“Yes, and Lord knows there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for that man, but this is taking things too far. Sophie’s not like you. She’s not—”

Help came from an unexpected source, stopping their mother before she made the mistake of finishing that statement—not that Sophie needed to hear the rest. She already knew all the things she wasn’t: self-sufficient, significant, strong.

“It’s not our decision to make though, is it?” Lila stood in the doorway to the kitchen, an apron over her clothes and a dishrag in her hands. Her sister must have been in there the entire time, listening in. “Soph, I’m assuming you already cleared it with the client?”

Sophie, who had done no such thing, nodded a solemn lie. She was too surprised by Lila’s championship to do more. In personal and familial situations, there was nothing her sister wouldn’t have done to support her. Professional situations, however, were another story. Lila was a stickler for doing things by the book. She loved rules the way most people loved cupcakes—or, you know, puppies.

“If it’s in the best interest of the placement, then it’s the right call.” Lila took one look at their mother’s face and laughed. “Relax, Mom. She’s twenty-six years old. She’ll be fine.”

“Yes, but her health. If something should happen—”

“The client has been diabetic nearly his entire life. I’m pretty sure he knows how to call an ambulance.”

Sophie had never felt so lifted up—or so close to being crushed. Lila and Dawn providing their support without once questioning her professional judgment was everything she’d ever wanted out of Puppy Promise. No one was reprimanding her for her handling of the case; no one was doubting her ability to make it work. It would have been her idea of heaven, if not for the fact that she didn’t need to live out at Harrison’s house.

Nor, she suspected, would she be particularly welcome.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Dawn added. “You can still stay here with me and Lila, and we’ll do all the spa days you want. Look at her face—have you ever seen anyone who needs it more? There were three new wrinkles around her eyes this morning. I counted.”

Lila, who had the smooth, unruffled beauty of a woman ten years her junior, gave a grimace. She also tossed the dish towel at Dawn’s head. “Just for that, I’m not finishing the dishes. You can eat off dirty plates for the rest of the day.”

But Dawn tossed the towel to their mother, passing it on like a game of Hot Potato. “What good is having Mom come to stay unless we make her earn her keep? Don’t worry, Sophie—we’ll have her regretting her decision before the weekend’s up.”