would be easy for Faith—if I had to guess, I’d say the math would be easy for her, too. I’d been blessed with a brilliant daughter and God knows I didn’t pass that gene down to her.

“Wash your hands and grab your homework and take it into the kitchen. I made you a snack.”

She nodded and rushed to Holden, wrapped her arms around his waist, and stared up at him like he hung the moon. Oh, yeah, my daughter had fallen hard for Holden.

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t make you the snack, doll. You should thank your mom.”

“I’m talking about the puppy. I promise I’ll take care of it and help you train him. I want him to sit, roll over, and play dead.”

“I’m sure we can manage that.”

“You’re the best!” She broke the hug and ran off down the hall.

“Oh, Lord. She’s wrapped you around her finger,” I muttered.

“Leigh-Leigh.” He smiled. “It’s not my fault. I tried, I really did, but when she got this little frown and told me how much she’d always wanted a puppy, I couldn’t say no.”

“Right. And I’m sure she gave you sad eyes and told you all about the time she found a kitten and only had it a week before the owner contacted us and thankfully came over to pick up the beast.”

“She didn’t call it a beast.”

“It was the devil. It clawed my couch, my curtains, it hissed and bit. I was so happy when someone finally responded to the SOS I put out.”