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Her daughter smiled. “Have you ever seen so many?”
“No, baby.” She gave Kimmie a big hug. “Never. Go open your presents.”
Kimmie headed to the table with all her gifts, but before she got there, the arrival of a new group pulled her attention away. No wonder. Her daughter was crazy about animals. Two blind men, one was Caucasian and the other was African-American, walked into the ballroom with their guide dogs.
Jena intercepted Kimmie before she could touch the dogs. “Honey, I know you love puppies, but these are special dogs. They are the eyes for these two men.”
“They have dog eyes?”
“Sort of,” the handsome man with the dark chocolate skin answered.
The other man nodded his head. “We can’t see, so the dogs do our seeing for us. You can pet them if you like.”
“Wow. What are their names?” Kimmie asked, petting the gentle German shepherds.
“Sorry, gentleman. My daughter is a bit excited today. This is her birthday party. I’m Jena Taylor, her mother.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Jaris Simmons. This is my friend, Chance Reynolds and his dog Annie.” He pulled out a gift from under his arm. “So this must be for Kimmie.”
“For me?” her daughter said.
“Yes,” Jaris patted his black German shepherd. “Sugar told me to bring you a present.”
“Is it a puppy?”
“Kimmie, we talked about this already.” She knew how badly her daughter wanted a pet but wasn’t ready to spring that on Matt and Sean. They had already opened their home and hearts to her and her mom and Kimmie. “Be a good girl and put this with the others. It’s time to open your presents anyway.”
“Yeah.” Kimmie ran over to the table where Gretchen, Ethel, and Jena’s mom were waiting.
Finished with the unwrapping, Jena looked at the smile on Kimmie’s face. She’d never been happier. “God, this is overwhelming, Megan. I’m not sure all of this will fit in the house.”
Megan put her arm around her. “I know it’s a lot, but after what you and Kimmie and your mom have been through, everyone in town wanted to make this birthday special.”
“You did that and more.”
“Jena, let Belle and me take away the empty boxes.” Amber was glowing. Her baby was due next summer.
Belle held the bag and was already filling it with the discarded wrapping paper. Shane and Corey Blue were grabbing up more and handing it to her. Jena wasn’t sure, but thought there might be some sparks happening between those three.
“Hold on, everyone,” Matt announced. “May I have your attention.”
Jena turned to him. “What’s this all about?”
“You’ll see,” he told her. “Kimmie, come over here.”
“Yes, Daddy.” She skipped over to him and he bent down next to her and gave her a hug. “I want you to look over at the big door, baby. I think Daddy Sean will walk through with something special for you. Drum roll, please.”
Everyone started hitting the table and stomping their feet to create the illusion of the sound.
Matt walked in, carrying a doghouse. “This is for my daughter, the birthday girl.”
“What’s that I hear?” Matt asked Kimmie. “There’s something inside.”
“A puppy. It’s a puppy.” Kimmie jumped up and ran to Sean.
He set the doghouse down and out came the cutest toy poodle puppy Jena had ever seen.
Kimmie squealed and all the kids came running to see her new pet.
