“This is my daughter,” Dani said, laying her hands on Bella’s shoulders. “Bella Peterson.”

“Pleased to meet you, Bella. I’m Ivy, and this little gal is Star. If you come in and sit down next to Libby, I’ll let you hold her.”

Dani had to admit Ivy knew how to sell. “Is she still nesting behind the boxes?”

“She is. You can see her staring at us right now. She doesn’t like being separated from the baby.”

Ivy walked toward the wall of boxes with Bella in tow, sat on the floor, and patted the space beside her. Bella sat, and Ivy let Libby smell the puppy and confirm it was fine before she laid it in Bella’s hands.

“Oh, Mommy,” Bella cooed as she nuzzled her face against the puppy’s small body. “She is so cute.”

“She’s the smallest of the litter,” Ivy said. “The others are a boy and another girl.”

Bella looked at the two brown puppies. “They’re all so cute. Mommy, can we have them all?”

Dani was ready for the question. “Just one.”

“How am I going to decide?” Bella asked. “I can’t leave the others behind.”

“You get first pick,” Ivy said. “And I’ll be sure to find good homes for the babies.”

“Her eyes aren’t open,” Bella said as she nuzzled the dog close to her cheek.

“That’s the way they’re born,” Ivy said. “They’ll open in another week or so.”

“Can I hold the boy?” Bella asked.

Ivy took the female and settled her close to Libby, who sniffed and then licked her face. Star squealed and rooted closer to a nipple.

Dani felt for Libby. Bella had always had a strong appetite, and when Dani was nursing her, her nipples were raw within the first week. Ruth had stopped by her house with a pink basket filled with baby onesies. The instant Dani saw Ruth, she had burst into tears.

“It’s okay,” Ruth had said, wrapping her arm around Dani’s shoulders.

“I didn’t think you would come. I thought you would be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad, honey.” Ruth sat beside her on the couch in her father’s den.

“Have you told Ivy?”

“I did.”

“And?”

“She was upset. It was a shock for her too.”

More tears streamed down her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“I know that. And she didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“She did. I did.”

Ruth smoothed her hand over Bella’s head, already covered with thick black hair. “As soon as Ivy sees Bella, she’ll fall in love. Just you wait and see.”

And now here the two were meeting for the first time. Ivy picked up the brown dog. “That’s Sunny.”

“He’s soooo cute,” Bella said.

Ivy rose and stepped back. “They’re all sweet.”