“ M um. I’m engaged. Properly engaged, with a doubly unbreakable vow.
It was so romantic, he proposed with a ring of rosemary, and then we went to the jeweler in town—a proper goblin jeweler, Mum, and Jan Stilz made a ring for me with an emerald.
I’ll send pics. Okay, love you, Mum. Love to Dad. Bye!”
“That was a message?” I look across my living room on Friday morning and see my beautiful Chloe on her phone, talking happily to her mother—or at least her mother’s voicemail.
“It’s easier this way. In a few minutes, she’ll ring me back with a million questions.
Where will the wedding be, when will she meet you, when are we going to have kids?
” Chloe pauses and runs a thoughtful hand over her torso.
“We should have mentioned that—especially after all the seeds you’ve been sowing in this particular garden.
” Her voice drops into a seductive range, and I wonder if I’m going to survive the honeymoon.
This woman ignites desire in me like nothing I’ve ever known—and I’m worried if I can keep up the pace.
“I might be a lot thinner by next year,” I say, and I realize the reply doesn’t make much sense.
“I hope not too much thinner. I love you how you are!” Chloe hurries over to hug me, sighing as she’s wrapped in my arms.
“I can tell, and I’m not going to turn into a gym rat. I’m just thinking that I’m much ‘busier’ with you around. And soon, I’ll have a dog to walk.”
“Oh, yes. If there’s an Irish setter there, the experiment is valid.”
“The experiment is valid either way. I was just joking,” I hastily explain.
“I know, I know. But, um... Well. I think Liam is going to bring Kep back. Not by force. And I know what you said about the yard and all, but there’s a lovely park just a few blocks away, and there are houses for sale. They’re expanding the townhouse development, Pine Point.”
I love how this feels. It was different with Patsy. Everything wasn’t a plan made in peace; it was a push, a frustration reaction. The apartment was too small, time to buy a condo. The condo isn’t big enough for kids, not that we’re ready for kids, but let’s get a house.
The dog was my idea—and I’ve missed my Kep more than I can admit.
“I wanna buy a house with you. For us and our family. And I want that family sooner rather than later. Because I’m almost forty, and God knows when my knees will go.
I want to be young enough and fun enough to take our daughter to ballet or karate, or to play football with our son.
Whatever. I just... Yeah. I’m happy Kep’s going to be back, but how will Liam manage it? ”
“I’m not worried about the how. So, if we don’t find a dog today—”
“We’re finding a dog today. I see it. I saw it. Little red dog with long, silky hair. Tiny. An Irish Setter.”
“Irish Setters are not tiny, sweetie.”
“Well, this one is.”
“Well... Let’s go visit Mrs. Fiorenza, then. Jen Chambers told her we were coming to take a look at her foster pups this morning.”
“I thought you needed to open the shop.”
“I do this afternoon. But you can handle our dog without me, right? Or you can bring it over to chill with me, but you’ll have to go to the pet shop first. If... If there’s the right dog.”
“You said our dog.”
“You said our family .”
It’s going to be a good day.
IT’S GOING TO BE A disappointing day. In one aspect.
I can feel it as we get to Mrs. Fiorenza’s house.
Oh, it’s a nice house, a little bit unkempt, overgrown, and the yard looks like a squeaky toy factory blew up, but it’s not about the house.
There’s something I can feel. Something about the way Jared’s eyes are lit up and glowing with excitement.
He’s so sure that there’s going to be a certain dog here, and I’m sure that there’s not.
I feel the unmistakable sense of something off, the impending feeling of sadness and disappointment centered around him—but I can’t stop it.
I can try. I text Liam as Jared drives us down Ridge View Way, where the houses are spaced out, and most look a bit neglected or downright rundown.
Chloe: Any updates?
Liam: Beauty queen is asleep. We’re going on a river cruise and dropping off Kep on the way to the city tomorrow. Believe me, he’ll be happier with you. Hell, he’s happier with me, and I’m a stranger. Ten to one
Patsy will never bother to pick him up again. Actually, make it a million to one. I know my meals.
Chloe: Thank you! I owe you.
Liam: Just let me get a front-row seat at your wedding, sweetie. I’ll be full from second-hand sexual tension for weeks.
I have to smile at that.
