Page 81 of Two Daddies for Little Jenna

Kristen rang the doorbell as she stood next to her Daddy, not looking in my direction. She was wearing her hair short now, and the green in my hair was beginning to fade.

"Yours does too," Kristen said slyly.

The door opened and there stood Michael, tears running down his red face while Elijah stood hugging himself sadly on the couch. It didn't make any sense. I'd just talked to him that morning and he sounded so ecstatic for our playdate together.

"Oh, hon'," I said, climbing out of Daddy Nick's arms and handing him my stuffies. "What happened?"

Michael took a seat on the floor and put his head in his hands as he struggled to breathe between his sobs. I'd never seen him like this and I was scared something might have happened to his Daddy, but thankfully uncle John came into view holding onto Michael's favorite stuffed wolf, handing it to his boy who showed no interest in it.

Kristen, Elijah and I surrounded Michael and sat on the floor, covering him up in a hug.

"It's Princess," Michael finally said and blood froze in my veins at the realization. "The vet had ordered some tests. The results came back thirty minutes ago and it showed the cancer had spread all over her body. We called the vet and she said Princess only had a few days left and there was nothing to be done. I was heartbroken and I ran upstairs to give Princess a hug. I told myself I would give her the best last few days of her short life. Turns out she wasn't taking a long nap after all. I found her lifeless body hugging her favorite squeaky wolf toy in her bedroom. Daddy said everything was going to be fine but he lied."

"Oh, Michael," uncle John said quietly. "I'm so sorry."

When uncle John bent over to join the hug, all the other Daddies did the same and it had turned into one big group hug. It reminded me that if something bad happened to one of us, the rest of us would be there for them. It was like we were all part of an extended family.

When we broke the hug, Michael sniffled as Elijah and I wiped his eyes. "God, I'm so embarrassed everyone had to see me like this."

Michael's whispers were always very loud, but now he was talking so quietly it was almost a whisper.

"You've always taught us to be a strong Little," I said. "Crying isn't a sign of weakness, and none of us will think any less of you."

"Princess loved nature," Michael said. "She was the happiest when she visited Elijah's cabin in the woods, chasing us and Nico around as she ran to her heart's content. We should bury her there, if you're fine with it, Elijah."

When Elijah nodded, Michael stood up and slowly walked up to his puppy, wrapping her in his favorite wolf blankie before tucking her in a small box. It was unsettling to see a coffin that small.

He'd never let us touch his favorite blankie or stuffie but eagerly shared all his other toys and belongings.

"But that's your favorite blankie, Michael," Elijah said, standing behind him and rubbing his back.

"She loved it when I covered her with it each night as she cuddled up between Daddy and me. I have Daddy to keep me warm on cold nights, but she has no one where she's going. She'll need it more than me."

The Littles all sat in the backseat together while uncle John drove. Michael seemed to be in a catatonic state, lost deep in his thoughts.

"What's going through your mind?" I asked. "Talk to us."

"She was just an innocent puppy," he said, still looking down at his interlocked fingers in his lap. "Why would God make her suffer like this when some criminals get to live long and happy lives?"

"God works in mysterious ways," Elijah said. "My Daddies say the good ones die young because God needs them by his side."

"I didn't even get to say goodbye." Michael sighed, turning his head to look out the window. "The surgery went so well. She was back to her playful self. I thought I'd get to see her grow old, that I'd get many opportunities to spoil her and shower her with love. Really goes to show, doesn't it? You never know how long you've got in this world, no matter how healthy or happy you are. Did I tell you how I ended up getting her?"

"Yeah," Kristen said. "You wanted a wolf because they're your favorite animal. But you were willing to settle for a bear cub. Your Daddy was fine with a puppy and ended up surprising you."

"I was so excited when Daddy gifted her to me, but I didn't think she'd be as cool as a wolf or a bear. As it turned out, she was far cooler because she loved me to death and was pure of heart. Followed me around everywhere wagging her tiny tail. I didn't know it then, but in a way, taking her on my honeymoon trip was a gift to her for being my friend."

When we reached Elijah's cabin in the woods, the Daddies dug up a small hole in the ground as Michael hugged onto her tiny coffin in his arms.

"It's time, hon'," I said when the Daddies finished up and looked at us.

"Oh, God." Michael had begun to cry hysterically again. "It hurts so much. I'll never get to hear her tiny bark again."

Uncle John ran up to him and put the coffin aside before taking him up in his arms and rocking him side to side.

"Remember what your uncle Clark always says about death?" John said, wiping away his tears.

"Uh-huh," he managed to say as he continued sobbing and rubbing his eyes. "You don't die as long as someone remembers you."