“You always had food in your belly,” Bob shot back as he shoved away from the table.

“You’re right. I want Jack to be able to say more than that about me. I’ve got something for you,” he added, cupping Jack’s chin as it had begun to wobble as it always did when Brody and his father exchanged words. “It isn’t Disney World, but I think you’ll like it even better than a ride on Space Mountain.”

“Is it a new action figure?” Thrilled he began tugging at Brody’s pockets.

“Nope.”

“A car? A truck?”

“You are way off, and it’s not in my pocket. It’s outside on the porch.”

“Can I see? Can I?” He was already running for the door, tugging the knob. And when he opened it, looked down, looked up again at his father, Brody had, in that wonderful moment of stupefied delight, everything that mattered.

“A puppy! A puppy!” Jack scooped up the black ball of fur that was trying to climb up his leg. “Is it mine? Can I keep him?”

“Looks like he wants to keep you,” Brody commented as the pup wriggled in ecstasy, yipping and bathing Jack’s face with his tongue.

“Look, Grandma, I got a puppy, and he’s mine. And his name is Mike. Just like I always wanted.”

“He sure is a pretty little thing. Oh, just look at those feet. Why he’ll be bigger than you before long. You have to be real good to him, Jack.”

“I will. I promise. Look, Kate. Look at Mike.”

“He’s great.” Unable to resist, she got down and was treated to some puppy kisses. “So soft. So sweet.” She turned her head, met Brody’s eyes. “Very, very sweet.”

“It’s a good thing for a boy to have a dog.” Still stinging from his son’s comment, Bob gestured. “But who’s going to tend to it when Jack’s in school all day and you’re working? Problem with you is you never think things through, just do what you want at the moment you want it, and don’t consider.”

“Bob.” Mortified, Mary reached up to pat her husband’s arm.

“I have a fenced yard,” Brody said carefully. “And I’ve worked on plenty of jobs where dogs were around. He’ll come with me till he’s old enough to be on his own.”

“You buy that dog for the boy, or to patch up your conscience because you can’t give him a holiday like his friends?”

“I don’t want to go to Disney World,” Jack said in a quavering voice. “I want to stay home with Dad and Mike.”

“Why don’t you take Mike outside, Jack?” Fixing a smile on her face, Kate walked to the door. “Puppies like to run around as much as boys do. And you need to get acquainted. Here, put on your jacket first.”

Brody held it in until Kate nudged the boy out the door.

“It’s none of your business if I get my son a dog, or why. But the fact is I had this one picked out from a litter three weeks ago for him, and was waiting until he was weaned. I was going to pick him up Sunday for Easter, but Jack needed a little cheering up today.”