Chloe: Deal.
“Hey. I heard from Liam. Kep is coming home to you tomorrow.”
“That’s the best news ever!” Jared crows and springs out of the car the second it’s parked.
“Well... Do we even need to do this?” I ask when Jared opens my car door.
“Yep. Come on, two dogs, two cats, two kids... What about it?”
“I think you’re adorable, but Marmalade might like being the queen bee of the cats in our house.
We’ll see. Also, I... I just don’t want you to be disappointed.
Irish Setters are a fancy breed. I don’t think they’re very common.
In fact,” I try to stall him, “I looked it up. They’re way down on the list of popular breeds, like almost eightieth on the list of popular purebreds. ”
“So?”
“The dog you’re dreaming of might not be here.” I try to break this to him easy, but he’s not having it.
With glib nonchalance, he answers, “You said a lot of the dogs they had here were mixes and fancy purebreds that were puppy mill rescues. Why not an Irish Setter or an Irish Setter mix?”
“Because there’s probably not a lot of money in them if they’re not popular? I don’t know. I just don’t want you to get your heart broken if they don’t have one.”
“I believe.” He smiles. “I’m a man of science, but today, I’m a man of faith as well!”
I try to smile at that, but inside, I’m cracking. What happens to this happy, sweet teddy bear I’ve fallen in love with if that faith is tested and failed so early? Is there a chance he’d stop believing in us, too? My heart gives a stout, resolute no, but a tiny whisper of doubt lingers.
“You two are early birds! But that’s just as well.
I have the vet tech coming to do some deworming and vaccines for a new litter.
Come on in!” Mrs. Fiorenza waves from the screen door.
She’s a plump lady with a mass of dark curls, a housedress out of the 1970s, and supportive nurse-type shoes with thick soles.
She’s got a baying beagle in one arm while a dachshund with cloudy eyes and a crooked tail barks at her feet.
“Ignore Romeo. He can’t see what he’s barking at, he just knows he has to defend the house! Klaxon. Hush!” She kisses the beagle on his ear, and he immediately falls silent. “So, what are you folks looking for?”
“An I—”
“A family dog,” I cut Jared off. “A dog perfect for a young family, good with other dogs. Good with kids and babies. And cats!”
“All right then. I’m going to steer you away from old Mr. Slingshot.
Retired from the greyhound track at only two, and the sweetest boy ever, but not good with cats,” Mrs. Fiorenza says as she leads us in.
A fawn-colored greyhound gets up and headbutts our knees until we pet him.
Romeo and the beagle puppy join the parade of dogs that follows us into a big, empty room attached to a sun porch.
When I say empty, I mean empty of furniture. There are puppy playpens galore, old towels, big troughs of dog food, and little bowls of puppy chow. It smells like a kennel, but not a dirty one.
“Ohhhh. Oh, my gosh. Jared. These are the sweetest little fluffballs!” I cry when Mrs. Fiorenza gestures for us to look around.
There are little white dogs that look like they’re held together with silk and feathers, so fluffy and soft.
There are wriggly little pitbull types who lie with a thin mama dog, nursing as she pants up, her wide mouth friendly.
“Oh, no. She’s going to want them all,” Jared says, but his eyes are roving endlessly. Looking for something that’s not there.
“Don’t you?” I hold up one of the tiny, fluffy white pups. “Look at this baby!”
“I love dogs. I’d take them all.”
“Well, my limit is two, especially if you live in a smaller home.” Mrs. Fiorenza sits down next to the mama pittie and strokes her head while giving her some liver snaps.
“Two is a great number. We have a dog. Jared’s dog,” I say, putting the puppy into his arms. “We’re looking for his sibling.”
THEY’RE ALL SO SWEET . I play tug of war with one of the little black pittie pups, cuddle an armful of what I find out are Malti-Poos, and let a mini goldendoodle sleep on my lap while Chloe and Mrs. Fiorenza talk.
It was silly to think that the dog of my dreams would be here, especially since visions and dreams change. Kep wasn’t in the first vision I had. I don’t even know if these are legit visions. Maybe they’re just wishes. Daydreams.
Does that mean my little girl with her little pigtails is a dream, too? What if it won’t come true?
Don’t be such an ungrateful ass. You have a wife.
