Adopting Jenny by Liz Botts Read Free Book Online

said slowly. “Maybe I could name a puppy?”
    â€œThere’s two left,” I said, not bothering to contain my excitement. “That one is Checkers and the other one is Bear.”
    Penny leaned over the box. “I think I’d like to call that tannish one Shoehorn.”
    â€œShoehorn?” Dad said with a chuckle. “Poor dog.”
    â€œHey, it’s not as bad as Mr. Ice Cream,” Penny said, only looking a little offended.
    At the thought of Mr. Ice Cream my stomach knotted painfully. I knew that this night was too good to be true. I had to fight hard to keep the tears out of eyes. Penny must have noticed, though, because she reached over and squeezed my hand.
    â€œYeah, this girl at school named her hamster Shoehorn because he liked to sleep in her dad’s shoes. I just thought it was really cute, you know?” Penny said with a shrug.
    â€œShoehorn it is then.” Dad picked up a discarded tea towel, and folded it into a small square. “I think it might be time to get these guys some food.”
    I handed the yet unnamed puppy to Dad because he had eaten first last time. While Dad went through the now elaborate ritual of trying to get the puppy to latch, Penny kept rubbing Barney’s nose. The dog got so relaxed his whole body got floppy and he started to drool. Penny and I watched him. Then we exchanged looks. I could tell that my sister wanted this dog just as much as I did.
    â€œHaving all these dogs here really makes me miss Duke,” Penny said.
    With great effort, I swallowed past the huge lump that sprang to life in my throat. Duke had been such a good dog.
    â€œWe all miss Duke,” Dad said so softly I thought he might not have spoken at all and that we could suddenly hear his thoughts.
    Tears streaked down Penny’s cheeks. “It was just so unfair,” she said as her voice broke.
    Dad set the puppy down by Jenny and scooted over to hug my sister. “Mom and I didn’t want to put Duke to sleep,” he said, his own voice sounding hoarse. “He was just too sick.”
    â€œI was the last person to walk him,” Penny said. “We walked to the park and he just looked at me with such love and trust. He had no idea what was going to happen to him. Sometimes I can’t get that image out of my head.”
    She turned toward Dad, burying her head in his shoulder as she sobbed. I reached over and pulled Barney to me as I felt the waves of sadness crashing over me. When Penny’s tears subsided, Dad quietly went back to working with the puppies. I let Penny do the bottle feeding as each puppy failed to latch again. My heart was already aching from the thoughts of Duke, but I couldn’t keep the crushing disappointment I knew was coming from creeping in too.
    Dad cleared his throat. “You know, girls, I think when Mom wakes up I’m going to talk to her about keeping Jenny.”
    Penny and I looked at each other and squealed. Without thinking, we jumped up, wrapping our arms around Dad in a sandwich type hug. Then I flung my arms around Jenny. I tried to talk, to thank Dad, but the words stuck in my throat and I could only giggle happily.
    Dad set Barney next to Jenny, and through my haze of happiness a bit of sadness poked at me as I watched him fumble around. I turned my head away, telling myself to be happy with just Jenny. Then Penny gasped and I looked back over. Barney had managed to latch on. His little jaw worked hard as he tried to suckle. I held my breath. Moments later he was still sucking. With each suck he seemed to have a stronger connection to Jenny, who leaned over and licked him.
    â€œLooks like Jenny found her baby after all,” Penny said.
    â€œWay to go, Barney,” I whispered.
    I looked up at Dad. This night had changed everything I thought about him, and no matter what else happened I was happy for that. If I hadn’t known better I would have said that he had tears in his eyes as