Page 49 of Mother Clucker

David rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Great. Thanks. It’s up to two hundred thousand views last I looked.”

“Really?” I could see he didn’t share my excitement but I had to ask, “How many comments?”

He shook his head, scowling. “You don’t want to know.”

“Four hundred?” I guessed.

“Over five.” He sighed.

I couldn’t help my grin, but in deference to his misery, and since I was the one responsible for the video in the first place, I patted his arm concilitorily. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.” He shook his head.

“I’m really not.” I smiled.

He laughed. “Well, at least you admit it. Now excuse me as I go chaperone the first rooster-goat play date in history.”

“I don’t think it is,” I called after him. “Search rooster riding a goat online and see how many pictures come up.”

He glanced back, brow high. “You really need to get off the internet once in a while.”

“I do. Once in a while.” I was clearly thinking about last night.

So was he. I could see that when he shook his head, but made no comment as he slipped out the door to meet Trixie and family in the parking lot.

“So . . .”

I turned and saw Emily had moved closer to me when I had been too distracted by David to notice.

She continued, “You and David Strickland, huh?”

My mouth dropped open, but since I didn’t have any clue what to say, I closed it again.

She smiled. “I won’t say I’m not a little jealous, but good for you. He seems like a really awesome guy.”

I glanced out the window to see him taking his play date chaperone duties very seriously as he placed Rowdy on Trixie’s back.

“Yeah. He really is.” And I wasn’t sure if I was more amazed that it was true, or that it had taken me so long to see it. Maybe both.

I sighed and turned back to Emily. “I should get back to my duties.” I frowned. “What, officially, are those again?”

“Well, you have a choice. You can bottle feed the litter of kittens we found with no mother. Or you can change the paper in the bottom of the puppy cage.”

I decided without a second thought. “Kittens. Definitely kittens.”

Emily nodded. “Good choice. Then after that, I thought you might want to help me work on the details for the adopt-a-thon next week.”

My eyes lit at that suggestion.

She laughed. “Thought you’d like that.”

“For sure. One hundred percent.” And wait until she heard what I’d already gotten permission to do for the adopt-a-thon. It was going to blow her away.

“Hang on, little buddy. I’ll get you cleaned up.”

I spun at the sound of David’s voice as the door opened and closed again. He was holding Charlie and Anna’s son.

“Junior here managed to step in Rowdy’s poop. Figured it was my responsibility to clean him up.” David beamed, not looking too upset about his chore and seeming as natural with the adorable boy on his hip as if he’d been born a father.

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