Linda Wisdom - Single Kid Seeks Dad

Hugging the puppy against her chest and stroking his back the way she would comfort a baby, Lucy watched the woman drive off.

She looked at Logan. “She’s done this before?”

He nodded. “The poodle didn’t like her. The Pekingese had an ugly face. Then there was the Afghan that didn’t match the furniture. She said she couldn’t bear to return the dogs to the breeders, so she always brought them to me to adopt out. The problem is she has a husband who indulges her every whim.” He shook his head in frustration. “How did you know she goes to the Caribbean?”

“It was pretty much an easy guess. In my former life as a travel agent, I met women like her. I’d also say she enjoys Vienna, Paris and Geneva for their shopping and costly facial treatments.”

Logan absently stroked the puppy’s head as he opened the envelope and pulled out a check. Lucy glanced over. Her eyes widened at the amount written in a graceful script.

“She not only leaves the dog but gives you money to boot?”

“I think it’s guilt money on her part. Thanks to Mrs. Crenshaw’s donations I’ve been able to add four more dog runs, set up the cat palace and give Kristi and Jeremy much-needed raises,” he told her.

“But she basically abandons her dogs here.” Lucy looked down at the puppy, now happily snoozing in her arms. She didn’t want to put the dog down.

“Better she leaves them here than dumps them on the road.” Logan started to reach for the puppy but Lucy danced out of his way.

“He’s fine with me.” She cupped her hand over the back of the puppy’s head in a protective manner. “Besides, he’s upset. He just lost the person he thought was his mother. He needs some TLC before you can even think of putting him in one of those cages.”

“I have to check him out before I can put him up for adoption,” he pointed out in a low voice. “Besides, those cages keep him safe.”

“I want to adopt him.” The words left her mouth before her brain engaged. She took a deep breath as she looked down at the puppy snuggling contentedly against her. Feeling she needed him to understand she was serious, she repeated the words. “I want to adopt him.”

Logan was silent as he studied her. Lucy felt the rest of the world around them recede as she returned his gaze. Looking at the way his red Adoption Day T-shirt covered his chest, she was convinced that red was most definitely his color.

“That’s a pretty quick decision considering you said you know nothing about dogs.”

“He doesn’t deserve to be just dumped here like…like…” She found herself at a loss for words. “It’s as if that woman returned a dress that was the wrong color.”

“True, Mrs. Crenshaw isn’t the most thoughtful woman in the county, but she does have her good points. She knows I’ll find the puppy an appropriate home,” he explained. “I’m just hoping the next time around I won’t end up with a tank full of fish.”

The puppy sighed with contentment as Lucy lightly scratched between his ears. “I don’t think you will. It sounds like she’s happier when she’s spending her husband’s money. She’ll spend a small fortune setting up a salt-water tank that her friends will ooh and aah over. That’s all she wants. Having a dog didn’t give her that kind of joy.”

“She didn’t have that joy with a cat either,” he said. “The Persian had a habit of shedding fur on the furniture and she was positive the Siamese didn’t like her. Luckily, she didn’t try exotic birds.”

Lucy winced. “Then we’ll just hope that she loves fish.”

“Or the clinic will end up with a fancy tank in the waiting area.”

“Just don’t put it on the cat side,” she quipped. “Now, where do I sign the papers to make this baby boy mine?”

“I’ll stop by Mrs. Crenshaw’s house tomorrow to have her sign the dog over to you,” he told her. “And I’ll give you some puppy food to take home.”

She nodded. “After here, we’re going shopping at the pet store,” she cooed to the puppy. She studied the rhinestone-studded baby-blue leather collar with its matching leash. “She didn’t name you, but she gets you a fancy collar that doesn’t go with your personality. Don’t worry, I’ll find you a collar that’s more you and all sorts of toys for you to play with.”

“I have to say, when you decide to get a dog you don’t do it by half measures.”

Before she could reply, Jeremy called Logan and walked quickly away.

Lucy looked down at the puppy as he opened one eye and stretched his mouth in a jaw-cracking yawn.

“I wonder what Luther will think of you,” she murmured.

“Hey, Mom, cute dog.” Nick walked up to her. He frowned as he studied the puppy. “Where’d he come from?”

“You always said we should have a dog.” She stared into the face that stole her heart right away. “Meet Domino. He’s going home with us.” She laughed at the shock on his face. “Once we’re finished here we’ll have to do some shopping.”

Nick shook his head as he walked away. “When I said we needed a dog I was thinking more like a lab or German shepherd.”

By the end of the day, Lucy was exhausted. She could only sit on a folding chair and stare at the ground. Domino lay curled up in a tiny ball on her lap. Nick had collapsed on the grass beside her chair.

“No wonder you only do this once a month. It takes that long just to recover.”

“A lot of dogs found good homes and so did most of the cats,” Logan said. “I want to thank all of you for your help.”

“Forget the thanks, when are you feeding us?” Jeremy demanded.

Nick opened one eye. “Food?”

“Logan always orders pizza at the end of the day,” Kristi explained.

“No mushrooms,” Nick said.

Lucy looked down at her son. “We really should go.”

“Stay and eat with us,” Logan invited. “You don’t need to make any stops tonight. As I said earlier, I’ll send some puppy kibble home with you.”

“Yeah, Mom,” Nick said. “Besides, it’s part of my community service.”

“Do you really think I’ll believe that eating pizza is part of your work?”

“I’m a growing boy.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Lucy turned to Logan. “He can eat his weight in pizza,” she warned.

His grin did strange things to her insides. “So can I.”

SATED FROM sausage pizza and cheese garlic bread, Lucy sat back in the chair and allowed herself to relax. The puppy snoozed by her feet.

“You know Luther’s going to have a fit when he sees the puppy,” Nick said as he flopped down on the grass.

“Luther has issues, but he’ll get past them,” she said.

“Yeah, he hates everyone.” The boy leaned forward and picked up the puppy, setting him in his lap. The dog stood up on his hind legs and licked the boy’s face. “Okay, fella, time to run and play.” He stood up, taking Domino with him.

“A boy and his dog,” Logan said, taking Nick’s place by Lucy’s chair. “I guess I should say your dog.”

“It’s a shame I can’t get him to work this hard at home,” she commented, watching her son herd the puppy into the enclosed area. The puppy took off running.

“I always worked better anywhere but home.” Logan swiped a slice of pizza off Lucy’s plate.

“Did you always want to be a veterinarian?”

“Since I was five and watched our cocker spaniel have puppies. She had some difficulty with the birth. I thought the vet was magic because he helped her. My dad always wanted me to be a lawyer then a judge like him. He never forgave me for not going into the law.”

Lucy studied him through a narrowed gaze. “I have a pretty good imagination, but I can’t see you in a three-piece suit delivering an impassioned summation to a jury.”