Page 138 of Connectio

Excitement rolls over me, and I quickly put on my gloves. “Grab a towel and the scissors, quick!”

Will does as I tell him, and we both wait with bated breath as Snow pushes out her first puppy and starts licking the sac to break it open.

“Should we help her?” I ask.

“Just give her a second.”

She bites the sac, and I almost shriek, fearing she’s going to bite the puppy. But she doesn’t. She just keeps licking and licking until we hear a tiny cry.

Both Will and I exhale.

“Oh my God!” I say, tears spilling from my eyes. “We’re grandparents.”

Snow chews into the umbilical cord, and it’s both gross and amazing. Once she’s chewed through, releasing her pup, I quick scoop the tiny thing up and rub it down with a towel, gently rolling it over in my hand.

“It’s a boy!”

Prince hangs his head over the box as if to approve of his son. He licks Snow’s head, and she licks him back, and my heart near explodes.

“All right, you two, that’s enough.” Will guides Prince back a little, and I place the puppy down near Snow’s teats.

She licks herself again, and another sac appears.

“Whoa! There’s another one already,” I say, bouncing on my knees. “This is so exciting.”

Will squeezes my shoulder as Snow pushes out her second puppy before licking, chewing, and freeing it from the sac. Once again, I clean it up and check for the sex.

“It’s another boy!”

I pat her head and encourage her. “You’re such a good mumma, girl. Yes, you are.” I offer her some water, and she takes a small sip, nowhere near enough to keep her hydrated. “Quick! Grab one of the small organic ice cream tubs from the freezer,” I say to Will.

He jumps to his feet and is back in seconds, two tubs in his hands. He passes one to me then rips off the lid of the one he’s still holding before offering it to Prince.

I frown. “What are you doing?”

“Don’t you think he deserves one too?”

“No! Not really. I don’t see him lying here, ‘punching out’ seven puppies. I mean, why don’t you both just kick back and smoke a friggin’ cigar?”

He looks at Prince, who’s happily licking the ice cream out of the tub. “That’s not a bad idea, hey, mate.”

I bite back my smile; there’s no way I can be mad—I love both of my babies equally.

Tearing off the lid, I offer my tub to Snow, relieved when she starts licking enthusiastically.

“Good girl!” I pat her head. “You need your energy, Mumma.”

Roughly four hours later, Snow gives birth to her sixth puppy.

“Surely this one is a girl?” Will says, waiting as I turn it over.

“Nope. Another boy.”

“That’s six boys. How many did the vet say she could see on the scan?”

I scrunch my nose. “Seven.”

“Come on, girl.” Will pats her head while helping me keep the puppies suckling on her teats. “One more. You can do this.”