Page 43 of Love in Mission City

“She loves you.”

He cocked his head and gazed at me. “I love both of them.”

I took a deep breath. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“Okay.” He didn’t appear the least concerned. If he encountered a problem, he just fixed it. That was his jam.

“If something happens to me—”

“It won’t—”

“But if it did.” I railroaded through his objection. “There’s no one, Carter. They’d wind up in a shelter—” My voice broke. “I don’t regret rescuing them…but it would break my heart…” I couldn’t go on as emotion clogged my throat.

“Of course I’ll take them. Do you need to put it in writing?”

Then, unexpectedly, he leaned over to brush away the tears streaking down my cheeks. I could handle anything in the world…except the thought I might die and my babies would be alone. Funny, until Carter burst into my world, I’d never called them mybabies. Now I couldn’t think of them as anything but. I didn’t want kids. Didn’t have that desire or drive. But I sure wanted to rescue every dog who came into my life.

“Let’s walk the dogs, and then we can discuss what needs to be done.”

“Or tomorrow.” I managed a smile. “I’m not likely to die tonight.”

He wiped his brow. “I’m relieved to hear it. I thought we’d need to call my lawyer friend, Everett, and get him doing the paperwork.”

“Everett Williams?” I thought of the brilliant attorney and smiled.

“Yeah.”

“I use him as well. Extremely competent. Yes, maybe we can call him tomorrow.”

He grinned. “We met a while ago. I love my gay Black friends. Lesbians too. Well…” He appeared to consider. “And enbies and straight people and—”

“I doubt there’s anyone who you don’t love.” I grinned.

He bit his lip. “Bigots. Racists. Homophobes.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“But I’ve lived in Mission City my whole life. I know who to trust and who to steer clear of. I don’t apologize for living my life the way I choose to.” He rose.

I rose as well. “And you never should have to. You’re a good man. You deserve happiness.”

Unexpectedly, he leaned toward me. Into my personal space, but not too close. “You make me happy.”

I blinked.

“Okay, Rosebud and Sheffield, let’s walk.”

He didn’t wind up staying the night, instead heading back to his condo.

But the world felt very different that night.

Like my life was never going to be the same.

Chapter Seven

Carter

Byron didnotlet the grass grow under his feet. Less than two days later, I was signing papers that Everett had drawn up. My friend grinned at me. That knowing smile.