Page 51 of Love in Mission City

Sheffield tended to stick to our original daddy more.

Papa didn’t care. Truly. He just…treasured us. His word. Oh, andlove. He used that word all the time. For us, for Daddy, and for his huge family.

I had to admit Tansy was my favorite. She’d come here to visit and sit by the front window where I got to sit on her lap. For hours. Or what felt like hours. She petted me different from Daddy and Papa, but I didn’t care. She always smelled nice, and she smiled so much when we were together. I was the luckiest dog in the world.

Papa plopped down next to me. “Do you want to run around? Play fetch? Go for a walk?”

I rose, moved beside him, then lay down with my snout on his lap.

He petted my head. “I really love you. And Sheffield. And Daddy.”

I snuffled against his leg—hoping he would understand.

He rubbed my ears. “So we’re going to have a wedding here. Just a small gathering. You can either be a ring bearer or sit in Tansy’s lap.”

I nudged his thigh. I had no idea what a ring bearer was, but I’d always choose Tansy.

“Great. I was hoping you’d say that.” He scratched behind my ears. “I love you.” He chuckled. “I say that a lot.”

I gazed up and met his eyes.

He blinked several times. Like he was trying to prevent those wet things that rolled down his cheek. The things I always licked up when I could. Then he wouldn’t be sad. Then he’d smile.

Today, though, he didn’t seem to need them.

Sheffield barreled over and launched himself into Papa’s arms.

Papa caught him easily, of course. “Oof. And thank you for the kisses.”

My brother’s tail smacked me in the face.

I didn’t care because anything that made him happy made me happy as well.

The sliding-glass door opened, and Daddy came out. He offered Papa a drink, then sat on the other side of me. He gave me a good scritch because, of course, I’d been a good girl.

“Rosebud wants to sit on Tansy’s lap.”

Daddy sighed and rubbed under my chin the way I loved. “Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me. Lindy says she can sew the rings on a collar for Sheffield. We’ll need scissors to liberate them, but I think that’s safest.”

Hearing his name, my brother leapt over me and into Daddy’s lap.

“Hey, I nearly spilled my drink.” He said the words with a laugh.

Papa pointed. “Check out the sunset. This is the perfect spot.”

The backyard backed onto a bunch of trees.

“And your office faces east—perfect for the sunrises.” Daddy shivered. “Too early for me.”

“Which is why we have separate offices. Cadence found us the perfect house.” Papa leaned over.

Daddy met him halfway—and they kissed.

“I didn’t know I could be this happy.” Daddy continued to stroke my back, even as Sheffield demanded attention.

Oh, he’d put his glass down and out of the way.

Papa put an arm around Daddy’s shoulder. They looked different…but in a perfect way.