From Nanny To Wife (6 page)

Chapter 6

After breakfast, the next day Hope left Zoe in Maggie's care, loaded the stray dog into the car, and drove to the nearest veterinarian's clinic. There was a fifteen-minute wait before she could take the dog into one of the examination rooms. While she waited, she stroked the animals sandy
colored fur and talked to him in a low voice. He gazed up at her with warm brown eyes, his pink tongue sticking out of his mouth.

"You're such a good doggie, so well behaved. I can't believe someone didn't want you." The dog licked Hope's hand. "You need a name. I'll let Zoe do the honors."

The veterinarian, Dr. Evanston stepped into the waiting room, ten minutes later. "Ms. Landry, if you will bring the dog and come with me please."

Hope scooped up the little dog and got to her feet. She followed the doctor down a short hallway and into a small room on her left. "He wandered onto my employer's property a few weeks ago. He looked so thin and I felt sorry for him, so I started feeding him," she said, placing the animal on the stainless steel table that sat in the middle of the room.

"Stray animals are becoming more common these days," Dr. Evanston said, removing a stethoscope from a drawer behind him. "People lose their jobs and can't afford to take care of their pets, or they just don't want the responsibility anymore. Instead of finding an animal shelter they dump them somewhere."

"It's cruel," Hope said.

"I couldn't agree more," Dr. Evanston said. He inserted the earpieces of the stethoscope into his ears and listened to the dog's heart and lungs. Once that was done, he checked the teeth, weighed him, and then gave him a series of shots.

"How big do you think he will get?" Hope asked.

"I would say fifty pounds," Dr. Evanston answered. "He shouldn't get bigger than that. I can't accurately tell you his age because I don't know when he was born, but I'm guessing he's about six months."

"Poor thing has had a rough start," Hope said.

"He found you, so I would say things are looking up for him." He handed Hope a small box. "Those are heart worm pills. Make sure to give him one every month."

"I will," Hope told him.

"If you don't have any more questions then we're all done here," Dr. Evanston said.

"Thank you," Hope said, gathering the dog up into her arms.

"Thank you for coming."

After Hope paid at the front desk, she carried the dog out to the car and put him in the back seat. She slid behind the wheel just as her cell phone went off. Taking the phone out of her purse, she flipped it open. "Hello?"

"Maggie told me you took that mutt to the vet," Ryan said. "How did it go? Did the doctor have to put him down?"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but no," Hope said. "The doctor didn't put him down. He is going to be fine. You do know that Zoe is going to want to keep him in the house."

"No," Ryan growled. "I forbid it. I don't want that filthy beast in my house."

"He's not a filthy beast." Hope glanced in the back sear at the dog.

"He stays outside, Hope," Ryan said. "I won't budge on this."

Hope sighed. "Fine. If Zoe asks I'll tell her no."

"You do that," Ryan said. "I will be home around two."

"All right." Hope closed her phone and dropped it back into her purse. She started the car and headed toward home.

Zoe came running out of the house when Hope pulled into the driveway, twenty minutes later. She opened the back door once the car came to a stop and climbed inside. The dog wagged its tail in greeting and licked the little girl on the face. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. Smiling, Hope got out of the car and moved to the back. She bent down and stuck her head into the car to look at Zoe.

"What did the vet say?" Maggie asked, walking toward the car. "Is the dog going to be okay?"

Hope straightened up and turned toward the housekeeper. "The dog will be fine. We need to give him a name. We can't keep calling him dog."

"Bob," Zoe said, scooting across the seat.

Hope helped her out of the car. "Bob?"

"She watched the cartoon,
Bob the Builder
while you were gone," Maggie explained. "She probably got the name from it."

"Do you want to name the doggie Bob?" Hope asked.

Zoe nodded.

Hope shrugged her shoulders. "Why not. Bob it is. We need to take Bob to the back yard."

"In house," Zoe muttered.

Hope groaned inwardly. Cursing Ryan, she squatted down in front of Zoe. "Sweetheart, you can't take Bob in the house. He has to stay outside."

Zoe gazed up at Hope with big eyes. "Why?"

Because your Daddy is an ass, that's why,
Hope thought. "Bob is used to being outside. He wouldn't like it inside. We'll get him his own house and he'll be happy. Do you want to help me feed him?"

"Yeah," Zoe mumbled.

Hope took her hand and they made their way to the back yard with Bob following them.

