He sniffs at Bella and gives the signal again.
I know Moose well enough, his training hasn’t worn off just because we’re not on the beat anymore.
He knows a lot more than I do most days and today he’s trying to tell me something.
“Alright, boy. Maybe we’ll have the vet look you over too,” I tell him, kneeling down to pet them both. There’s nowhere Bella goes that he doesn’t anyway.
Might as well get a physical while I’m at it, I tell myself. Figuring I can still use the appointment if Naomi won’t go.
The vet calls me back, letting me know they’re ready when we are so I get both dogs ready to go.
“You sure you don’t want to come with us?” I ask through the bedroom door, poking my head around to see the bed empty.
Hearing the shower running I ask her again through the bathroom door.
“Go on ahead, I’ll be fine,” she tells me, sounding a little more cheerful at least.
It’s not what I want, but I shrug and decide to leave Naomi to it. Double-checking the house is locked and the gates closed before Bella, Moose and I head off to the vet.
“Hope it’s nothing serious, girl,” I tell her, rubbing her head as she leans over from the back seat.
The vet pretends to tell me off for not bringing Moose back sooner since he’s been given the all-clear but it’s obvious at a glance he’s fine.
“It’s Bella I’m worried about,” I tell him, pointing out her swollen belly.
He smiles politely enough and runs his hands over her, feeling her and listening through his stethoscope.
I give him a sideways glance when he gives me a quizzical look.
“Bella’s a girl, right?” he asks calmly and I agree.
“Sure she is,” I tell him.
“And Moose is a boy?” he says slowly like he’s explaining things to a child.
My phone pings and I glance at it, a message from Naomi which I open straight away before dealing with the vet and his weird questions.
At the same moment, I see the photo Naomi’s sent, I join the dots.
Some detective I am. I guess I’m a little out of practice. Plus I was sure Moose had been neutered.
Isn’t he?
Obviously not.
She’s sent me a picture of a blue plus sign, another one comes through as I hold my phone, frozen on the spot.
It’s a pregnancy test.
I think I know what’s ‘wrong’ with me. Her message reads.
“I’m gonna be a daddy?” I murmur to myself, my hands trembling as it sinks in.
“Well, Moose is too,” The vet adds, chuckling to himself as he strokes Bella some more.
“Huh?” I ask, wondering how the vet could possibly know Naomi’s pregnant.
“I can hear two puppies inside her, maybe more. We’ll know more with an ultrasound,” he explains.
“You okay?” he asks.
“I’m gonna be a daddy,” I say again, holding my phone up so he can see Naomi’s message.
“Well, double congratulations are in order then,” the vet exclaims.
Dialing Naomi, I’ve never been happier to hear her voice. She’s crying and in a heartbeat, I feel like I am too.
“Marry me,” I tell her before she can say a word. I can’t even wait until I get home.
“Just. Marry me,” is all can say.
All I can feel is relief when she says yes.
I won’t have our child coming into the world without having a proper mommy and daddy.
A proper family.
Our family.
Extended Epilogue
Two Years Later
Naomi
It was Parker’s idea to buy the dog salon from Sasha. At an inflated price to I might add, making up for the trouble I caused her from my first and last day working for her.
Things went real quiet for her business and one day Parker casually told me he’d bought the salon.
“It’s a win-win really,” he said. “Moose and the other guys are terrible when we bath them at home,” he reasoned, not that I needed convincing.
It’s something I always wanted to do.
At least it was until I fell pregnant again. Running the salon with little Cole on my hip and then being pregnant a second time, the strain was starting to show.
As swiftly as he set it all up, Parker announced I should hand over the reins to someone else to do the actual work.
“You want me all to yourself, barefoot and pregnant don’t you?” I ask him, making him grin as he reaches for me.
“And in gray sweats, T-shirt. No bra,” he says, making a low groaning sound as he runs his huge hands over me.
“We’ll need a bigger place soon enough anyway,” he adds, reminding me his mom’s place is empty now that she’s in a care facility.
True to form, little Cole wakes up and starts to wail from the back. A mini nursery set up where a storage room used to be.
It’s not long before the dogs start to howl too, a curious thing I’ve noticed whenever Cole squawks. Guaranteeing mommy and daddy never miss out on hearing when the baby’s in any distress.