Chapter Twenty-Six
I know the timeline is messy in this but I had to do a Valentine's Day chapter!
Horatio had hotel reservations made for Valentine's Day. Rose petals, chocolate covered strawberries, champagne and all. Kyle also had a date. He was going to a banquet, suit and tie required. At the end of the night Kyle was hoping his 'date' Jilly, would going home with someone else. The shelter was throwing a fancy three-course for potential adopters. During the evening Kyle would get to introduce Jilly, a 6-year-old lab mix to people. Kyle was hoping to find her a forever home. The senior dog was very sweet. For having spent most of the life in the shelter she was really good with children. If he didn't have school coming up he would seriously have thought about adopting Jilly himself.
He did not expect her adopter to be who it was later that night.
Hunter Caine was teething so for his parents, getting to relax, sip champagne and have quiet time alone while wearing…nothing, felt good. Those condoms didn't go to waste either. Their daughters loved being their grandparents, no what they were doing. Building a fort in the living room and getiing to eat dinner in there was the best. Between the two of them Lacy and Trey were able to console their grandson. His parents deserved a break on this special night. They did their share of sleepless nights.
At the banquet Kyle didn't expect to see Frank Tripp. He was next to meet Jilly. So far no one liked her enough to take her home, despite her new pretty dress. Jilly jumped on Frank like she already knew him. She hadn't done that with anyone else tonight. Hearing Frank call her "pretty girl" and him almost get on the floor with her when Jilly wanted her belly rubbed was a side of the detective Kyle had never seen. After spending the allotted forty-five minutes with Jilly Frank announced he wanted to take her home.
"She's definitely my girl," he said, Jilly still licking his face. Frank had owned senior pets before Kyle learned so he knew what they could be like.
Kyle was relieved. He had found Jilly a home. Maybe he could visit.
"You'll be seeing her," Frank said. "We'll be going on car rides and I'm hoping I can use to get your dad to warm up to dogs."
That would be good. Rachel and Cheyenna wanted a dog. His mother loved dogs and always had one growing up (her dog were adopted with them when she and Andy got adopted). Then Kyle wanted one himself but couldn't look after one with his schedule. He could if it was his family's dog. When Hunter was older, two or three, his mother planned to get a dog. His father was out-voted.
"I'd like that. You and me have a history, don't we, girl?" Kyle said to that.
Jilly barked.
Jilly gave a friendly bark to Horatio. Then jumped on the sofa next to him.
His wife, son and co-worker laughed as the lieutentant went "hey, what are you doing?" to "You're a good girl, aren't you?"
"He hates to hear 'I told you so' but he's going to hear it later," Aimee said.
Jilly had done well in her first three nights in her new home. In Frank's bed. She had also taken over his couch. Frank wouldn't have it any other way.
"What if he says 'but no dogs on the bed or furniture'?" Frank said.
"What about it? His 'boss' badge has no power here," Aimee replied. "i'm the boss here."