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He needed to get her a ring soon. He needed to get them moved into his larger place. He needed to plant a baby in her. He’d move her in first. Once they were living together it would be easier for her to accept his ring. Then, they’d get married and hopefully start working on that baby. There was an order to these things.
The shelter was a beehive of activity already at seven o’clock in the morning. Rhys was there with Zale, setting up tables, chairs, and awnings with the rest of the crew.
“I don’t think you two know what you’re doing,” he barked at Rhys and Zale.
Zale turned in surprise, caught sight of Willa and crinkled his eyes in greeting. That man had less facial expression than he did, and that was saying something.
Rhys laughed and flipped him off.
“What time are the rest of the girls coming?” Barrett asked, sidling up beside them and accepting the back slaps in greeting.
Rhys answered, “I came in with Zale, Bex is at the house with Mara and Olivia. They’re coming in at eleven.”
“That’s good. The doors open at eleven-thirty. We don’t want any of them here longer than they need to be,” Willa commented. “I’m going to head in, check on Muffin.”
She squeezed Barrett’s hand and his eyes followed her to the door.
Zale and Rhys stood grinning at him.
“Are you done mooning?” Rhys teased.
“Fuck off, handsome,” Barrett responded, calling him by the endearment Bex gave him.
Rhys laughed, happy for his brother. Barrett leant a hand and chatted for ten minutes before heading in himself. Willa was just coming out of the surgery, her face creased in lines of worry.
“Is she okay, curly?”
Willa wrapped her arms around his waist and tucked her cheek against his chest. This was unusual, public displays at work were not her thing.
“She’s so tired, my Viking,” she murmured, “and they said she threw up last night. She barely acknowledged me.”
“It’s early, curly, she usually sleeps until nine,” he soothed, but they both knew the words were empty.
The little dog had scant time left. It was getting close to the time when he would have to make the call to end her suffering. He probably should have done it already. He wasn’t entirely sure if he was holding off on the inevitable for Willa’s sake so she could release some of the nurturing that was locked up inside her, or for Muffin’s, so she could finally receive some.
At ten-forty-five the rest of the mutual admiration society arrived.
Olivia marched right up to him, adjusting her headphones as she walked.
“Hello, Uncle Barrett. Today I will be volunteering with the pocket pets. Auntie Bex will be with me. What are you going to be doing?”
Pocket pets was a good placement for both. Olivia needed the quiet and Bex needed to watch her energy levels or risk a fibromyalgia flare-up. Barrett stilled as he always did when Olivia came near to him.
“I’ll be patrolling the enclosures, making sure none of our furry friends get overly stressed with all the activity.”
Her face softened with approval. “That’s good. I was worried about that.”
She backed up and leaned into him, her slender back against the side of his arm. This was Olivia’s version of a hug. He leaned into her slightly to return the pressure and she smiled.
“Come and get me if you need any help, Uncle Barrett.”
He grinned and agreed to do exactly that as she headed back to join the trio cackling and holding onto one another’s arms, their big mouths split wide with laughter. He noted Rhys and Zale watching and smiled when he caught Zale’s eye. Rhys was busy watching his wife, a smile on his face.
Mara floated with Willa for most of the day, kicking in to help wherever needed. The flexibility was needed in case Olivia needed her mother.
He grabbed a burger around one o’clock, saw Willa and Mara joking with Zale, the two of them communicating with a look something that sent them both into peals of laughter. Whatever it was had Rhys grinning and Zale shaking his head.
Bex and Olivia wandered in and out getting snacks and drinks. Bex’s face was alight with excitement. She led a necessarily quiet life due to the limitations of her fibromyalgia. Getting out and doing something new was exciting and it showed. He saw Rhys’s face soften with warmth and concern when he saw her overly flushed face.
