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“Why did the owners return him?” Mac asked.
“They found out their toddler was allergic, which is a common issue. You have no idea until you get the puppy home. They went to doctors, but there isn’t much they can do at that age. They felt really bad about it and insisted he go to a forever home next time. Do you think you’d be a good fit for him?” Tina asked Delaney.
Delaney nodded solemnly. “Oh yes. I’m very responsible.”
“The puppy will live with me, but Delaney will visit often,” Mac said.
“This puppy adores kids,” Tina said, heading inside the barn.
“He does?” Delaney asked, following the woman.
“Are you sure you want an older puppy?” I asked Mac, putting the puppy I’d been holding into the pen to play with his brothers and sisters.
Mac shrugged. “Honestly? I don’t care. I just want a dog, and the younger they are, the more you have to get up with them in the middle of the night.”
“They’re a little like babies in that way,” I agreed.
Delaney squealed inside the barn, and Mac said, “I think she found it.”
“Mommy, come see. He’s adorable.”
I bumped Mac’s shoulder lightly with mine. “Just so you know, I don’t think she’s met a puppy she didn’t like. You’ll be lucky to get out of here with just one.”
Mac linked his fingers with mine and winked. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Can we get him?” Delaney asked before we’d even arrived at the stall.
Standing in the doorway, this puppy’s feet and head were large, but his fur was soft. His feet were on Delaney’s shoulders while he licked her. Delaney squeezed her eyes shut and hugged him tight. The puppy didn’t seem to mind. He planted his butt in her lap and leaned hard against her chest as if he wanted to sink into her.
When she opened her eyes, she said, “I want him.”
If Delaney noticed us holding hands, she didn’t mention it, but then the dog was a good distraction.
“This isn’t our decision,” I gently reminded her, but the way she held this one, I knew I was going to be getting it if Mac didn’t.
From the look on Mac’s face, I knew he was a goner. This was his dog. He squatted next to Delaney and the puppy, holding his hand out to him. He sniffed it for a microsecond and then licked it.
The puppy moved out of Delaney’s hold to get closer to Mac. Mac held his hand out in a stop motion and told him, “Sit.” The puppy’s butt hit the ground, but his tail wagged on the ground.
“They worked on basic training, but you’ll need to continue it,” Tina said.
“What do you say? Want to take her to basic training with me?” Mac asked Delaney.
Delaney’s eyes widened. “Uh-huh.”
Mac scratched behind his ear, and the dog tipped his head in ecstasy. Then he rolled onto the ground, showing his belly. “You said we can take him today?”
“He’s yours if you want him,” Tina said with a smile.
“What do you say? Want to come home with us?” Mac asked the puppy, but Delaney said, “Yes, yes, yes!”
I moved to snap a picture of the puppy, but then Delaney rested her head on Mac’s shoulders, and I couldn’t resist taking that one. It was the perfect picture of the three of them. If this ended up being something permanent, this was a picture I’d frame for the wall. I’d always wanted Delaney to have this kind of relationship with her father, but I guess it didn’t matter as long as she had someone who stepped up. I just hoped Mac stuck around and didn’t break both of our hearts.
The image was on my phone when Tina left to get the paperwork, and Mac asked, “You okay with this?”
I put the phone away, not wanting him to see the screen. I wasn’t sure if it would freak him out that we looked like a family. “Absolutely. Besides, it’s your decision.”
“It feels likeourdecision. I invited you here for your advice.”
