She thumbed through the stacks of mail. A cream envelope had a logo of a dog next to the return address. Mandy slid the letter out. Across the top, SERVICE DOG CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS was typed in bold print. The application was half-completed in small block letters. She read through the form.

It was no accident Honey knew how to comfort Bill or that she stuck by his side and could find him on command. Jed had been training Honey to be Bill’s service dog.

A fresh current of grief swamped her. She’d thought she was lonely before Jed’s death. Sitting at his desk, with the evidence of his selfless love for her in her hand, sadness swelled until the pressure constricted her heart and lungs.

Someone knocked at the door. She looked at Danny through the screen. Her heart bumped. The door squeaked as he pushed it open and walked in.

He squatted in front of her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left your side last night. You shouldn’t have been at the hospital alone.”

“Mrs. Stone was there. She still is.” Mandy looked down at her clenched hands. “I should have told you. You saved my life in December. I should have trusted you. I was just so afraid.”

“I wouldn’t have taken any chances with Jayne’s life either.” Danny took her hands in his. She was careful not to squeeze the new bandage.

Her conscience sighed in relief, but her heart started crying all over again. She shut it down. Danny’s forgiveness didn’t change the fact that he’d be leaving soon. And she’d be alone again. In fact, letting herself think otherwise just left her open to additional pain when she couldn’t handle one more ounce. She stared at the certification letter in her hand.

Danny put a finger under her chin. She closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against his palm. She was going to miss him.

“What’s that?” He nodded toward the letter.

“Jed was getting Honey certified as Bill’s service dog. That’s what he was doing all winter. He knew how difficult Bill’s anxiety was to manage. He was going to give me his most prized possession to make my life easier.”

“He loved you.”

“I loved him, too.” Tears burned Mandy’s swollen eyes. “Just not the way he needed me to love him.”

Danny didn’t respond with words. He pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms. “Do you need to do anything else here?”

She shook her head.

“Then let’s go back to the inn.”

“God, the inn. I just let everything go. My guests—”

“Are fine,” Danny assured her. “My brother is holding down the fort.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Danny steered her toward the door. “You won’t have to run the place alone anymore.”

Mandy stopped. “What do you mean?”