They paid for their things and slipped a collar on the puppy. Scotty hooked the leash on the collar. The dog promptly put the leash in her mouth then sat down and rolled up in it.
“I think it’s going to take a bit to get her used to a leash.” Becky Lee laughed.
They headed back to Becky Lee’s with the puppy alternating biting the leash and tangling herself and Scotty in it until they tumbled to the ground.
~ * ~
After they got home, Scotty and the puppy raced around the backyard until both of them were exhausted. Cal chased Scotty into a shower and Becky Lee found Cal sitting on a rocker with the puppy sprawled across his lap, Cal mindlessly stroking the pup’s head.
“She really is a cute puppy.”
“You remember that when she chews her first pair of your shoes.” The corner of Cal’s mouth rose in a smile.
“Scotty wants the puppy to sleep in his room. What do you think?” Becky Lee sat on the rocker next to Cal and leaned over and petted the dog.
“I think we might be in for some sleepless nights, but honestly, I’d do anything for that boy.”
“Me, too.” Becky Lee stared out into the darkness of the night. “I hope this brings some joy back into his life. Keeps him busy while Theresa Jean has more time to heal. I know she’s going to wake up soon. I can feel it.”
“After the whole custody paper thing—when suddenly you knew where it was—I’m sure not going to doubt you.”
“Good. Now that we have it all settled that you should always listen to me…” Becky Lee grinned. “We should go in and get Scotty to bed.”
Cal stood up with the puppy in his arms, and they headed inside.
Becky Lee found an old pillow and put it down on the floor in Scotty’s room for the puppy’s bed. Cal propped a board up across the corner to make a temporary penned area for the pup. The puppy wanted nothing of it. She kept trying to climb over the board.
“I’ll figure out something better tomorrow.” Cal eyed the board.
“Can’t she sleep with me?”
“I think she should have her own bed for now.” Becky Lee looked at the puppy still trying to climb over the board. “She’ll settle down soon.”
At least Becky Lee hoped the puppy would. Otherwise, no one was getting much sleep tonight.
The puppy whined. “It’s okay, girl. I’m here.” Scotty sat up in bed.
“We’ll give this a try for a bit. But you need to get some sleep.” Cal tucked the boy back under the covers.
They left the room and sat in the kitchen, listening to the whining of the puppy. After about five minutes, she settled down. “Good. She must have been all tired out. Hope she sleeps a good long time.”
“I’ll listen for her. If she wakes up tonight, I’ll take her outside.” Cal leaned on the table and took her hand in his. “It was a really good thing you did today for Scotty.”
“You remember that when you’re up at two in the morning with the puppy.”
They sat and talked about their new family member—the adorable, if mischievous, puppy—but Becky Lee was having a hard time staying awake. “I think I’ll call it a night.”
“Okay. See you in the morning.”
Becky Lee walked down the hall and poked her head into Scotty’s room. The boy wasn’t in his bed. She looked over in the corner of the room that Cal had barricaded off for the puppy. Scotty was sound asleep on the floor, his head on his pillow, his little arm wrapped around the puppy snuggled against him. She walked into the room, got his blanket, and draped it over the sleeping duo. She stood watching the boy and the puppy, regretting fervently that her sister was missing this moment.
Cal came to the doorway and she pressed her finger to her lips in a shush sign. He nodded.
She walked out of the room with one last glance back at the boy. “We’ll just break the rules for one night,” she whispered to Cal.
He didn’t look like he believed her for a minute.
~ * ~
A few nights later Becky Lee, Cal and Scotty were taking one of their after dinner walks. The still unnamed puppy was doing a bit better with leash walking. A bit. Becky Lee laughed as the puppy chased around Scotty, wrapping the leash around him as she circled.
“Stop it. You’re gonna make me fall again.” Scotty spun around trying to unwind. He untangled himself and took a few more steps. “Look. I found a penny.” He reached down to pick up the coin.
The puppy froze, looked at him, then cocked her head to the side.
That had to be the most adorable thing Becky Lee had ever seen.
“That’s it.” Scotty jumped up and down.
“What?” Cal looked at the boy in confusion.