The puppies were a range of colors to her surprise. Of the eight, five were a creamy whitish gold like Chino, two were chocolate brown, and one was inky black.
“Adorable.”
Kerry looked up to find Dar in the doorway, watching her with an affectionate smile. “Oh Dar, they're so darn cute.” She indicated the puppies, two of whom had rambled off to investigate this new intruder. “I'm remembering all over again the day we got Cappuccino.”
Dar sat down on the step and scooped up a puppy. “That was a beautiful day.”
“It was.” Kerry watched the girl puppy chew her finger. “That was the day I knew we were us.” She watched the smile on Dar's face broaden. “So I hope this little girl makes Sally as happy as Chino made me.”
“Aw.” Dar leaned against the door jamb, giving the brown puppy in her arms a scratch behind his ears. “I remember just thinking about you and your little spaniel and how angry that made me.” She said. “Just so pissed. I wanted you to know I was committed to our relationship and that wasn't ever going to happen to you again.”
Kerry nodded, savoring the moment. “So what's going on out there?” She asked. “We okay with them?”
“Yeah.” Dar gazed fondly at the little boy puppy. “They've had time to come to terms with the fact I'm gay.” She said. “Did I ever tell you they were hoping Jack and I would get married?”
Kerry made a little face.
“I told Jack if it came down to it, I'd have a kid with him to give Gerry a grandkid.” Dar recalled. “Glad I didn't have to make good on that. He's hooked up with a supply lieutenant and it looks serious.”
“Guy or girl?”
“Girl.”
“Ah huh.” Kerry pursed her lips and nodded. “Well, I think my eyes would turn lime green if I had to deal with that, but you know, Dar, I did tell you your genes should stay in the pool.”
“We have a dog.” Dar stated. “Matter of fact.. “ She eyed the puppy. “Think Chino wants a little brother?”
“Do we want to deal with Chino's little brother?” Kerry demurred. “You're the one who lost half their shoes.”
They reluctantly extricated themselves from the furry pile and rejoined the Eastons in the living room. “Those puppies are so cute.” Kerry dusted her hands off. “Thanks for letting me snuggle with them.”
“Oh, that's all fine, honey.” The General's wife smiled at her. “Now tell me, you're that nice young lady who talked to us about Thanksgiving dinner, a few years back aren't you?”
Kerry chuckled. “Matter of fact I am.” She admitted. “I think I saved Dar from Brussels sprouts.”
“You did.” Mary Easton agreed. “I told Dar then I thought you were fond of her, and I was right.” She bravely asserted. “Wasn't I?”
“No doubt at all.” Dar agreed. “Thanks for not freaking completely out about us, by the way. My parents were really proud of you all.”
Easton chuckled with a touch of embarrassment. “Different times.” He said, briefly. “But after all, we've known you since you were knee high.”
They walked into the dining room where a meal of meat loaf and sides was waiting. Kerry excused herself to wash her hands, and pondered her reflection in the mirror as she did. “Do I even remember what it was like to be on the other end of that phone call?”
She remembered getting it. Mari's admin had called her, apologizing for interrupting her but saying someone was calling asking about Dar, and Maria was out. Could she talk to them?
Of course she could. She recalled the little, nervous start she'd gotten over it, almost a sense of guilt as she spoke to this unknown, friendly sounding woman, taking possession of her new lover while wishing wistfully she was going to join her for the now sprout free meal.
She'd forgotten completely about it, in her own holiday misery.
Drying her hands she returned to the dining room, taking her seat at Dar's side and putting her napkin in her lap in time to hear Dar relating a story about her and Jack in a tree that she thought she'd heard at a party sometime. “I can picture you doing that.” She said. “I remember coming into that wiring closet on our first floor and finding you hanging up side down like a bat.”
'Why were you doing that, Dar?” Mary asked.
“Why was I doing that.” Dar mused. “Damned if I remember. Was I stretching my back out?” She asked Kerry. “Yeah, I think I was. After sitting on that concrete floor all that time. I”m not a kid anymore.”
“Oh you poor thing.” Mrs. Easton mock clucked her tongue at her. 'Wait till you get to be my age, young lady. Then we can talk about aches and pains.”
“Well, Dar's retiring, matter of fact.” General Easton said. “From that company, that is.”
“Really?” Mary said. “My goodness.”
Dar nodded. “We both are.” She indicated herself and Kerry. “But we're going to open our own company after we take a break to go do some traveling.”
“That's wonderful.” Mary said. “Could you hire Gerry? He needs a better job.” She eyed her husband. “And Jack also. His air group is being assigned to active duty in the Arabian Sea and I don't mind telling you, it makes me nervous.”
The general frowned. “Least he's not on the ground, Mary.”
“Anytime.” Dar said. “I told Jack the last time we hung out I'd be glad to hire him at ILS, matter of fact.” She looked at her plate of meatloaf with satisfaction. “Hell, I hired my father.”
“He's a great research analyst.” Kerry spoke up.
“See?” Mary said.
“Now look here.” The General shook his fork at them. “I'll retire soon enough! Service has been my whole life. Done us well so far, hasn't it?”
“Yes but you're here.” Mary said. “Jack isn't.” She turned and regarded Kerry. “He's my only child.”
“Mary, enough.”
The general's wife subsided, but her expression was still stormy, and Kerry sorted through possible changes of subject. “So, aside from my sister, do you have homes for the rest of those adorable little kids?”
Gerald Easton gave her an approving look. “Well now, most of them do, in fact.” He said. “Only ones we have left to place is one of the brown boys.”
Dar and Kerry exchanged looks.
“Really.” Kerry said. “So tell me, do Labradors like company? We worry about Chino home alone all the time.” She explained. “Do you think we can maybe give that little boy a home?”
Easton's eyes lit up. “Why sure! That's a grand idea, isn't it Mary?”
“Absolutely.” His wife agreed at once. “You know, they're really social dogs. Alabaster is such good stock, we only breed her every couple of years, and quite a few of her pups have gone on to do all kinds of things. But she's always a little disconsolate when all the puppies leave. I'm so glad she has Beauregard to keep her company.”
“They are very social.” Kerry said. “They're almost human, you know? Their expressions and everything. I really think Chino understands what I'm telling her when I talk to her.”
“Got the smarts of three, four year old kids.” Gerry relaxed, happy to be discussing one of his favorite subjects. “Very smart animals.” He glanced to the side as Alabaster arrived, as though she knew she was being spoken of. “Isn't that right, madam?”
“Growf.” Alabaster uttered, sitting down next to him with her tail sweeping back and forth.
“So of course, it would be great company for her to get her little brother.” Mary said. “Have you thought of breeding Chino?”
“No.” Kerry said. “Dar and I have such a busy life, it would be hard to do that, but I think we can handle another puppy, now that we'll have more time for a while.”
“Not for too long.” General Easton winked at her. “Got customers lining up. Don't forget that.”