I sank onto the couch, shaking my head, a mixture of laughter and relief bubbling up. My goofy, impulsive fiancé had terrified me—but for the sweetest reason.

As I watched Max Jr. tumble over his oversized paws and make the girls laugh, memories of my first Max came rushing back. When I was four, Max had saved my life, pulling me out of the water when I’d fallen in during a family picnic. He had been my loyal companion, my protector, until the day we lost him to old age.

Now, looking at Max Jr., with his wagging tail and playful eyes, it felt like a piece of my past had found its way home.

A few moments later, the sound of the front door creaking open broke the silence. Matt stepped inside, looking both guilty and nervous, with a bag of puppy supplies in his hand.

“Uh… surprise?” he said, his voice uncertain.

I jumped up and rushed toward him, torn between wanting to strangle him for scaring me and wanting to kiss him senseless. The kiss won out.

“You could’ve at least warned me! Do you have any idea what I just went through?” I whispered, still catching my breath as our lips parted.

“I know, and I’m so sorry,” Matt said, pulling me closer. “But I couldn’t risk anyone else adopting the dogs before I got the chance. I had to make it back yesterday.”

“Daddy, is it true? Did you really get us the puppy?” Ella asked, her face lighting up with excitement.

Matt crouched down, grinning as he ruffled her hair. “I did, sweetheart! What do you think? Was it a good surprise?”

“The best!” Sophie answered enthusiastically, beating her sister to it as she threw her arms around him.

I crossed my arms and poked him in the chest. “You owe me for this one, big time.”

Matt laughed, his grin widening. “Fair enough.”

The rest of the evening was pure joy. We played with Max Jr., who barked and chased the girls around the yard until they were all laughing and breathless. Later, we curled up on the couch together for a cozy movie night, Max Jr. sprawled happily across our laps.

That night, Max Jr. joined Matt and me in bed, settling into his forever spot at the foot of the bed—the place he would sleep every night for the rest of his wonderful life.

And as for Matt? He made good on what he owed me… by giving me the happiest life I could’ve ever dreamed of.