“She does now.”

I held up the box and shook it. “I won’t need a hazmat suit?”

“My family doesn’t blame you for anything.”

“So if I see them again, they won’t all make the sign of the cross at the exact same moment?”

“Behave, and just open the present, okay?”

I slipped my finger under the ribbon and pulled it to one side, and then I carefully pulled the tape from the paper.

“You’re short on wrapping paper? You’re going to use that for something else?”

I laughed and took my time folding the paper, setting it beside me to expose a shiny white box. This was too delicious to rush. I slipped my fingers under the top of the lid.

“Aunt Ryan, Bismarck’s snoring!”

Teo nudged me with his elbow. “Don’t look now, but there’s a little girl standing across the room. And not the one who was here a few minutes ago.”

I set the box on the carefully folded wrapping paper. “What would you like me to do about it, Holly?”

“Can I sleep in your bed?”

“Yeah, Aunt Ryan. You didn’t have other plans for your bed, did you?” Teo asked, nudging me again.

Considering how unlikely it had been that Holly would fall asleep quickly, sadly I did not.

“Go ahead,” I told her. “But when you wake up tomorrow morning, don’t be surprised to find you’re back in your own.”

“Will you tuck me in? Can I sleep with your lamp on?” I got up and handled the questions one at a time until we were upstairs, and she was tucked in, a night-light plugged in beside the door, and soft music playing to speed her into Dreamland.

Downstairs I went through the moving-gifts-and-sitting-down ritual. “How do married people manage to conceive more than one child?”

“Open it fast before Noelle shows up again.”

“You are terrified I won’t like whatever it is, aren’t you?”

“Just open it.”

I put the box on my lap and slowly lifted the top. A silver oval on a fine gold chain lay on top of white cotton. Inside the oval, which was open in the middle, stood a tiny three-dimensional German shepherd, modeled in gold. The dog was familiar.

I lifted the necklace and held it to my chest. “It’s so beautiful. He looks like Bismarck.”

“Close as I could get. You like it?”

“No, I love it.” I wasn’t a fan of glittery jewelry, but this necklace was classic, simple enough that I could wear it anywhere, anytime. And when I wore it, I would always be reminded of the dog who had saved my life and nearly lost his own.

And, of course, the man.

“Will you help me?” I held it out and turned so he could put the chain around my neck and clasp it. I turned back to him. “How does it look?”

“You look beautiful.”

I kissed him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “You haven’t seen my gift yet.”