Daddy in the Making Mass market paperbound - 2011

From the publisher

Longing for food and then bed, Jake McClure fumed over being forced to delay both. As he jogged through the winter's early darkness toward the church, his basset hound Bummer padded along beside him over the hard-packed snow. Jake slammed the side door behind him, shutting out the below-zero windchill. He paused, his glasses fogged from the temperature change, permitting himself to let the burn of irritation build inside. Earlier after catching up on voice mails, Jake had felt compelled to come here to find Mike, to see if he'd done harm to himself. Glasses clear, Jake shuffled down the steps, with Bummer trailing behind. The two of them entered the brightly lit church basement, where laughter punctuated cheerful voices of those attending the fundraiser potluck. As he scanned faces for Mike's, several people, many of whom recognized him from his vet practice, greeted him. Then the door opened behind him, letting in another rush of Arctic wind. Two little girls rushed down the steps. "We found two kittens!" they shouted. "Out in the snow!" Jake turned. He saw two little girls so bundled up that little of them showed, except their pink noses and tendrils of blond hair. And in the mittened hands of each little girl, a small golden tabby kitten mewed and shivered. He hurried to them and knelt down on the hard, cold linoleum. "Where did you find these little ones?" "They were in the snow near where I parked," a tall woman behind the girls replied, her voice low and rich. "Are they okay? It's so cold out and the kittens are so tiny." She dropped to her knees beside him. "I think their eyes have just opened recently," Jake said. At his elbow, Bummer did something unusual. He licked one kitten and then the other with his big tongue. "Don't let him bite the kitties!" one of the little girls cried. Jake held up a hand. "Bummer isn't going to hurt them. Let's see what he does." Bummer licked the kittens thoroughly. Then with delicate care, he lifted each kitten with his teeth by the scruff of its neck and placed it into Jake's hand, one then the other. The basset hound woofed. "Do you want me to keep the little ones warm, Bummer?" Jake asked. Bummer woofed again and licked the top of the kittens' heads. Jake pulled off his gray wool scarf and made it into a tight circle. Then he placed the kittens in the center of the makeshift nest. He cuddled them close, knowing they needed warmth fast. "Oooh," the little girls sounded their approval. They both petted Bummer, crooning, "Good dog. You're a good dog." "You're the vet, aren't you?" the young woman kneeling beside him asked. "Yes." He realized he'd neglected his manners. Sliding the scarf nest to one arm, he offered her his hand. "I'm Jake McClure." "Jeannie Broussard and these are my girls, Mimi and Cindy." Jake became aware that Annie, a frequent volunteer at the local animal shelter, had appeared beside him. Middle-aged, Annie wore her usual denim "outdoorsy" attire and hiking boots. He recognized the concern on her face. Would they have to squeeze in two more stray kittens? Another question came to mind. "Mimi and Cindy, did you see a mama cat outside?" Jake asked. "No," Jeannie replied for them. "I looked around, too. I can't see why kittens so small would be outside in this weather." A man in the crowd that had gathered around them cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I saw a cat at the side of the street near here. It was a golden tabby, too." Jake didn't have to ask. The tone of the man's voice and his use of the past tense said loud and clear that the mother cat no longer needed his help. He and Annie exchanged weary glances. Beside him, Jeannie made a sound of sorrow and regret. "Poor little orphans." As if understanding their words, Bummer bayed mournfully and licked each kitten again. Jake rose, still cradling them in his scarf. "I'll take these little ones to the animal shelter before I go home tonight," he said. The two little girls bounced up and down. "Mom, Mom, can't we keep them? Mom, please." Jake hesitated, certain that the girls were putting Jeannie on the spot. But Jeannie nodded, a smile lifting her face. "I've been promising you kittens, haven't I? It looks like God has chosen just the ones He wants us to have." "Thank goodness," Annie breathed. Again as if understanding, Bummer woofed and grinned. From around her neck, Jeannie untwined her fuzzy red scarf, followed Jake's example and soon the two babies were transferred to it. The gathering around them broke up. Jake leaned forward. He wanted to make sure she knew how to take care of the babies. "From my observation of their teeth, these kittens should be old enough to eat soft warmed food. I suggest a food specially formulated for kittens so it doesn't upset their delicate systems." "I was thinking warm milk?" Jeannie lifted one eyebrow. "No, most kittens are lactose intolerant. You can buy special kitten milk, but canned food and water is sufficient. They'll need to be fed every four hours." Jeannie looked worried. "Is that a problem?" "No," one of the girls piped up. "Our babysitter likes cats. She'll help us when you're at work, Mom." The woman's pretty face lightened. "Yes. Yes." She beamed at him. "Thank you." He pulled out his card and handed it to her, slipping into the usual doctor-pet owner relationship. "I'm happy that these two have found a good home. Please bring them by sometime this week and I'll thank you with a free checkup and shots for them." "Oh, no--" she protested. He held up a hand. "I insist. I volunteer my services at the local no-kill shelter. You just bypassed that step. I'm glad these two found a good home." She took his hand and squeezed it. "Thank you." This impulsive gesture embarrassed him. His usual shyness around women rushed back. He nodded and stepped back. "No, thank you, Jeannie," Annie sai