To Be Loved by You by Debbie Burns

Author:Debbie Burns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2021-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Fatigue was pushing in, threatening to cloud Jeremy’s thoughts as he set the goldendoodle puppies down in the grass under the brilliant night sky. They stuck together like bookends without any books between them as they wandered a few feet into the grass, sniffing and stepping cautiously.

It was a little after one in the morning, and the night was alive with the sounds of early summer as an army of crickets and cicadas attempted to outcompete one another. The other two dogs were fast asleep, but he’d heard one of the puppies crying from all the way upstairs where he and Ava had been taking care of the kitten.

Stifling a yawn, Jeremy tried to recall his schedule for tomorrow but couldn’t. As busy as his Friday had been, he’d forgotten to check at the end of it. He thought he remembered an early-morning Zoom call with his client case advisor but hoped it wasn’t until next week. At ten thirty, his last group of program kids would be arriving for their final service project. They were headed back to High Grove to finish installing two benches near the fenced play areas that they’d been working on last month.

Regardless of his schedule, with the foster dogs here, he wouldn’t be sleeping in past his usual five thirty for some time. After catching whatever sleep he could get once Ava left, he’d be relying on extra cups of coffee tomorrow, no doubt.

Standing under the glow of the stars, a wave of serenity washed over him, muting his fatigue. He’d been missing out the last few years, not accompanying Rolo into the yard at night for his final bathroom break of the day. Growing up in Cahokia, light pollution had been minimal, and gazing out at the night sky as he’d fallen asleep had been one of Jeremy’s consistent sources of comfort. As busy as the last few years had been, he’d gotten into the habit of only taking time to appreciate the night sky when he was camping.

A few feet away, after investigating each blade of grass and getting distracted by every sound, the male puppy finally dipped his hind end to pee. “Good boy!” Jeremy sank onto his heels, praising him with a pat and offering one of the treats he’d brought with him. Even though the voting poll would stretch out another day, Jeremy was already thinking of him as Mortimer, a name Hailey had suggested earlier that really seemed to fit and all the kids had liked.

Seeing that the puppies were curious to explore, Jeremy opted not to rush them. While sniffing something buried in the grass, Mortimer sneezed loudly, startling his sister. She dashed over to Jeremy, tucking herself between his feet. Chuckling, he bent down and scratched her head before she took off to join her brother again.

Rolo, who had settled down on the brick pavement and was starting to doze, lumbered back to his feet and pressed in close. Jeremy wondered which his dog was hoping for more, a bit of praise or a treat of his own.

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