Chapter 156 Coming Home
“Now, I still think getting a pack of dogs is too much,” Byron began, “but after seeing Odin again and seeing how much you connected with him, I decided to call the shelter and ask if they could get him ready for a little trip to the northern hemisphere.”
“What!” Emily suddenly felt wide awake. “I thought you didn’t want any more dogs!”
“Yeah, but I had a little time to debate it. And I do want to make you happy. One more dog in the house wouldn’t be that much of a burden. As long as you can make sure he doesn’t bite me—”
“I will! Thank you, thank you!” Emily embraced him, clinging tightly to his strong torso.
“I’m glad it’s making you this excited,” Byron said, chuckling. “So you’re sure you want another dog?”
“Yes, I want this dog,” she said confidently, “I felt like I had a connection with him. It seemed like you did too.”
“Okay, I admit it,” Byron said, “Odin really got to me. There’s something special about that pup.”
“You are the best husband ever!”
Even if Byron didn’t seem one hundred percent sure he wanted another dog, the look on his face when she said it made it seem like it was worth it to him.
“I’ll bet he’s never flown on a private jet before,” Byron said, lifting one corner of his mouth.
“Maybe we can offer him complimentary champagne and a cigar?” Emily suggested. She laughed, picturing the dog lounging in one of the jet’s comfortable chairs, a cigar in his mouth.
But no matter how many jokes they made about the dog flying first class, Byron was extra attentive to Odin when they brought him on board the jet inside his crate. Before the plane took off, he talked soothingly to the dog and gave him treats to make sure he wouldn’t be stressed out during the flight.
Odin was a little alarmed by takeoff, but they kept him soothed with water and treats.
Emily was amazed at Byron’s concern for the dog. She knew he had always cared about animals, but he was almost too nurturing of this particular dog.
“It’s very sweet how you take care of him,” she remarked when Byron got up again to give Odin a drink from a water bottle.
“He’s been through a lot,” Byron said. “I want to make sure he never suffers again.”
He was like a father taking care of his child. Imagining him as a father was strangely appealing. Who would have thought she might be looking forward to parenthood one day? She had always imagined kids as little beasts who would take away all her precious time, but maybe with an adoring husband and father, things could be far different.
She also wondered how Odin would get along with the other dogs. When the dogs were introduced to each other, Odin was a little fearful and wary. He had obviously not had an easy life. But after a while, Rupert and Shandy made him feel welcome, and he became best friends with them. It seemed like the orange fox-like dog had always been a part of their family.
Over the course of the next few months as Emily’s company expanded, she moved the offices and design studios to a more spacious location and allocated a dog area where all three of her dogs would sometimes hang out with some of the other employees’ pooches while she was at work.
Byron changed his working habits remarkably after they got back from the honeymoon. He spent only six or seven hours a day at work and tried to arrange as many dates as possible with Emily, or just quiet times at home.
If there was something really pressing, he would work from home as if he was trying to demonstrate that he could spend time with his family and to reassure her that he was always there for her. She knew the idea of having a baby was probably still on his mind, and it was seeming more and more reasonable, though she still had a lot to accomplish with her company.
