Celia's Puppies by Claudia Hall Christian Page A

Noelle
said.
    “ How about you, Nash?”
Sandy asked.
    “ Huh,” Nash looked up from
Sandy’s laptop. “What did you do to this?”
    “ It just stopped working.”
Sandy shrugged.
    “ It’s pretty messed up,”
Nash said. “Think I can fix it. You have wireless?”
    “ The building does,” Sandy
said.
    “ Great. I’ll start a virus
scan...”
    “ You’re a life saver.
Thanks.” Sandy kissed the top of his head.
    “ Ew.” Nash bat at her with
his hand then leaned back against her.
    “ What’s this about
cake?”
    Aden was walking by the front door when
there was a knock. He looked through the peep hole, made a puzzled
face, and then opened the door. Without warming, the Denver Police
Officer attacked Aden. His forearm at Aden’s throat, the police
officer pushed Aden all the way back to the wall. The table knocked
over shattering a vase filled with flowers. The men stood face to
face.
    “ We can do this hard or we
can do this easy,” the Police Officer said. “Your
choice.”
    Noelle screamed and launched herself across
the room. Sandy caught her before she reached the men. Nash came up
beside Sandy to hold her hand.
    “ Let him go,” Sandy said.
She wasn’t anxious or angry. She sounded mostly annoyed.
    “ Sandra,” the police
officer said. “This man has a criminal record.”
    “ Uh huh,” Sandy said.
“Your history’s not so hot either. You’re going to pay for the vase
you broke.”
    The police officer stepped back. He lifted
Aden by the shirt and set him away from the wall.
    “ Aden, I’d like to
introduce you to my ridiculous, overbearing, jerk of a Godfather,
Seth O’Malley.”
    “ Now Sandy,” Seth said. “I
had to be sure we could have a conversation. He has a violent
record.”
    “ You scared the kids,”
Sandy said. “Do you feel like a man by terrifying two small
kids?”
    “ Sandra,” Seth said. He
held his arms out for a hug but Sandy shook her head at
him.
    “ You really overstepped
your bounds this time,” Sandy said.
    “ Sandy,” Aden walked up to
her and the kids. “I’m Ok.”
    He hugged Noelle and Nash then stroked
Sandy’s hair.
    “ We were just about to
have some of Sandy’s cake,” Aden said. “Would you like to join
us?”
    “ But Dad!” Nash said.
“That’s police brutality. We should...”
    “ I’m all right,” Aden
said. “Ever since Sandy told me that her stepdad and Godfather were
police officers, I’ve wondered when I’d get… uh…
introduced.”
    Sandy nodded then went into the kitchen. She
returned with a broom and dust pan which she thrust into Seth’s
hands. He raised his eyebrows and laughed. He set about cleaning up
the flowers and broken vase. When he finished, he held his arms out
and Sandy hugged him.
    “ May I introduce my friend
Aden Norsen?”
    The men shook hands.
    “ Seth
O’Malley.”
    “ Nice to meet you,” Aden
said.
    “ Yeah, sorry about that.”
Seth pulled at his collar. “Sandy’s stepdad was my best-friend and
the best person I’ve ever known. I saw Sandy’s name on your police
report. Well, naturally, I got a little hot about that. Then I saw
you and Sandy and the kids on the television tonight… I’m a little
protective.”
    “ She deserves it,” Aden
replied.
    “ This is Noelle and Nash,”
Sandy said. “We’re having a celebration for Aden. Is it
okay…?”
    “ Please join us,” Aden
said.
    ~~~~~~~~
    Thursday early morning — 1:35 A.M.
     
    Because Jacob could only sleep a few hours
at a time, he and Jill fell into the habit of hanging out during
the times he was awake. While he looked forward to the day he could
sleep an entire night, he loved getting to know Jill in the quiet
of the morning.
    This morning, they were sitting on a feather
bed in front of the fireplace. A large fire danced in front of
them. While Jacob was cold, Jill was warm. She wore only a white
tank top and panties. He would definitely miss that.
    A few hours ago, Katy had joined them in bed
after another nightmare