Free Adopting Jenny by Liz Botts Page B

escaped from her ponytail and curled around her face making her appear younger than she was. “The animal rescue also found a litter of puppies. Five, I think she said. They need a mother. So…the rescue wants to know if we’ll help them get acquainted.”
    â€œPuppies?” I could barely keep my voice from shaking. A wave of adrenaline washed over me. Dad had never wanted us to have puppies in the house before. Too much work. Too much mess. Too much noise. And now there would be five. F ive!
    â€œWhen are we getting them?” Penny asked. She had finally looked up from her plate, and I could see my own exhilaration mirrored on her face. For a moment, she resembled the sister I remembered, not the moody girl she had become.
    Mom opened her mouth to answer when, suddenly, a tiny, persistent wailing filled the air. Setting her napkin gently on the table, Mom got up. I slumped back in my seat, annoyance flickering through me. Couldn’t Lee wait until Mom had at least told us when the puppies would be arriving? Babies have an awful sense of timing.
    A moment later, Mom returned to the table bouncing baby Lee on her shoulder. My little brother burped and snuggled into the crook of Mom’s arm as she took a spoonful of her mashed potatoes. Penny and I exchanged an impatient glance. I knew better than to ask outright. Mom was busy, and Dad hated when we pestered her. So there was nothing to do but wait.
    I tried to eat, but the thought of five squirmy little puppies running through the house made my stomach flutter with excitement. Food didn’t seem appealing at the moment. I tapped the tines of my fork against my plate, trying to be quiet, but failing when Dad reached over and stilled my hand.
    â€œLet’s finish, girls,” he said. “You can wash up while we get a place ready for this dog.”
    My eyes widened, and I turned my gaze toward Mom. She caught me staring and nodded with a smile. “They are bringing them over tonight.”
    Kaye frowned. “What about Pepper? Remember what happened when we got Charlie?”
    â€œYeah, well, Pepper needs another dog around,” Penny argued. “Ever since Duke…” Her voice cracked.
    We all knew she missed Duke the most, but she’d deny it vehemently if anyone brought it up. Instead, Mom reached across the table with her free hand and squeezed Penny’s hand.
    â€œDon’t worry about Pepper and Charlie,” she said. “These dogs won’t be here long. We’re fostering them, not adopting the lot.”
    â€œAnd for tonight, Pepper can sleep up in your room,” Dad announced.
    Kaye’s eyes narrowed briefly. I wondered if she was looking for the trick in this plan. The moment passed then she merely shrugged and went back to her food. Dinner passed with agonizing slowness. If I leaned back just a bit in my chair, I could glimpse the kitchen clock and, I swear, the minute hand ticked backward at least three times.
    When everyone had finished, I was the first to rush my plate to the sink. As I waited for the basin to fill with warm water, I added a bit of soap. Penny followed close at my heels.
    â€œYou wash, I’ll dry,” she said, setting down her glass.
    I nodded, a sudden tenseness consuming me. Speaking required too much of my brain power. I wanted to focus all my mental energy on enjoying the dogs. Fostering meant they might only be here for a few weeks, but that was long enough to get to love them. Dad wouldn’t let us get another dog.
    By the time we had the dishes done, the tenseness had turned into a knot in my stomach. I went out to the front porch to wait. The typical sounds of a Friday night filled the neighborhood: the boys across the street playing basketball in the driveway, a lawnmower grumbling down the block, closely followed by Old Mr. Henson’s mild curses as the thing sputtered over a stick. A yellow car lumbered by, slowing down briefly in front of our