Now in April, the weather continued its cool snap, but the sun was shining. Cara was quick at spreading out the black metal fencing on the deck to form a play circle. She dug into one of her many large bags and pulled out doggy play pads and laid these inside the circle, then tossed in two stuffed animal toys, a package of Nylabones, and a bag of treats. When all was settled, Cara slipped her face mask on, spread some hand sanitizer on her hands, and returned to the sliding door.

“All ready!” she said in a cheery tone.

Linnea couldn’t restrain Hope. The child tugged at the door along with her mother until it slid open enough for her to wiggle through. In seconds’ time she was at the dog crate, peering through the grate. Cara immediately stepped away, creating a distance. Linnea pushed the sliding door all the way open and joined them on the deck, going straight to join Hope at the dog crate.

Her heart melted. Inside the crate sat the sweetest little brown and white puppy she’d ever seen. It had soft, shaggy hair and the biggest, most luminous brown eyes. They gazed up at Linnea now as the puppy scratched at the grate, whining to get out.

“Can the puppy come out?” Hope asked in a pleading tone.

“Yes,” Cara answered. “Linnea, I don’t dare come closer. Could you take the puppy out and carry her to the pen? Hope, darling, you’ll have to let Linnea help you in. There’s a little gate”—she pointed—“right there. It lets her in and out without having to climb over the fence.”

Linnea bent low and opened the metal hinge on the pink crate. As soon as she reached in, the puppy climbed into her hands, scrambled up her chest, and began stretching to reach her face, trying to lick it. She could feel the puppy trembling, so soft and little.

“Oh, she is a pretty thing.”

“Isn’t she?” Cara called from across the deck. “I have to admit, I fell in love with her.”

“Easy to see why. What kind of a dog is she?”

“A Cavalier King Charles spaniel. A Blenheim—that’s the brown and white. Cavaliers are a child-friendly breed, very sweet-tempered, not biters, and love to cuddle,” Cara said in the manner of someone who had done her research.

“What’s not to like?” Linnea asked as the puppy nuzzled her neck.

“I think they’ll be fast friends.”

Linnea laughed as the puppy returned to licking her face. “She certainly is friendly.”

“Let me hold her,” cried Hope insistently, reaching up.

Linnea carefully set the puppy into the confined area. Immediately it leaped up against the fencing and whined to be picked up again. Linnea helped Hope inside the pen. Immediately she pounced on the puppy.

“Gentle!” Cara called out.

Linnea spent a few minutes inside the enclosure getting child and puppy settled with toys and bones. Once she felt the puppy was safe, she went to the wicker table and sat in a chair a distance away from Cara. She looked at her aunt and saw her dark eyes watching her. Waiting.