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“When did you say the symptoms started?” the vet asked.
“About two weeks ago,” I admitted. “At first, she just seemed lethargic, but then I became concerned when she didn’t want to play.”
“Of course,” the vet said, feeling under Duchess’s jaw. “Let’s see what’s wrong with you, girl.”
I helped Duchess up onto the examining table because she couldn’t do it herself. I struggled a bit. She was a big dog, and somehow recently even bigger. Duchess scrambled on the stainless steel table, but I kept a hand on her, assuring her it would be all right.
The vet did a preliminary exam where she smoothed a gloved hand down Duchess’s spine, then up every leg and across her belly. When she reached the extended sac that had once been a sleek undercarriage, she paused and grinned.
“I think I know what the problem is,” the vet said. “But we’ll run a test just to be sure.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“Just a moment,” the vet answered. “I don’t want to get your hopes up.”
She turned around and reached for a small cardboard package from one of the cabinets. Opening it up, she positioned a little wand and a test strip on the counter. She drew a little bit of blood, so expertly that Duchess hardly even noticed. Placing the blood drop on the test strip, she looked at me, her smile infectious.
“Now we wait,” she announced.
“Is this what I think it is?” I asked.
“Puppies,” the vet said. “I’m ninety-nine point nine percent sure.”
“Puppies?” I gasped, looking down at my precious dog. “What have you and Duke been up to?”
“I think we can guess,” the vet responded. She motioned toward my ring. “It looks like you and Duchess have something in common.”
I blushed. It was still new, the whole engagement deal. Mom was there when it happened, and she’d told Chet and Brandy. After I finally finished filing my report, Travis and I had reconnected at his apartment.
We promised my mom we would be there for dinner, and when we arrived, there was a miniature engagement party waiting for us. We went to Travis’s parents the next day to tell them the happy news. I found his parents to be practical yet sweet. His brother flew in for the occasion, and we had yet another impromptu party.
I had to tell everyone at work, and they insisted on buying me a cake. And the guys at the firehouse were equally excited for us, although their version of an office party was more like hazing. Travis said they played pranks on him for three days straight until he got fed up and nearly hit someone.
The test came back positive, and the vet gave me a crash course in canine maternal health. “You’ll need to create a nest for her to give birth, and you can mix this with her food to make sure her puppies have all the vitamins they need.” She gave me a bottle of pills. “Judging from the extension of her belly, I’d say you have no more than a month to wait.”
“Thank you,” I responded, helping Duchess back down to the ground. We plodded our way back to the car and got inside. It seemed like everything took twice as long now that Duchess was pregnant, but at least I knew why.
I drove home to our apartment and found Travis on the sofa. Now that Rossi was dead, I didn’t feel the need to stay at my mom’s house anymore. And since we were officially engaged, I’d moved in with my fiancé until we could find a better place.
“Hey!” Travis said, hopping up to kiss me. “Guess what?”
“What?” I asked, putting my own news on hold for the moment.
“You’re looking at the new fire chief,” he said proudly, puffing up his chest like a six-year-old.
“Congratulations,” I responded, releasing Duchess from her leash before giving Travis a proper kiss.
“Chief Jones is retiring, and he wants me to take over,” Travis elaborated. “And I know you don’t want to hear this, but I stopped by Stacia’s place to fill her in on her father. She’s doing good now that he’s no longer in the picture.”
“It’s okay,” I said with a sigh. I knew Stacia was important to him, and I no longer worried about the two of them rekindling their flame. “I’m glad she’s doing well.”
“I told her about our engagement,” he continued, sliding an arm around my waist to pull me close.
“Good,” I responded. “At least she knows you’re off the market.”
“Forever,” he promised.
“I have news too,” I said, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “We’re going to be grandparents.”
“Are you pregnant?” he gasped, not following. “I think we have to get through one child before jumping straight to grandchildren.”
“Not me,” I teased. “Duchess. She’s carrying a litter.”
“Hey!” Travis dropped me like a hot potato and went to find Duchess, who was lying down on the living room floor. “Our little family is growing.”
“I was thinking we could keep one or two of them,” I said, hanging my jacket up on the peg near the door.
“Sounds like a great idea,” Travis agreed. He stood up and made his way back to me. “I think we’re going to need a bigger apartment.”
“Or maybe a house,” I suggested.
“Sounds about right,” he replied.
“If we hurry, maybe we can get into a new place before the puppies are born,” I said.
Travis went into the kitchen to grab his laptop from its charging station and brought it back to the living room. We sat down together and began looking through the real estate listings, two battle-worn first responders madly in love.
THE END