When Ryan arrived home later that day the first thing he heard while stepping out of the car was the sound of Zoe shrieking with laughter. He followed the sound and found her running around the back yard with the dog chasing after her. Hope, he noticed, was sitting at the patio table watching with a smile on her face. Ryan crossed the yard and pulled out a chair, sitting down across from her.

"She named him Bob," Hope said to Ryan. "Maggie told me Zoe was watching the cartoon,
Bob the Builder
earlier and she thinks that's where the name came from
.
"

"I guess it's a good thing she didn't watch
SpongeBob SquarePants,
" Ryan said dryly.

Hope laughed softly.

The sound of her gentle laughter was like sweet music to Ryan's ears. He watched as the breeze sent a strand of hair that had escaped her ponytail flying. He rarely saw her with her hair down and wished she would wear it that way. For a moment, he wondered what it would feel like to run his hands through the long tresses. Surprised with his wayward thoughts he averted his eyes and studied Zoe instead.

Her eyes on Zoe, Hope said, "Tomorrow is Sunday."

"I am aware of that," Ryan said.

"What are your plans with the little one?" Hope asked.

"I don't know yet." Ryan cleared his throat. "Zoe and I might fly to New York for the day. I'll have to call the pilot and have him get the jet ready. It's been a while since I used it. What are you going to do?"

"Pam invited me to spend the day with her. While I'm out I'll pick up a dog house."

Ryan jerked his head in the direction of Zoe. "Did she ask if the mutt could stay in the house?"

"Yes and I wish you would stop calling the poor thing a mutt." Hope shifted in her chair drawing Ryan's attention away from Zoe and the dog. "I told her Bob is used to being outside and that he wouldn't like it inside. I hated lying to her, but I didn't want to blame it on you. I don't want her to think ill of you."

Ryan felt a rush of gratitude toward her. "Thank you."

"You're a good father." Hope reached up and tucked several strands of hair behind her ear. "You remind me of my father."

Ryan slipped out of his suit coat. "Tell me about your family. Where do they live? Do you have any siblings?"

"I had a younger sister." Hope closed her eyes.

"Had?"

"She died years ago."

"I'm sorry," Ryan murmured. "What about your parents?"

Hope opened her eyes. "They're gone too. I have no family left."

Sympathy welled up inside Ryan. It was on the tip of his tongue to say he was sorry again. The words seemed inadequate, so he kept them to himself. "Would you like to change the subject?"

Hope smiled weakly. "No. It is painful to talk about them, but I'm not going to let that stop me."

"How long have they been gone?"

"It will be twenty years on Tuesday."

Before Ryan could say anything Zoe came up to them. "Bob is sleepy."

"Then we better go in and let Bob take a nap." Hope caressed the top of Zoe's head. "Let's get you cleaned up and then you can take a nap too."

Zoe gave the dog a pat on the head. "Bye-bye, Bob."

His mind on Hope and the conversation they just had Ryan leaned down and lifted Zoe into his arms. Kissing her pink cheek, he carried her into the house.

Chapter 7

The small plane taxied down the runway and slowly rolled to a stop a short distance from a waiting car. Inside the plane, Ryan unbuckled Zoe's seat belt and lifted her out of the seat. Putting her down, he took her hand and led her toward the exit. They walked down the stairs and made their way to the car. As they drew near a man stepped out and opened the back door. Ryan helped Zoe in and got in after her. The chauffeur closed the door and then slid behind the wheel. He started the car, adjusted the rear view mirror, and glanced at Ryan in it.

"Where to, Mr. Kendall?" he asked.

"Toys," Zoe muttered.

"You better make it the toy store," Ryan said. "The little one has spoken."

"Very well, sir."

The chauffeur pulled up alongside FAO Schwarz, thirty minutes later. Ryan and Zoe got out and headed toward the entrance. The minute they entered the building Zoe's eyes grew huge and her mouth hung open. The enormous toy store mesmerized young and old alike and had every toy imaginable. Ryan realized as he stood there and looked at his surroundings that it was going to take hours to see everything. He grasped Zoe's hand gently, so she could not get away from him, and gazed down at her, smiling at the wide-eyed expression on her face.

"Toys, Daddy," she said in awe.

"I know, baby girl," Ryan said. "You can pick out two toys, but that's it. Daddy wants to leave with some money."

They walked the aisles, Zoe constantly pointing at things she wanted. Ryan soon lost track of how many times he told her no. He did not like to deny her the things she wanted, but it was important to him that she not become spoiled and selfish. He wanted her to learn to appreciate what she had instead of taking it for granted. The last thing he wanted was for her to turn into Laura, thinking she was entitled to everything.