Page 19 of For the Boys
Leslie smiled and nodded. “We are, actually. I’m letting Brayden pick one out.”
“Well, let’s go check them out then!”
Brayden led the way, running over to the pen where all the dogs were being kept. He wasn’t tall enough to see over the top of the fence, so he stood with his face pressed against it, peering through the holes.
“His father recently passed,” Leslie told Brent. “That’s why we’re getting a dog. It’s just too quiet without James around.”
Brent’s heart squeezed at the thought of the little boy growing up without his father. Brent had been beyond blessed in that department; his father had been both loving and nurturing but also practical and tough when needed. “I’m so sorry for your loss. How did it happen? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“He was a firefighter,” Leslie said. “His company got called to a fire at an old factory last month. The roof came down, and he never made it out.”
Brent looked away when Leslie lifted her hand to wipe a tear from her eye. He found himself at a loss for words, but Leslie kept talking.
“Brayden’s birthday is next week, so I wanted to do something special to celebrate. I’m hoping a companion will help him cope better.”
Brent’s synapses fired at the word “birthday.” He didn’t know why, but something about birthdays and grand gestures just went hand in hand for him.
“I have an idea,” he said, looking over at Brayden. “To make his birthday even more special.”
“I really couldn’t ask you to go out of your way to do anything for us, Mr. Jean,” Leslie said, waving her hand at him.
“Call me Brent, please, and it really wouldn’t be going out of my way. We have a home game against Chicago in a few days. What would you say to coming? You guys can have my suite, and Brayden can invite all of his friends. It won’t cost you anything.”
Leslie looked at him, eyes wide. “You’d really do that for people you don’t know?”
“Of course. The kids would love it, and it would make me happy to do this one small thing for you and your family in the wake of such a tragedy.”
Leslie snorted, then covered her mouth in embarrassment. “Hardly a small thing.”
Brent laughed. “Fair enough. But really, I insist. I’ll contact the arena manager now and set it all up.”
“If you’re sure…” Leslie said.
“I am. I really am.”
“Mom!” Brayden called, running over to them and dragging her back to the fence. “I found the one I want.”
“Which one, honey?” Leslie knelt next to him.
Brent was close enough that he could see which one Brayden pointed out: a three-year-old chocolate Lab named Toby.
It was Brayden’s lucky day. The boy would go home with a doggy companion and a birthday party, and it wasn’t going to cost his mother a penny.
Brent had decided Lexie was blowing him off by the time her reply came through the following night.
@LexieMonroe:Okay, we’re in. What do you need from us?
@Brent22Jean:Berkley’s style, for one. I don’t want to throw her a party she’s totally going to hate because the decor and food suck.
@LexieMonroe:Haha fair enough! She likes black and grey and gold. Her style is more understated. She doesn’t like anything showy or over the top.
@LexieMonroe:And she hates surprises. You’ve been warned.
Brent winced. That would be his luck; the girl he was trying to impress didn’t like to be surprised. But he forged on, deciding it was too late to back out now.
@Brent22Jean:Don’t worry, I’ll make it perfect.
@Brent22Jean:Actually, how about this. I’ll get the venue secured. The owner owes me a favor, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Then y’all can do the actual planning and decorating and catering and stuff. I’ll pay for everything.
