Baby for the Billionaire(90)
Jack forced himself to pick up the ball. “Could start over?”
There was another long pause, and then: “I know I don’t deserve it,” Jonathan said in a rough undertone. “But I want to have my son and granddaughter in my life again. Your wife, as well, if you’re willing.”
For some reason, picturing Annalise’s face stayed Jack’s cold refusal. She would want him to take the proffered olive branch, as would Joanne. If his father could humble his pride—something Jack would have once thought an impossibility—so could he. “I’d like that, Dad. We’ll call you and set a date.”
“Thanks, Jack.” Uncharacteristic emotion trembled in Jonathan’s voice. “Anytime you’re free. Anytime at all will be fine with us.”
The weeks flowed by after that, and Family Bed became a Sunday morning staple. Little by little they accumulated furnishings that would better accommodate both a five-year-old and a massive klutz of a dog. Madam, in particular, reveled in her new home, her coat gleaming with health, while the regular nutritional meals kept her nicely filled out.
Or so he thought until Isabella woke them in the early morning hours with a piercing shriek. He was out of bed a split second before Annalise and raced flat out toward his niece’s bedroom. She wasn’t there. The covers of her bed were thrown back and Isabella was nowhere to be seen. Jack’s heart began to pound in dread.
“Where is she?” Annalise said, slamming into him as she darted into the room. “What’s happened?”
Her question was answered by another scream, coming from the direction of the playroom. The two of them flew down the hallway. It took him a minute to find his niece. He finally discovered Isabella and Madam inside the giant playhouse that occupied one end of the room. The dog lay on her side, straining, while his niece frantically petted her. She raised a tear-stained face to Jack and held out her arms. He scooped her up, checking her desperately for any sign of injury.
“What’s wrong, Baby Belle?” he murmured. “Where are you hurt?”
“Jack, it’s not Isabella. It’s Madam. Look.” A wet bundle of fur was tucked close to the dog. Madam licked the pup clean and nosed it toward her belly where it latched onto a nipple. Annalise stooped beside Jack and Isabella. “Don’t cry, Isabella. Madam isn’t hurt. She’s having babies.”
The change in his niece was instantaneous. Her eyes grew huge and a brilliant smile lit her face. She gave a little bounce that Jack swiftly stilled. “We need to be quiet. It’s a lot of hard work to have puppies.”
“I guess this explains why she was putting on so much weight,” Annalise murmured, as Madam whelped another pup.
“It never occurred to me to ask the vet if she’d been spayed,” Jack replied. “We’ll get that taken care of as soon as the pups are weaned.”
Over the next several hours, six puppies made their way into the world while Isabella looked on, wide-eyed and trembling with happiness.
“What are we going to do with all these dogs?” Annalise asked in dismay. “One Madam is wonderful. But six more …”
“Six more Madam-sized dogs are impossible, especially if these little guys are as klutzy as their mother.” He released a gusty sigh. “I’ll put the word out. We’ll find good homes for them.”
Isabella yanked on his arm, shaking her head.
“You want to keep them all, don’t you, sweetie?”
She nodded emphatically.
He hesitated, wondering how he could explain it in terms she’d understand. “Do you remember your mommy and daddy telling you about the day they adopted you?” He could tell from her expression that she did. “They adopted you because the lady who gave birth to you … like Madam gave birth to all these puppies … couldn’t take care of you, even though I’m sure she wanted to. Your birth mommy did a wonderful thing. She found someone who would love you and give you a safe home because she wasn’t able to. In a few weeks, when these puppies are ready to be out on their own, Madam won’t be able to take care of so many. It’s our job to find good mommies and daddies for all of Madam’s puppies, people who will love them and keep them safe. Families with children like you who need their own Madam. Do you understand?”
He could tell Isabella wasn’t happy about it, but she nodded reluctantly. He tossed a relieved smile over his shoulder in Annalise’s direction, shocked to see the tears streaking down her cheeks.