Page 47 of Doran

“What was that?” my mother asked.

“Hop-a-long!” Evan shouted.

Before anyone else could move, Caleb took off after it.

The little stray marsupial zigzagged wildly across the yard, Caleb laughing as he chased it. Somehow, against all odds, he managed to scoop it up.

“I got him!” he crowed triumphantly as it went still in his arm, probably in shock that he'd been captured.

Lucy stared at the trembling little animal in Caleb's arms, then looked over at me with enormous hopeful eyes.

“Mommy?” I already knew what was coming. “Can we keep him?”

Doran looked at me.

I looked at the odd little creature and sighed.

"Daddy, can we?" Lucy pleaded, now looking at Doran, prompting more laughter.

I shrugged as he looked for my answer, and he smiled down at her.

“Yes.”

Lucy squealed in delight. “I gots a kangaroo rabbit!”

"I'll go get the hop-a-long from Caleb, so it can't get away again.”

I nodded. "Thank you."

He ducked his head in acknowledgement. "Don't you poop on my good suit," he told the small critter as he pinned it tight against his chest and went inside,

"Do we get cake now?" Matt asked, prompting more laughter.

“Now we get cake,” I assured him, going hand in hand with my mate and husband as we went to start the rest of our celebration. And maybe, just maybe, afterwards, we’d have a chance to talk about adding a baby. We could possibly even end up making one tonight.