Mother's Day, the Krewe, and a Really Big Dog Read online

  I couldn’t help but think though her husband had just been evil.

  Angela got the boy to his feet. She looked imploringly at Jackson.

  “I was thinking . . . well, we need to eat. And then get Joey out to see his mom. Yes I know, we’ll have to hurry that up a bit and maybe get some special permission, but I know Adam can handle that for us and . . . please, Jackson.” She gave him a grimace. “It’s my first Mother’s Day, you know.”

  Jackson let out a groan. “When did you, um, get this dog?” he asked her.

  She smiled. “You know me. I can’t ignore a pup.”

  “He’s dead, you know.”

  “And damned fierce for a dead dog!”

  “He’s a hero,” Jackson said.

  I loved that!

  “What’s his name?”

  “I have no idea. We can give him a name.”

  I couldn’t tell them my name was Morrie.

  “Sean,” Angela said. “There’s a good Irish name for an Irish wolfhound.”

  Hey, if she wanted me to be Sean, I was Sean!

  “Well, you are one hell of a dog!” he told me.

  They got Joey to the house. They got him to stop crying by introducing him to Corby and getting the two together. They had a dinner—with everyone at the table continually giving Kelly scraps.

  And Angela managed it. She got Joey in to see his mother. Jackson took him because he wanted Angela to have the remaining few hours of the day with Corby.

  What Shelby Morrison had done was wrong, but there had been mitigating circumstances. Angela and Jackson talked to Adam over the phone. I knew by Monday things would be going right.

  When Jackson returned that night, he smiled at Angela and held her tight.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked him.

  “I think I’m glad it wasn’t Father’s Day,” he said.

  She laughed. “You, my love, are the best father ever!” She assured him. Corby was there. He ran and hugged them both.

  “I am the luckiest kid, mom and dad.”

  It was so beautiful. Kelly and I sat together and cried.

  Kelly looked at me. “I love you!” she said. “You’re going to stay, right?”

  I hesitated. I loved Kelly, too. But . . .

  “Kelly, you’re . . . well, you’re living. I’m not. I can’t be the mate you deserve.”

  Kelly laughed. “You’re dead—and I’ve been neutered. Not to mention I’m one ugly dog.”

  “Not on the inside; that’s where it counts!” I assured her.

  She gave me the best dog smile.

  “I think we’re fine. Besides, knowing Angela, we may wind up with puppies anyway!”

  I realized Corby saw me, too. And I was pretty sure he liked me right off the bat.

  But I wasn’t really certain I was wanted until bedtime.

  That was when Jackson patted my head again.

  “You’re a hero, boy. You know, Angela has always loved Irish wolfhounds. You’re staying, right? I know Kelly would love it; and well, boy, you turned out to be the best Mother’s Day present in the world!”

  “The best!” Angela said, coming up behind Jackson.

  Kelly barked.

  And, yep, I knew it. I was staying.

  I barked.

  I think she understood my words.

  Happy Mother’s Day!

  About The Author

  Heather Graham

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Heather Graham, majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over two hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, sci-fi, young adult, and Christmas family fare.

  She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty-five languages. She has written over 200 novels and has 60 million books in print. Heather has been honored with awards from booksellers and writers’ organizations for excellence in her work, and she is the proud to be a recipient of the Silver Bullet from Thriller Writers and was awarded the prestigious Thriller Master Award in 2016. She is also a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from RWA. Heather has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, Mystery Book Club, People and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including Today, Entertainment Tonight and local television.

  Heather loves travel and anything that has to do with the water, and is a certified scuba diver. She also loves ballroom dancing. Each year she hosts a Vampire Ball and Dinner theater raising money for the Pediatric Aids Society and in 2006 she hosted the first Writers for New Orleans Workshop to benefit the stricken Gulf Region. She is also the founder of “The Slush Pile Players,” presenting something that’s “almost like entertainment” for various conferences and benefits. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.

  Books By This Author

  Seeing Darkness

  She’s being murdered.

  It was supposed to be a fun girls’ weekend in Salem, but when a past-life regression session instead sends a terrifying vision of murder to Kylie Connelly, she’s shaken and doesn’t know what to think. Worse, later she identifies the attacker from her vision: he’s a prominent local politician.

  Special Agent Jon Dickson of the FBI’s Krewe of Hunters is on the trail of a suspected serial killer based on the scantest of clues and unreliable witness testimony. When he realizes Kylie’s vision might be his best lead, he must gain her trust and get close enough to guide her new talent. Though she doubts herself, the danger Kylie sees is all too real—and the pair will have to navigate a murderer’s twisted passions and deceptions to stop the killer from claiming another victim.