You have cut ties with your ex-wife. You’re going to get Kep back.
You have a cat by marriage! I smile at that.
You have a whole new world to explore, the world of paranormal-friendly Pine Ridge, and you have new friends, like Alban and Liam.
People who would easily put the jerks at work in their place if they acted up.
And I can do that myself, now. I have confidence again. I have Chloe. I have hope. I have—
“Sorry, I’m late, but I brought you a client!” A woman calls into the house, distracting my attention.
“Jen! In here, Nurse Chambers!” Mrs. Fiorenza struggles to her feet.
“None of that ‘Nurse Chambers’ stuff. I’m just Jen, visiting vet angel extraordinaire!”
When Jen Chambers enters the room, she has a big satchel with patches sewn on it over one shoulder—and a little silky-coated red dog over her other.
Chloe’s gasp is audible.
“That’s him! That’s my dog!” I gasp.
“Huh?” Mrs. Fiorenza looks startled.
“Sir?” Chambers looks at me in confusion.
“I wanted an Irish Setter puppy. I told Chloe that I was hoping we’d find one here!” I cry. It’s all I can do not to take the little guy out of Chambers’ arms and yank him to my chest.
“Well, if you want him, good, because he’s going to come with vet bills.
He’s a mill reject. Setter and miniature poodle cross.
He got none of the poodle’s characteristics other than size, but he can’t be sold as a purebred now.
He needs all of his shots, he’s the runt of the litter, and he has a heart murmur.
There’s a good chance he’ll grow out of that, but he’ll need to be monitored.
I was bringing him here because I didn’t think he’d last long in a kill shelter. ”
Chloe is standing beside me now, and she hugs my arm, jumping in place.
“We have money! Okay, not a lot of money, but enough money to get his shots and vet bills! More than Mrs. Fiorenza—oh! No, not like you don’t have money, I just mean you take care of all these puppies, and we can take care of this one. Please.”
“Please,” I echo.
“Well, you don’t have to sell me! I’ve given him his first round of shots and anti-parasitics.”
“I have a good vet. Dr. Peters.”
“And I’m a member of PR NYU staff, too.” I point to the lanyard I spot swinging from her neck. “You can check up on me whenever you want!”
“For God’s sake, Jennifer, hand the man his dog before he piddles on my floor from excitement!” Mrs. Fiorenza cries, laughing.
I don’t know if she means me or the dog, because it’s clear that the puppy has now realized that the big human in front of him is “his person.” His sweeping tail ticks like a metronome on high speed, and his tongue is going a mile a minute, licking the air until he connects with my arms, then connects with my face.
I get puppy kisses everywhere he can reach, and Chloe kisses my cheek when she jumps on her tiptoes.
“Is he really ours?” I ask.
“Yeah. Technically, he’s not even one of Fiorenza’s dogs yet.
She didn’t take custody of him, so to speak.
He’s just... yours. Yours to rescue, yours to love.
Do you have any ideas on a name for him?
” Jen pulls out paperwork from her satchel.
“You’ll have to sign a few things, give me your name, number, email, your vet’s address, all that. ”
“I don’t have a name for him. I just knew he was the one.” I look into the little brown eyes looking up at me. He’s so soft and so happy to be in my arms.
“You don’t need a name right now,” Jen Chambers says with a smile.
“I think we should call him Rowan. It means ‘little red-haired one.’” Chloe strokes his soft head, and I picture her doing that with our son.
If we have one.
“Or Aiden,” she says. “It means, ‘little fire.’ And it has meaning to my family, as well.” She winks at me, and I know there’s probably some paranormal stuff I’ll find out about later.
“Rowan is cute. Rowly would be a good nickname for this little guy.”
“I like it.” I hug Chloe and hand her the dog so I can do the paperwork. “We can save Aiden for our son’s name?”
“Rosemary and Aiden. Kep and Rowly. Marmalade—just Marmalade for now.”
“And Chloe and Jared.” I kiss her lips gently. “Because that’s where all of this started.”
“Ah, yes. Poor accidentally engaged fools,” she whispers, a giggle at the end.
I shake my head and think about the life that’s going to spring from her song, about the changes and joy already growing from it. “It was meant to be, sweetheart. No accident about it.”
If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review on any book review platform!