CHAPTER 9

As Christmas approached and there was still no sign of a baby, Beau suggested they get a puppy. They bundled up and headed into town to the local pet store since their little enclave had no pound. Before Cass even made it out of the car, she spotted the puppy in the window. She tapped on the window to get the dogs attention. The pup turned and walked directly to where Cass was standing and put its nose against the cool glass. It was hard to tell which end was which because of all the shaggy hair, so Cass bent down to take a closer look.

“That’s the one,” Cass said to Beau as he stood beside her.

“It’s kind of scruffy looking. Kind of like a rat with hair.” Beau also bent down to take a better look. He had imagined something a little bigger, something he could rough up a little without worrying that he would hurt it.

“Oh, but that’s what makes it so cute.” Cassie knew that this was their dog. Their first pet together.

“Well then, let’s go inside and…” Beau began to say as Cass pushed by him and went inside, “…and see it”

The clerk got the puppy from the window and placed it on the floor in front of Cass, where it immediately peed on her shoe. The clerk just shrugged his shoulders. Cassie sat down beside it and began playing and petting. It jumped onto her lap and tried desperately to kiss her. She lifted him up into her arms and rubbed her nose on its cheek. She lifted it up to look at its belly.

“It’s a boy. Oh Beau, he’s just perfect.”

Beau joined her on the floor and Cass handed him the pup. “He’s such a little runt.” He set the dog back on the floor. The pup turned and jumped back into Beau’s lap.

“Look, he already loves you. What more can you ask?”

“That he’s trained, that he’s bigger, that he’s…okay, he’s pretty cute. Are you sure you want to go the puppy route?” Beau asked.

“I want this puppy.” Her eyes were sparkling.

“Okay,” Beau said standing up; “I’ll go pay the man.”

“Don’t forget dog food.” Cass picked up the dog. “And a leash.”

On the drive home, Cass held the sleeping puppy on her lap. She stroked his hair and rubbed his ears.

“What do you think we should name him?” He said looking down at their little hairball. Cass looked down at him and remembered a sweet old Irishman who used to sell vegetables on their street when she was a child. She had always thought he looked funny because he had this big mop of hair on his head that was always falling in his eyes. The pup’s disheveled fur reminded her of him for some unknown reason.

“Duffy.” She said.

“What kind of name is that for a dog? Whatever happened to Rex or Max or Spot?”

“I don’t know. I just, well, when I look at him, that’s the name I think of. Besides, what’s wrong with a good Irish name?”

“I guess it’s a good name.” He gave in. “Just make sure that all he gets in his water dish is water.”

Cass hugged the puppy to her chest and whispered the name in his ear, over and over. This was the best Christmas present ever.

They stopped at a tree farm on the way home to pick out their tree. Cass had never gone to a chop your own before and found it quite neat. She'd put Duffy on his leash and tugged him along with her. He wasn’t too keen with this and sat every few steps. “Come on Duf, it’s not so bad is it?” She said as she tugged the leash again. He got up begrudgingly and followed along.

Beau found the perfect tree. He swung the ax several times and the tree tumbled gently to the ground. He handed the ax to Cass, picked up the tree and somehow slung it over his shoulder.

“My, my, aren’t we just the lumberjack.” She laughed. Beau was trying to make it look simple, make himself look stronger. “I could help you, you know.”

“That’s okay, I’m fine. This is mans work.” He struggled along. Finally the tree lot attendant came and helped them tie the tree to the top of the car.

They put the tree up and stayed up half the night drinking wine and decorating it. Once the last ornament was added they sat back to admire their work. Of course, Duffy had already christened the tree for them and was promptly put on his leash and tied to the post at the bottom of the stairs on the front porch. He yipped and yapped for them to let him back in and Cass felt bad, so she went out and took him for a short walk so he could finish all his chores and come back inside where it was warm and cozy. The air was quite chilly and it was beginning to snow, just a tiny bit, just enough to give them a white Christmas. Cass stood at the end of the driveway and looked back at the house. It was like a postcard with smoke coming from the chimney and the soft glow of dimmed lights in the window. How her life had changed in just one short year. She bent and picked up the dog and hugged him.

“Merry Christmas,” she whispered in his ear.

Christmas morning, Cass got up early so she could gather the presents she'd bought and put them under the tree before Beau got up. That done, she went to the kitchen, Duffy right behind her. She fed the dog and then began making breakfast. She would make a small feast for them of eggs, croissants, bacon, some fruit and coffee. When it was ready, she set it all on a tray and called out for Beau to come downstairs. When he didn’t answer, she went into the living room only to find him sitting on the couch waiting for her. Duffy ran ahead and jumped onto the couch and covered Beau’s face in kisses. There were several more presents under the tree.

