Page 96 of Forgive Not Forget
Her attention was immediately drawn to a crate sitting in the middle of the room. She covered her gaping mouth with her hand and turned to Katherine. “Is that what I think it is?” She set her bouquet down on her desk.
“I don’t know. What do you think it is?”
Anna edged closer to the crate to get a better look, crouching as much as she could in her dress. A little brown nose emerged from within a collection of blankets, followed by a pair of brown eyes staring back at her. A little mouth full of white, razor teeth yawned. Anna melted as she tickled a soft little ear through the cage.
“You bought me a chocolate Labrador puppy? I don’t know who to hug first.” She wiped the tear that ran down her cheek.
“Me. I’ve got a feeling once you cuddle him, I won’t be getting a look in ever again.”
Anna placed her hands on Katherine’s cheeks. “Thank you. Thank you for marrying me, thank you for him, and thank you for being brave when I needed you to be.”
“Thank you for giving me a reason to be brave, and thank you for marrying me,” Katherine replied. “I’m the lucky one here, and I’m not sure I can wait much longer to tear you out of that dress.”
“You’ll have to wait a bit longer, I’m afraid. We have an audience awaiting us, it seems, and —” Anna reached over to her drawer and opened it. “I have something for you. It’s silly, really. You probably won’t like it.”
Katherine twitched her face in response. “Of course I will.”
“Here.” Anna passed her a box tied with a silk bow.
Katherine opened it. “You made this for me?” She took out the painted pebble and examined it in the palm of her hand. “It’s beautiful. Thank you. It shall take pride of place on my desk as a paperweight.”
“Golly.” A smirk crossed Anna’s lips. “Repurposing it as an item of stationery, is there any higher accolade?”
“Indeed there is not.”
Soft squeaks drew Anna’s attention back to the cage. “Sorry, I’m going to have to cuddle my puppy now.”
The puppy clawed up at the side of the cage, exposing his bald, pink belly.
“Look, he wants his mum.” Anna opened the cage and lifted him out, wrapping him in a blanket so he didn’t leave fur on her dress. He squeaked as he nuzzled her face. She was boiling over with love. “What on earth is Virginia going to say about you?” Anna said, swaying the pup lightly up and down as if she was settling a baby.
“If she has a problem, she can see me about it,” Katherine replied sternly. “I nearly had another heart attack when she arrived during the ceremony.”
“Typical of Virginia to show up and announce herself like that.”
Katherine stroked the top of the puppy’s head. “What about a name then?”
“Woolf.”
“Are you serious? You’re going to make me shoutVirginia Woolffrom my kitchen door to get the pets in?”
Anna bit her lips together to contain her smile. “Yep.”
Katherine leaned forward and kissed her. “I love you, Mrs…” She pulled back. “What exactly are we calling ourselves?”
“Mrs Anna Atkinson-Walker?”
“Hmm, it has a certain ring to it. Dr and Mrs Atkinson-Walker.”
Anna scrunched her face. “When you say it like that is sounds so…”
“Heterosexual,” Katherine said, turning her mouth downwards. “We may have to think on that. Right now I need some champagne.”
“Me too,” Anna agreed eagerly. “Come on, little Woolf, let’s introduce you to everyone. I’m sure Moose would love to meet you.” She turned to her wife. “How did Woolf get in my office, may I ask? And how exactly have you managed to keep him a secret?”
“Becks, of course.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “Is she in the puppy trade as well as the flower trade now? You do know you’re going to have to have a conversation with the local paperboy, though. We’ve got a lot of toilet training ahead of us.”
