Forever a Family by Bonnie K. Winn

Author:Bonnie K. Winn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Olivia didn’t exactly know why she had volunteered. It wasn’t like her to be so impulsive. But behind Zeke’s confident gaze, she could see that he had been affected by the plight of both the mother dog and her unfortunate litter.

It wasn’t Olivia’s responsibility to make him feel better. In fact, she was sure he had scores of friends who could help him, but in that moment, she’d felt needed.

The BBQ Shack loaded her up with brisket and side dishes. Another quick stop at the bakery and she tucked a pie, some cookies and some caramelized nuts beside the takeout. Luckily, there was plenty of coffee on hand at Zeke’s. She was positive they would need it. Olivia frowned, thinking about Joey. Zeke would delay telling him about the sad fate of the litter, but at some point Joey would ask if there had been only the one puppy born.

In their house, anything connected with death had been deliberately avoided. She and Joey no longer watched mysteries on television or in the movies she rented. Not that she expected to keep him from encountering death forever, but these puppies... Well, this was very personal. Olivia checked the digital clock on the car dash. Fortunately, the usual lack of traffic allowed her to get to town and back quickly.

Entering the front door, she heard noise from Zeke’s personal quarters. She sniffed, smelling a touch of hickory.

Olivia walked through the tall double doors to see a fire blazing in the large fireplace. Another glance and she saw Joey in one of the big chairs, the tiny newborn in his arms.

He looked up.

She kept her voice to a whisper. “How’s he doing?”

“Okay, I think. Zeke let me give him his syringe of milk.” Undisguised pride coupled with tenderness coated his words. He had always been a sensitive boy. It was only after Joey had lost his father that he had taken on his tough attitude.

“I thought you’d have to use a bottle.”

“That comes later,” Joey told her, using information he had no doubt just learned from Zeke.

She held up the bags of food, managing to raise her thumbs at the same time, signaling her approval. “I’ll put this in the kitchen, get our dinner ready. Where’s Zeke?”

Joey nodded his head in the direction of the clinic.

After taking time only to unload the food, Olivia walked through the back hall to Zeke’s acute-care section.

He was checking the dog’s heart rate. Hearing her, Zeke turned, his expression not giving away much. The fact that he had disguised his feelings told her the dog wasn’t doing well.

“I wonder what her name is,” Olivia said quietly. “She looks like a Carmie to me.”

“Carmie?”

Olivia shot him a small smile. “It was one of the names I’d planned to give my puppy once I got one.”

“Carmie it is.”

“When will you know?” she asked, hating that she had to ask.

“Medicine isn’t that exact. I’d say she was abandoned or lost at least a week before the car hit her.

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