“Sneak” she said as she smiled, “I like that in a man.”

“Look who’s talking.”

“Merry Christmas,” she said as she set the tray down on the table. She sat down next to him and gave him a hug.

“Merry Christmas to you too,” he said kissing her gently.

“Did you see the snow? It’s so beautiful outside.”

“It is that. I remember when I was a kid and I’d pray for snow on Christmas Eve so Santa’s sleigh would be able to work right.”

“Are you telling me you still believe in Santa Claus?”

“I still believe.”

“Maybe I’ve already got my baby and didn’t realize it till just now.” She laughed and poked him in the side. “Well, we better eat this before it gets cold.”

They finished breakfast and opened gifts. Beau gave her a beautiful cashmere sweater which she put on over her pajamas and Beau put on the hat and scarf she had given him. They took their time opening small boxes of toys they had bought for the dog, and watched as he ripped at all the paper on the floor. They each opened a few more gifts from one another until everything under the tree was opened. Cass got up and went to the closet. She brought out a large ornately wrapped package and took it over to Beau and sat it on the couch next to him.

“More?”

“Just this one last thing.” She sat on the arm of the couch next to him. He tore the paper off to reveal a case of some sort. He flipped open the latches and opened the lid. Inside was a beautiful shiny saxophone.

“Oh Cass, this is too much.” He lifted the instrument out of the case and turned it every which way to look at it, then put the reed part to his lips and blew. It made a horrible squeaking sound.

“You always said you wished you could play, so now is your opportunity to learn.” He blew into it one more time and Duffy began to howl at him. “Maybe I should have hired you a teacher as well.”

“Come here you.” He set the horn back into its case and pushed it down farther on the couch so Cass could sit next to him. “Thank you so much for all of this, and for making this a beautiful Christmas. I have one more thing for you, but you have to be daring enough to reach into my pocket to get it.”

She reached over and stuck her hand in his robe pocket. He yelped. “Oops, guess that wasn’t it, huh?” She laughed as she searched around a little more till her hand wrapped around a small box. She pulled it from his pocket.

“Go on, open it.” He urged. She flipped the box open and her jaw fell open. It was a solid gold heart, covered in diamonds.

“It’s so beautiful.” It was all she could say.

“So now, you have all of me. My body, my soul, and now my heart.” She took the necklace out of the box and handed it to Beau. She turned so he could put it on her. She had tears in her eyes when she turned back to him. She put her arms around his neck and held him close to her.

“I will always want your heart. Forever and ever. Promise me it’ll be forever.”

“As long as I live I will always love you.” He said holding her closer. The moment was broken by the sound of a car horn. Duffy ran to the front door and started barking. Beau got up and looked out the window. “It’s Bill and Liz. I didn’t know they were coming.”

“That makes two of us.” Cass said getting up. She picked up Duffy and opened the front door.
Liz waddled her way up the steps, arms loaded with presents.

“Merry Christmas. We were just in the neighborhood and thought we’d pop in.” Liz looked over at Bill as he shook his head.

“She’s been up since the crack of dawn. Wouldn’t give me a moments peace, so I thought I’d bring her over and let you entertain her for a while.”

“And who might this little creature be?” Liz asked.

“This is one of our most wonderful Christmas presents. Duffy…our pet.” Liz ruffled the top of his head.

“He’s adorable. Who came up with the name?” she asked.

“You even have to ask that?” Beau said more to himself than anyone else. “Well don’t just stand there, it’s cold. Come inside.”

“Wow.” Said Liz wading through the piles of wrapping paper. “Somebody went a little over the top this year.” Cass gathered most of the paper and stuffed it inside one of the empty boxes, and Bill and Liz sat on the couch.

“Nice,” said Bill referring to the Sax.

“Beau’s going to learn how to play that, but don’t ask him to demonstrate quite yet okay, if you know what I mean.” Cass teased.

“Are you guys hungry?” Beau asked.

“No, Ms. Childs here has been frying and baking and fluffing and folding way before even God gets up, but thanks. Just wanted to drop these off. We’re not going to stay to long.” Bill smiled at his wife.

Cassie and Liz exchanged gifts. Cass had gotten her a beautiful sweater she could wear now and after the baby was born. Liz gave Cass a beautiful sterling bracelet and, as a good luck charm, a pair of white knitted baby booties.

“Their for under your pillow.” She winked at her friend.

That night before Cass went to bed, she tucked the booties under her pillow and fell asleep dreaming of their future and the children they would have.