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‘We’re the lucky ones, love.’ He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

Tilly raced past her to the garden gate, leaving the girls still playing a game that seemed to involve a lot of arm flapping, curtseys and bubble blowing. Smiling, Liv followed Tilly. The little Shiba Inu leaped up and down excitedly, yipping and barking.

‘You know there’s someone out here who you want to play with, don’t you?’ She knelt down to pet the little dog. ‘But you’ll need to be patient a bit longer. Sit. Stay.’ She slipped out of the gate.

‘Hi, Cathy. And hi, Angela ‒ we hadn’t expected to see you.’ Liv held the front garden gate open, surprised to see Angela out and about. ‘Do you need a hand with that chair?’

‘No, thanks,’ Cathy answered for her daughter. ‘I’m getting pretty used to manoeuvring the wheelchair. Though everything takes a bit longer with it. That’s why we’re a tad late. Sorry. But I’m fine with this.’ She pushed the chair through the front gate and followed Liv up the side of the house. It was then that she caught her first glimpse of their reason for visiting. ‘I’ve had plenty of practice; after all I’ve been pushing Angela around for years.’

Liv smiled as Angela complained. ‘It wasn’t funny the first time she tried that joke on the hospital physios, or the occupational health team. Or the other dozen times I’ve heard it since.’

‘It could be worse.’ Cathy grinned at her daughter. ‘You could be doing all this without my wonderful sense of humour.’

‘You’re not late at all,’ Liv reassured them both. ‘How’s your leg healing, Angela? Getting plenty of rest after the accident and surgery?’

‘I feel like I’ve done nothing but rest all week. Rest in the hospital, rest at home. Even going for a walk is a rest because I’m not allowed out of this thing.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Anyway, I’m not here as your patient, Liv. Do you want to meet him?’ Angela’s grin was contagious.

‘Of course.’

‘He’s still pretty shy,’ Angela warned as Liv knelt beside her. ‘Come on, Sparks. Come and say “hi” to my friends.’

Liv had to suppress her excitement as a pair of pointy tan ears peeped out from behind the wheelchair, quickly followed by a snowy white snout covered in freckles and brown splodges. ‘Hello, Sparks.’ She held out her fingers to let the little dog sniff at them. After a few long seconds in which she held her breath, he took a couple of tiny steps towards her. Gently and slowly she patted the top of his head. After freezing for a moment, the dog relaxed and butted his head against her hand.

‘Here, try these.’ Angela held up a bag of biscuits. ‘Would you like a treat, Sparks? Ask Liv if she has one for you.’ She shook her head. ‘We had the hardest time getting him to eat when he came in a few weeks ago. Poor little pup was so nervous.’

‘I dread to think what he’s been through.’ The thought made Liv angry. ‘You said Jake thought he was about three?’

‘Three, maybe four. It’s so hard to tell with rescues when you don’t know what their nutrition and health has been previously. But someone loved this little guy once. He’s house trained, but an absolute terror on the leash still. Are you sure you’re OK with this?’

‘It’s just a few weeks, Angela.’ Liv smiled as a cold nose and wet tongue hit her palm. ‘Look, he’s eating from my hand. We’ll be fine, won’t we, Sparks?’

‘He certainly seems to have taken to you quite fast.’ Angela grinned at the dog who was now half-standing on Liv, eagerly investigating the prospect of more treats.

‘The feeling’s mutual.’ Liv rubbed his ears gently and fed him another biscuit. ‘Would you like to join us? Cal’s barbequing, and we’ve got extra sausages.’ She laughed as Sparks yipped. ‘Oh, you know that word, don’t you? Come join us all in the garden. Please.’

Behind the back gate, Tilly yapped in excitement, and Sparks froze, his ears pointing towards the sound.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course. Besides, Sparks here might feel a bit happier if you’re here while he settles in. I’ve got everything Jake sent over hidden under the stairs. I didn’t want to tell Sarah I’m fostering him for a few weeks in case he didn’t take to me. Let’s go introduce him to the rabble, before Tilly gives us away.’

* * *

Callum looked up as the gate swung open, and shot Liv a wink. Nervously following her in was a scruffy-looking Jack Russell who seemed to be trying to hide behind Liv while also sniff at Tilly. Within moments the Shiba had cheerfully sniffed him all over, and was racing down the garden to find her human.

‘Hi, Cathy, hi, Angela. I take it the introduction went well.’

‘Yeah, at least to Liv. He’s still pretty shy though.’

‘Can’t really blame him, we don’t know what he’s been through.’ He broke off a piece of sausage, blew on it, and crouched down. ‘Hey, little chap. Want to come see what I’ve got for you?’ He grinned when the dog sidled over and snaffled the treat from between his fingers. ‘You’ll be fine here. And it’s only a few weeks until Angela’s back on her feet and back working to find you a forever home.’

The blur of ginger fur bounded past before the girls screeched to a halt next to him.

‘Who’s the cute doggy?’ Sarah asked.

‘Can we pet him?’ Summer added. She looked at Sarah and sagely added, ‘Did you know you should always, always ask before touching an animal? In case they get scared or something.’

‘Duuuh.’ Sarah laughed. ‘Uncle Jake always says that. Well?’ She looked at Angela, Cathy and Liv. ‘Can we pet him? What’s his name?’