Chapter 57

“Thanks. I kinda like ‘em.” Scott reached out and ruffed each of their heads.

“Where’d you get the puppy? She really does look a lot like my pair of mutts.”

“She’s one of my surprises for you: one of the new family members I wanted you to meet. I got her from one of my coworkers who has a beagle. She told me her dog got out one night and must have had a rendezvous with a beagle in her neighborhood named Rabbit that his owners let run. She had six pups. Five looked like Rabbit was the dad. Then she must have hooked up with some mysterious stranger and got Sadie because from her scruffy fur she must have had a different daddy.”

“Yeah, litters with multiple paternities can happen,” Dan said.

“When I took the girls to see them and pick one for their birthday I told them I thought I remembered your telling me your dogs were beagle mixes. That made Sadie the unanimous choice.”

Dan looked at the girls, who’d knelt down and were petting the puppy as it chewed on its leash. He smiled.