Overcoming a fear (6)

(James POV)

"Daaaddy?, daddy!", Lilla was poking my face, trying to get me to wake up.

"Mm?" I said, still half asleep. I rubbed my eyes and looked up at her. "What do you have there?". I tried to sit up and look at the plate she was proudly holding with a big smile.

"Uhm... I-I made this for you daddy", she giggled, putting it on my lap: it was a piece of chocolate cake; strawberries and sprinkles made a cute little heart on top of it.

"That is so cute, princess! Did you make it all by yourself?", she nodded, "I'm so proud of you". I kissed her cheek, smiling, and I started eating it. I saw her getting another piece and eating it with me as 'My Little Pony' played on TV. "You woke up so early, did something happen?".

"Uh... No!", she looked like she was hiding something, but I wasn't sure if I should've been excited for it because of the cute look on her face or worried about the guilt I could tell she was hiding somewhere.

"Are you sure? Should daddy be worried?".

She shook her head and looked away.

"Did you... break something? Oh god it's the kitchen, right?, did you get hurt?".

"Daddy, daddy, no!", Lilla interrupted me. "I'm okay. I... Okay I'll tell you, since I made you a yummy cake I decided that you should um...", she looked down, playing with her fingers "I mean, you could let me do... a thing?".

I looked at her, raising my eyebrows "what kind of thing?".

She giggled, "get uh... a pet?".

"Ohh, do you think it's a good idea? What kind of pet do you want?".

She nodded, "Mhm, I want a dog!". She looked so excited, I couldn't say no. "I've always wanted one".

"I forgot you've never had one, your family didn't let you, right?".

"No... My mom says they're cute and snuggly but my dad has always said they're dirty and can bite you".

"I just don't understand how you've never been around a dog, it's crazy!", I said, still surprised.

"That's why I need one, daddy. Can we please, please, please get one?", she said pouting.

"Okay, love. Should we go today? Are you feeling well?".

"Mhm, I feel better today, I wanna go".

We got ready after lunch and we drove to the city. I took her to the animal shelter, she looked nervous at first, I smiled as I saw her waving at the dogs, still not getting too close to them; I was starting to think she was slightly scared of them.

I took her hand, "hey love, they won't hurt you, I promise".

She nodded and we started looking together. Shortly after, a nice girl came to help us, "hello, I'm Celine, may I help you?".

"Hello, we want to adopt a dog, maybe a small one as it's gonna be her first dog and she's a bit nervous still", I kissed her forehead.

"Hm... follow me", we did and she showed us an adorable white puppy, wagging his tail as he tried to chew his way out of the cage.

Lilla smiled and I get to hold him for a few minutes.

"You can pet him, it's okay", I said and she did, I noticed she was shaking but it quickly went away.

We put him back in his cage to keep looking for a bit more. The girl came back and started talking, almost whispering, "I... I probably shouldn't say this but, well, there's something I'd like to show you", she took us to the back of the building and opened a small cage that we thought was empty until we got closer: two little dogs were snuggling in a corner. One was white and brown, the other one black and white. "I can feel you'd be able to take good care of them, no one else wants them and they've been here for two months already".

"They're so cute, how did no one else want them?", Lilla asked.

"Well, there is literally no way to separate them without them crying and barking like they're missing a part of them! I'm sure if they leave it has to be together, either with a new family or... you know. People don't usually want to take home more than one dog".

I looked at Lilla, "what do you think?", the puppies came to lay on my lap when I sat on the floor, eventually she started petting them too.

"I like them and I really don't want them to be alone".

I nodded, "what do you think about the white one we saw?, you looked happy too. What should we do?", I asked.

"He's gonna have a good home soon, I know it. These little guys may never have a chance if we don't take them home".

"That's true, and they already love us!", we giggled, looking at them chewing on our sleeves.

"Alright! I think we've made a decision then".

She nodded, "yes! I love them".

"Okay, follow me so you can sign adoption papers, I'll give you my phone number in case you need anything. I'm happy these sweet puppies are finally going to have a family", Celine smiled and we followed her.

We signed it and got on our way home after buying dog food and a few toys. We couldn't wait to get home and play with those cuties!