Page 34 of Noble Neighbor
Color me green
“Why’re we here, Mommy?” Molly asked as Sunny pulled into the veterinarian parking lot. “Is Lu sick? Or Tabs?”
“No, they’re fine.” She led her girls to the bench conveniently placed beside a small, grassed area. “I need to tell you something,” Sunny said and quickly recounted how Lucifer led her to Hooch.
Until now, she’d deliberately kept quiet about the hound, not wanting to get their hopes up in case he relapsed, but the vet had called this morning. Hooch was ready to go home. Over the last week, Sunny had visited the dog a few times, forming a bond with the hound.
“Is Hooch’s leg okay now, Mom?” Kenzie whispered,swiping a hand over her wet eyes.
Sunny tugged a lock of hair behind Kenzie’s ear and pressed a kiss on her head. “Yes, honey. He might have a limp for a while, but the vet reckons it’s going to heal just fine.”
“Like yours?” Molly said.
“Like mine,” Sunny replied, her voice equally quiet.
“I’m glad.”
Molly scooted off the bench and grabbed Sunny’s hand. “Can we go fetch Hooch now, Mommy? He needs us.”
Sunny managed a weak smile. “Yes, lets.”
*
“And this is my bedroom, Hooch,” Kenzie said, patting the hound’s neck. The dog still had a way to go with his weight, but he was home and healing.
Sunny leaned against the door and watched as her eldest introduced their newest family member to every object in her room. Since the moment Hooch had laid eyes on Kenzie, he’d not left her side, clearly having chosen his person.
“Is Hooch Kenzie’s dog?” Molly sidled up to Sunny with Lucifer draped over her arm. The kitten was purring like crazy. Tabitha had taken one look at Hooch, flicked her tail, and pranced off in a huff.
Sunny dropped her hand to Molly’s shoulder. “Well, he’s supposed to beourdog, but” — she chuffed a laugh as Hooch jumped onto Kenzie’s bed, did a couple of circles, and settled down at the foot end with a hearty sigh — “I think maybe he’s more Kenzie’s.”
Molly hugged Lucifer to her neck. “That’s okay, 'cause I got Lu.”
“He definitely prefers you,” Sunny murmured, constantly amazed at how gentle the kitten was with Molly.
“Now we each got a pet to love 'cause you got Tabby, and Kenzie’s got Hooch.”
“We’re so lucky.”
Molly nodded eagerly. “Uh huh.”
*
Sunny stayed seated in the Suburban for a few moments and watched Kenzie bolt toward her friend a few yards away. Michaela was her daughter’s first bestie. The two girls hugged and danced a small circle.
A slow grin broke across Sunny’s face. What a difference the two months here made in Kenzie.
Her daughter’s joy was so palpable it brought a lump to her throat. And Sunny liked Ruth, Michaela’s mom, who also happened to be long-time friends with Bella.
Hoochruffedand nudged her shoulder with his nose.
“Hooch wants out, Mommy,” Molly chirped from the rear as she unbuckled herself. Sunny blinked away the pesky tears and took a deep breath to calm her emotions.
The Annual Apple Festival was not the place for melancholy.
Sunny stepped out and opened the Suburban’s back door, releasing both Molly and Hooch. Even though his body was shaking with excitement, he stood still while she attached his lead to the collar. She said a silent thank you to Mr. Turner for training the hound so well. He was a pleasure to have around and slotted into their family as if he’d been born to it.
“And this is Hooch,” Kenzie cried out as she took the lead from Sunny, instructing the dog to sit and shake for her friend, which he dutifully did.
