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This was what Katie deserved. The warmth of a family. Stability. The love and support of a mom who would always be there for her, who would give her firm guidelines and help her grow up into a strong and independent young woman.
He doubted Janet had handled parenthood very well but knew without a doubt that he was even less qualified than she. This one evening meal had brought that home to him with absolute clarity.
Katie scrambled off Zach’s lap and grabbed for his hand, then reached for Dana’s. “Let’s go!”
Over the child’s head, Zach gave Dana a rueful smile. “Guess she’s impatient.”
“Of course she is. Puppies and ponies are a little girl’s dream.” Dana turned to Francie. “You really don’t need to help with the dishes. The kids can handle it.”
“I eat here more often than I eat at home. So what’s the problem? Go make that child’s day.” Francie flapped her hands at them, shooing them out the door.
Gabe rose from his favorite spot by the kitchen sink and followed them all outside. Once they left the porch, Katie let go of their hands and danced ahead with Gabe loping along beside her.
Zach fell into step with Dana. “Are things always this busy here?”
“I think you mean noisy. And that answer is yes.”
Almost of its own accord, his hand found hers as they walked side by side toward the barn. She drew in a sharp breath and pulled away.
“Sorry. Just instinct, I guess.”
“I...well, I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”
Zach chuckled. “Must be tough, fighting men off at every turn. You need to carry pepper spray.” He waited a beat, then added, “Maybe on a necklace.”
She laughed at that. “Believe me, I would rarely need it.”
“Heard any more from your old friend?”
She walked a few yards in silence. “Tom? I think we’ve got things straightened out.”
“Meaning?”
“Tom’s wife has been away from here for a long time. He’s been lonely, and started seeing possibilities that just aren’t there. And I...well, I just let things go on too long.”
“How about you—do you get lonely sometimes?”
Her laughter, soft and sweet, charmed him completely. “Take one look around here, and tell me when I’d have time.”
When they reached the cool depths of the barn, Katie looked up at the dusty swaths of spiderwebs hanging from the old timbers and hesitated to step inside.
“Come on, sweetie, the puppies are over here. And,” she added with a wicked grin, “there might just be one with your name on it.”
“Named Katie?” Her voice filled with awe, the child followed close on Dana’s heels.
Dana laughed. “So to speak.”
A month ago, Zach’s life had been on an even keel. Work, sleep, work. Barring midnight call-outs on a case, he’d been able to predict what might happen from day to day. Now a mental image of puppies, geese, and peacocks threatened to overwhelm him. “I really don’t think we can take on a dog.”
But then he looked down. The puppies, a fluffy, tumbling mass of gray, white, and black spots, scrambled at the walls of the pen, yelping and barking and fighting to lick Katie’s proffered hands. She squealed with delight and gave him such a look of joy that his heart skipped a beat. Whatever they cost, Katie would have a new puppy if she just said the word.
“There you have it, their total devotion to me has gone straight out the window,” Dana said. “They definitely like you best, Katie.”
“How come they have different color eyes? Can they see?”
“Gabe is their daddy. Did you see how he has one brown eye and one blue? Australian shepherds are often like that. And yes, they can see perfectly well.”
“Where’s their mommy?”
