Asher (Ashes & Embers 6)

“A month?” I repeat. “Are you kidding me?”

“I wish I was. Most people want the younger dogs. Eight really isn’t old for a well-loved, dog though. He could live quite a long time.”

“You want to come home with me?” I ask the dog, playfully rubbing his head. “Get spoiled? Write some songs? Chase butterflies?” He licks my hand, and I smile over at Tammy. “Do you think he’s a good match for us? For Ember? I’m not quite sure how she’s gonna react yet. He looks a lot like the dog she had when she was younger.”

“I think he’s perfect for you two. He’s calm. He’s already fully trained. I think Buddy and Ember will be really good for each other. If by some chance it doesn’t work out, you can safely bring him back to me, and we’ll make sure he’s taken care of until we find him the right home. But I really do think it’ll work out. He’s an incredibly sweet boy. He just needs someone to love and take care of.”

I’m sold.

An hour later, I’m cruising home with an excited dog hanging his head out the window of my Porsche.

Chapter Thirty

How does one surprise someone with a sixty-pound dog?

Should I have put a bow around his neck?

I should’ve talked to Kenzi and gotten some planning advice before I went and did this.

Me: I have a surprise for you.

Ember: Where are you?

Me: In the front foyer.

Ember: I hope it’s not chicken again.

I chuckle at her joke.

Me: Very funny. :-)

Ember: What is it?

Me: You’ll have to come here and see.

Ember: Be right there.

Beside me, Buddy peers around the foyer anxiously, his ears perking up when he hears footsteps coming.

When Ember comes around the corner, she’s all smiles. But when her gaze drops to the dog at my feet, she freezes in place. Her green eyes widen, and she covers her mouth with her hands.

“Oh my God…” Her muffled voice brims with emotion.

I bend down to unhook Buddy’s leash, and he immediately runs to Ember, who kneels down to catch him when he practically bounces up into her arms.

“Teddy!” she cries. “My little teddy bear, where have you been?” The dog licks her face, his tail wagging at hyper speed. “Did you miss me? I missed you so much!”

Happiness and a touch of concern run through my head as I walk over to them. I wasn’t expecting Ember to think Buddy was her childhood dog, Teddy, who passed away years ago. My hope was that he might trigger a memory and remind her of him and give her a feeling of comfort.

“Em—”

“Asher,” she gushes. “I don’t even know what to say. Do you have his ball? We should take him out in the yard and throw it for him. He loves that!”

“Um… I think so.” I hunt through the bag of things Tammy sent us home with and find a bright-green tennis ball at the bottom.

She grabs it from my hand. “C’mon, Teddy!” she says excitedly. “Wanna play ball?”

Barking, he follows her through the house and out the French doors to the backyard.

Sarah falls into step next to me as we join them. She’s witnessed the entire meeting between Ember and the dog.

“What should I do?” I whisper. “She remembers Teddy, which is great, but now she thinks it’s him. He’s been gone for years.”

Ember tosses the ball, and the dog chases after it, then brings it right back to her. When she throws her head back and laughs, I swear it’s like the past eight years never happened. Her face is lit up with a smile, her movements are fluid, and her hair is blowing in the breeze.

“I don’t think it can hurt to let her believe the dog is Teddy,” Sarah says. “Look how happy she is. Look how happy the dog is. I don’t think he’ll mind if she keeps calling him Teddy.”

“It sounds close to Buddy.” I wave at Ember when she looks over at us. “There’s no way I’m gonna be able to tell her that it’s not him. It’ll break her heart all over again. Do you think I made a mistake bringing him home?”

“No. I think he’ll be very good for her. It’ll be a good addition to her therapy to walk him and play with him.”

I hope she’s right. The last thing I want to do is deceive my wife with something I’d hoped would make her happy.

My phone rings, and I pull it out of my pocket. For the second time today, my stomach burns like acid when I see the name and number flashing on my screen.

“I’ll be right back. I have to take this.”

Sarah nods as I walk back into the house.

“Hey, Sydni.”

“Hey. How’s everything going?”

“Good.”

“How’s Ember doing?”

A glance out the window shows her lying on the grass with the dog, giggling.