But before she could move forward with her adoption of the dog she planned to name “S’moresy,” she needed to give sweet little Muffin the perfect send-off. She and Virginia had worked overtime to knit his siblings matching sweaters and hats so that they could also stay warm and stylish, no matter what the weather. Somehow the tiny dog had doubled his belongings in the short time with Harmony, and she wanted to make sure he had every last bit of it when he returned to Pastor Adam’s house that evening. That’s why she and Nolan had needed to drive separately tonight. Both trunks were needed!

“Are you going to be okay?” Nolan asked, pressing a kiss to her temple as the two of them watched Pancake and Muffin chase each other through the park.

She nodded and put on as brave a face as she could muster. “It’s not like it’s goodbye. I’ve volunteered to help Abigail with the dogs when I can. Kind of my way of paying it forward.”

It wouldn’t be the same, they both knew that, but Harmony had always known the arrangement with her church dog would be temporary. And to think she hadn’t even wanted him in the beginning.

“Muffin, c’mere, baby!” she called, which brought the little dog racing over. She hoisted him into her arms and showered him with kisses on his tiny apple-shaped head. “It’s amazing how much love fits into this tiny, little package.”

“Just imagine how much fits inside a giant one like Pancake,” Nolan teased, scratching his Irish Wolfhound behind the ears.

Harmony set Muffin back down so he could go play, and her boyfriend pulled her into his chest.

“It’s a good thing you’re doing. You know that, right? Muffin loves you, but he has a great home to return to. That little shelter dog you’ve had your eye on, though, he needs you. He’s never had anyone before, and now that lucky little guy will get to go home with the very best person I know.”

“Thanks,” she sniffed, refusing to cry. Muffin needed her to be strong.

“It doesn’t just have to be that one dog,” Nolan continued on. “Maybe one day when we’re old and married… You know, like a few months from now, we can rescue one dog for each month I’ve known and loved you.”

“So six?” she asked with a laugh. “Seriously, Nolan. Sometimes you’re just ridiculous.”

“There’s that smile,” he said, pulling her into a dancer’s pose so they could look into each other’s eyes. “I love that smile, but you know, you kind of missed the important part of that last bit I said.”

“You mean about the six dogs?”

“That, and…” he nudged.

Harmony twisted up her face as if thinking hard, then sighed. “I have absolutely no idea/ I guess you’re going to have to spell it out for me.”

“Oh, you are incorrigible,” he teased, swaying back and forth with her, neither caring that they were in the middle of a very public place and waiting for Abigail and Pastor Adam to join them.