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“You’re already here,” I call out, as I hurry down the porch steps. “I’ve got turkey in the oven, you can watch the football game with Pops, he should be here any minute.”

Buck looks awful, and when he shakes his head with a sad little smile, my heart breaks for him.

“You’re a sweet girl. Always were, and it’s kind of you to ask, but I’m gonna pass.”

“Kind? Bullshit. You’re family, and you’re already here,” I insist.

There’s that faint smile again, but he otherwise ignores my words as he changes the subject.

“I’m actually just here to drop something off.”

I follow him to the back of the van and watch him open the doors to reveal a large dog kennel. Pitiful wailing comes from inside, as a wet, brown nose is pressed against the metal grid of the door.

“This is Blossom. She’s a five-month-old chocolate labradoodle rescued from an animal abuse situation near Watts Lake. She’s a sweet thing. I’ve had her about a week to fatten her up a little—she was malnourished—to spay her, and to make sure she was otherwise healthy. She’s had all her shots and really hates being cooped up in the kennel. She’s yours if you want her.”

I was already leaning in, my fingers stuck through the metal grid to touch her soft fuzzy muzzle, when Buck opens the kennel. The pup darts out, jumping down from the van and immediately up against me when I crouch down beside her, her pink tongue taking aim at my face.

I feel I’m woefully unprepared. Growing up I never had a pet so I know very little about what it takes to care for one, but that doesn’t stop me from immediately responding.

“God, yes, I want her.”

As an afterthought, I turn to look at Rick, who is standing behind me, taking it all in with a mildly amused expression on his face.

“If that’s okay with you?”

Now he flat-out chuckles. “If you remember, I supported the idea of getting a dog living out here. Of course, at the time, I was thinking more along the lines of a fierce watchdog—maybe a mastiff or a Rottweiler—not this happy ball of fluff, and the decision should be yours, but yeah, I’m all for a dog.”

“Glad that’s settled,” Buck announces. “Let me grab her bed and a few things I got for her to get you started, and then I’ll be off.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond but disappears around the side of the van. A moment later he’s back with a dog bed, bowls, a bag of food, and some toys, and hands them to Rick.

“I’d really love for you to stay,” I try again, eager to make him feel included.

“Not today. I’m gonna need some time,” he admits. “I may head up to my cabin for some solitude.”

I can appreciate him craving some silence, so I stop pushing.

“Okay, but know my door is always open for you.”

He presses his lips together and nods brusquely.

“Best get hold of Blossom,” he warns before climbing behind the wheel.

I grab her collar and hold on tight as he backs his van away from the house and drives off.

“Poor guy,” Rick mumbles.

“Yeah.”

“What the heck is that?”

My father’s voice booms through the house as he’s greeted at the door by a super excited Blossom. Full of energy, she has yet to take a break. She’s been playing tug-of-war with Eduardo pretty much nonstop since he and Theresa showed up half an hour ago.

“Hey, Pops. That’s Blossom. Buck came by earlier to drop her off for me.”

He’s still in the open doorway, crouching over as he scratches the pup behind her ears, and looks up when he hears his friend’s name.

“Buck?”