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“I’ll work in the media room with manly sports on the TV.”
“Of course you will.”
Harrison sat by Belle, petting her back. “Dad, can Reggie and Belle have pizza with us tonight?”
A great idea and one he should have thought of. He looked at her. “Monday is pizza night. Not Judy’s favorite, so she stays home.”
Reggie glanced between him and Harrison. “I’m afraid Belle isn’t allowed in restaurants.”
“Oh.” Harrison studied the dog, then looked at Toby. “We could get pizza to go.”
“Are you sure?” He turned to Reggie. “The pizza place has pinball machines. Harrison’s been getting good.”
Harrison wrapped his arms around Belle’s neck. “Yes. I don’t want Belle to be alone.”
“She’d be with my parents,” Reggie told him.
“Yeah, but Burt’s mean to her.”
Reggie smiled. “Thank you, Harrison. That’s a big sacrifice to make. Belle and I would be delighted to join you for dinner.”
“Come over at six?” Toby asked.
“Sounds good. I’ll take Belle home now and feed her. While she loves pizza, it doesn’t love her back.”
“Does she get sick?” Harrison asked, looking worried.
“Nope. She gets gas and it’s bad.”
Harrison started laughing. “Belle, do you fart?”
Belle licked his cheek.
Reggie picked up Belle’s leash. “Come on, sweet girl. Let’s get you fed. We’re going out tonight.”
Reggie and Belle arrived right at six. Reggie told herself not to read too much into the invitation, as it had come from Harrison and not Toby. This was just an evening with friends, nothing more, despite her mother’s speculative look. On the bright side, Leigh had offered a Bundt cake for dessert.
“Hi,” Toby said, opening the door. “Right on time. The pizza should be here in a few minutes.”
He stepped back to let her and Belle inside.
Belle moved cautiously, unsure. She’d just started to tremble when she spotted Harrison and nearly broke her leash trying to get to him.
“You’re here!” Harrison rushed forward, grinning.
Reggie unclipped Belle’s leash. “Maybe you could show her around so she gets comfortable. Oh, and watch her tail. When she wags it, she can clear off a coffee table in seconds.”
The next few minutes were filled with unwrapping Reggie’s layers and then helping Harrison find the right place for Belle’s bed. Reggie chatted with Judy while Toby and Harrison set the table. Reggie admired the giant tree in the family room and the elegant garland on the stair banister.
“Professionally decorated,” Judy said with a shake of her head. “Toby and his father used to walk out into the woods and chop down a tree.”
“We’ll have a real tree upstairs next week,” Harrison said eagerly. “Then we all decorate it ourselves. I can’t wait!”
The doorbell rang, and Toby went to get the pizza. Judy retreated to her room. Reggie, Toby and Harrison sat at the kitchen table, with Belle lying in the corner.
“Today was fun,” Harrison said, taking a slice of pepperoni pizza. “We’re going to make a lot of hats.”
“We are,” Reggie said, going for the mushroom pizza. “It’s a good project. I’m glad you thought of it.”
