Later, I finally managed to get the girls to sleep. I assured them that their father would have to go home early, but the lie left a bitter taste in my mouth. Left alone on the balcony, I endlessly scrolled through the messages on my phone.
Still nothing from Matt. I started biting my nails — a habit I hadn’t had in years — as my thoughts raced. Had he chickened out? Was he hiding something?
Just in case, I called reception and asked if there was any news from Matt. There wasn’t. I left a few more messages on his phone. Morning came, and I had no choice but to pack my things and go home.
The flight was agonising. Fortunately, the girls were busy with their colouring books.
‘Will we see Daddy when we get home?’ Ella asked.
I swallowed hard. ‘I’m sure we will, sweetie.’ I hated lying because, to be honest, I had no idea where we were going back to.
When we finally landed, I was exhausted. The taxi ride seemed to take forever, and I was so tired after a sleepless night that I fumbled with the keys several times, trying to unlock the door to our house while balancing the bags.
‘Come on, girls,’ I called, yawning. ‘We’re home.’
But when I stepped inside, I froze.
In the middle of the living room lay a bundle wrapped in a blanket. It was moving.
‘What is that?’ I whispered to myself.
Before I could react, the girls rushed past me.
‘A puppy!’ Ella squealed, dropping her backpack. ‘It’s a puppy!’
The bundle stirred, and a tiny Saint Bernard poked its head out, wagging its tail furiously. Sophie knelt down and giggled when the puppy licked her face.
‘Can we keep it? Please, Dorothy?’ Sophie begged, her eyes wide with excitement.
I was too stunned to respond. But then I saw the note wrapped in the blanket the puppy had forgotten, and I picked it up.
Dorothy, I know this was unexpected, and perhaps I acted too rashly, but let me explain. I was scrolling through my phone at the hotel when I saw that my friend was giving away puppies online. I had to leave immediately to make sure this little one would be ours.
Remember when you told me the story about your childhood Saint Bernard, Max? I couldn’t pass up the chance to bring that joy back into your life, just as you brought love into ours.
Thank you for caring so much for my daughters. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for moving in with me, and thank you for agreeing to be ours forever. I’m sorry I didn’t explain earlier, but I was too upset. Please forgive me and let Max Jr. pet you.
I sank down on the sofa and shook my head, feeling relief wash over my whole body. My silly fiancé scared me half to death! But he did it for a wonderful reason.
Max. I hadn’t thought about him in years. When I was four, Max saved me from drowning during a family picnic. That dog was my hero, my protector. Losing him to old age was terrible.
And now Max Jr. was here, wagging his tail and making the girls laugh.
‘Dorothy, what’s wrong?’ Ella asked, her eyes shining.
I spoke through a tight throat. ‘Nothing, dear. I’m just… surprised.’
A few minutes later, the front door creaked open. Matt walked in, looking sheepish, carrying a bag of puppy supplies.
‘Surprise?’ he said uncertainly.
I got up and ran to him, not knowing what to do: push him away for scaring me, or kiss him senselessly. The kiss won.
‘You could have told me! Do you have any idea what I went through?’ I whispered, gasping for breath after our lips parted.
‘I know, and I’m so sorry,’ Matt said, hugging me tightly around the waist. ‘But I couldn’t risk someone else adopting all the dogs before I had a chance. I had to come back yesterday.’
At that moment, the girls ran up to us, followed by Max Jr.
‘Dad, did you buy us a puppy?’ Ella asked, beaming.
We spread out, and Matt crouched down, ruffling their hair. ‘Yes, baby! What do you think? Nice surprise?’
‘The best!’ Sophie replied and hugged him tightly.
Her sister joined in the hug, and that’s why I couldn’t stay mad. Seeing the joy on their faces melted my disappointment. Still, I wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily.
‘You owe me,’ I warned, poking him in the chest.
Matt grinned. ‘Deal.’
We spent the rest of the evening playing with Max Jr. He chased the girls around the yard, barking happily, and then curled up on the sofa with us to watch a film.
Later, the puppy joined Matt and me in our bed, where he would sleep until the end of his wonderful, amazing life.
Besides, Matt had paid his debt, so to speak, by giving me the best life possible.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalised for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real people, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.