Page 91 of Just the Wrong Twin

“Great.” Shannyn called to Desdemona, who was quickly become her second-in-command. They talked tech, reviewing angles and filters, while Sonia did her stretches.

“We’ll add the music and graphics in editing, of course,” Cassie said, setting out her sketches of the layout on the mat behind them. Shannyn reviewed them and checked the angles again, then they began.

Sonia had just turned to give the camera a radiant smile of greeting when Shannyn felt the first contraction.

It was time for Desdemona to show what she could do.

* * *

It wasthe end of their weekly meeting and Nate thought Pierce would wrap it up. Instead, the older man leaned back in his chair and smiled a little. “But there is one more thing, isn’t there, Mack?”

Lisa blushed. “That’s not anyone else’s problem really.”

“It’s a problem for all of us if there’s a crisis at Mack’s menagerie,” Pierce said and the others started to chuckle.

“It’s not a menagerie,” she protested. “It’s more like a kennel.”

“A menagerie has many kinds of animals,” Jimmy contributed solemnly. “Not just four dogs and a queen guinea pig.”

“My husband said I should leave it alone,” Lisa admitted, flicking a glance at Nate.

“Is this about me?”

“Not yet,” Troll muttered. “Wait for it.”

“Go on,” Pierce said with a shake of his head. “Tell him but don’t be pushy.”

Mack leaned closer to the screen, her eyes shining. “There’s this dog,” she began. “She’s ex-military, just like you, honorable discharge, a bomb dog. Pierce heard that she needed a home and thought she might be helpful in our services. I offered to foster her.”

“But?” Nate invited when no one else did, sensing that there was a catch.

“She doesn’t get along with the guinea pig and I can’t stand it. The two of them are squaring off at all hours of the night, even though the guinea pig is in her tank.”

“The guinea pig versus the bomb dog,” Angel said with a shake of his head. “Sounds like a cartoon series.”

“The guinea pig bites it in the end,” Troll said and they laughed together.

Mack glared at them both. “She makes this terrified little squeal and the dog goes berserk.” She ran a hand over her forehead. “Then the other dogs get into it, it takes an hour to get everyone calmed down, then twenty minutes later they start again. I’m starting to understand the effectiveness of sleep deprivation as torture.”

“So, the dog needs another foster,” Nate concluded when no one said anything.

Mack nodded with enthusiasm.

“My daughter has allergies,” Jimmy said, raising his hands.

“I do not live with animals,” Troll said.

“He won’t even share barracks with me,” Angel said with a grin.

“I will not be responsible for another living creature,” Smoke said.

“Two cats,” Regan said, holding up two fingers. “An invitation to disaster.”

“I’m in an apartment in New York,” Pierce said. “A dog needs to run.”

“But she’s the sweetest dog—” Mack said.

“As long as there isn’t a guinea pig in the vicinity,” Jimmy added.

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