The next evening.
"Hey Jess?"
"Yeah." Jessica smiles up to Danny as she relaxes on the couch.
"Isla and I were playing house-"
"Nice."
"And she told me to get with you about a baby?"
Jessica nods her head. "No. She's nuts."
"What is she talking about?"
"Isla's friend at school is getting a baby brother, and she tells me she's the only one without a baby brother or sister."
"I IS!" Isla shouts walking into the living room from her play room.
"Well it's gonna stay like that for a long long time, kiddo."
"She wants you to have a baby?" Danny asks.
"Yep."
"Isla!" Danny laughs nervously. "Baby girl.. how about a cat?"
"EW!"
"A dog?"
".... Okay!" She smiles and runs to Danny. "Danny buyed me a dog!"
Danny lifts her up and smiles.
"Thanks, Danny." Jessica says with a blank face.
***
October.
"Me no understand. Danny say he buyed me a dog."
"Isla, we have to talk about it first. We have to ask Poppy and Gaga."
"Me ask dem now!"
"Go ahead."
"POPPY! GAGA!"
Jessica laughs at how loud her voice is.
"Yes honey? Is something wrong?" Doug asks.
"GAGA!"
Catherine runs in in a panic. "What is it?!"
"Sit down."
Jessica chuckles as Isla climbs up onto the couch.
"Everything okay?" Catherine asks Jessica.
"Yes, she just has something she wants to ask y'all."
"Okay." Catherine smiles to Isla. "What is it, precious?"
"Mommy not want to give me a baby brother or sister, so my Danny say he buyed me a dog. Can my puppy live here with us?" Isla asked in the sweetest way.
"To clarify, Danny has not bought the dog. He only said it to distract her. She was asking him to give me a baby."
"Oh gosh." Catherine chuckles.
"Well Isla.. having a puppy is a big responsibility. Will you take care of the dog?"
"No. Mommy will." She points to Jessica.
"Mommy takes care of you." Jessica responds.
"Me just wittle so I can not take care of a dog."
"Well then maybe we should wait until you're older to get one."
"No, no, no! Me help! Me help!"
Doug nods. "I don't know if I'm blinded by grandpa love, but I actually believe this girl will help."
"Don't let that cute face fool you. She won't do a thing!" Jessica says.
Isla smiles and hopes off the couch to run to her grandfather.
He picks her up and she grabs onto him. "Me so much a big helper, Poppy!"
"Then how can we say no to that? What do you think Gaga?"
"I think.. I vote yes!"
"WOO!" Isla cheers.
"But first we have to ask momma how she feels." Doug says.
"Oh great! So if I say no then I'm the bad guy?"
"Well why would you say no?"
"Dad, I'm already so busy with her and with school."
"It's just one dog, and mom, Sarah and I will help-"
"Sarah will help with what?" Sarah says walking downstairs.
"My doggy!" Isla smiles.
"We're getting a dog?!"
"Yep!"
"Plus Jessie, it'll make the baby so happy."
"I know.."
"You won't have to worry about it at all, I promise."
Sarah takes Isla from her father and says, "I've always wanted a dog and the answer was always no. You ask and they're all for it."
"Cause me a pwetty pwincess." Isla giggles.
"And what am I? The ugly duckling?"
"Yep!"
Sarah laughs and kisses her cheek. "You little toot."
"Will you help too, Sar? I don't want it all on mom and dad."
"Yeah, you got it Jess."
"Okay." Jessica takes a deep breath. "Then call uncle Danny and tell him he better get you a dog."
"YAAAAY!" Isla screams and kicks her legs.
**
Danny came by later that day and picked up Jessica, and Isla.
"Jess, I have a surprise for you."
"Is it another dog? Because if so I don't want another surprise."
"No! Come look, it's in my car."
Jessica walks out and of course Isla follows.
Danny opens the back door and smiles.
"Aw Danny! You bought a car seat for your car?"
"I did and I had it installed and everything. I just wanted to make sure it was safe for Poopy."
"Awww." Jessica pouts and hugs Danny. "You're such a good guy. I love you, babe."
"I love you more. Hey and listen.." Danny takes her hands. "We said I love you to each other way before we started dating, and I want you to know that when I say it now.. it's completely different than it was before. I love you. I really really do."
Jessica smiles with tears forming in her eyes. "I love you too, Danny. Really really love you. Not only like a best friend. I love you."
Danny smiles before leaning in to kiss her lips.
"Hey, hey! We gonna get my doggy or what?"
Jessica laughs and pulls away from Danny. Danny then lifts Isla and sticks her in the car as he makes funny noises. Isla cracks up laughing.
Jessica watched with a smile on her face. She's so happy and thankful to know Isla has Danny in her life.
**
"You're back!" Catherine smiles. "... Where's the puppy?"
Jessica sighs and says, "We went to the local shelter. We walked in and the first dog we saw, Isla jumped up, screamed bloody murder, hid behind me and peed on herself."
"Oh no!"
"This girl is not getting a brother, a sister, or a dog anytime soon."
"Oh she might not be, but I'M getting a dog!" Sarah says.
With a pout on her lips and tears in her eyes, Isla nods her head and in a low voice she says, "No dog. No dog."
