When they’d first come in, she’d only been thinking she’d like to get to know Hayley better, which was why she’d asked them to come back to the house with her. She’d glanced out into the living room while she made the coffee and had seen Quinn standing in front of her father’s official department photograph on the wall, looking lost in thought.

Hayley had taken a seat on the sofa, with Cutter sitting politely at her feet. She’d never had a dog, although she’d always liked them. It wouldn’t have been fair to the animal when she’d been away at school so much and her father had worked odd shifts.

When they were all seated around the low coffee table, Cutter got to his feet and came to her. He sat in front of her, watching her with that same steady regard he had at the cemetery. Instinctively, she reached out to stroke his head. And there it was again, that same feeling of...calm. Soothing, that’s what it was. The dog’s thick, plumed tail wagged slightly, and that only added to the feeling. She decided she could forgive him for being upset that Adam had left; he must be one of those dogs that just loved people. Maybe that’s what caused the feeling of tension easing.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Hayley said. Amanda looked up to see Quinn’s wife smiling.

“Yes,” she said.

“You should see him when he makes visits as a therapy dog.”

“I’ll bet he’s really good at that.”

“He is. Took almost no training at all. They said it’s instinctive with some dogs.”

Amanda stroked the dog’s head again, then impulsively leaned down and planted a kiss between his ears.

“Oh, now you’ve done it,” Quinn said with a chuckle. “He’s going to make himself at home.”

“He’s welcome to,” she said, meaning it since clearly the dog had excellent manners.

But she was a little surprised when Cutter got to his feet and began to wander, not idly as if curious, but... almost intently, as if he were looking for something.

“Are you glad you moved back here?” Quinn asked.

She knew he meant the house; she’d had her own place for a couple of years, but had moved back here immediately after that night. And she knew she owed this man above all others honesty. “Yes and no. It both comforts me because he feels close, and hurts because he’s gone. Although it would be worse if it was actually in the city where he worked.” As if they could have afforded that, even if they’d wanted it. She sighed. “People keep telling me to move, but...”