Page 54 of Three Little Wishes

“I’m afraid not.” The woman gestured to one of several carriers on the ground. “It’s a shame because, once he gets past the adolescent stage, he’ll make a wonderful family pet.”

“Can I give him a quick cuddle before you take him back to the shelter?”

“Of course.” She walked over to the carrier and let the dog out. Willow knelt on a bed of hay, and the puppy ran to her, nipping and licking her as he jumped up and down.

Noah crouched beside her and picked up the dog. “No biting.” Lucky cocked his head and then settled almost immediately in Noah’s arms. “Good boy,” he said, stroking the dog’s silky black coat.

Riley sat beside Noah. “Can I hold him, please?” She squealed with delight when Noah handed him over. “He’s so cute,” she cried, laughing when Lucky started eating her hair.

Noah scooped him out of Riley’s arms and once again told Lucky not to bite, waiting for him to settle in his arms before stroking him.

“What?” he asked when Willow and Riley looked at him and crossed their arms.

“You’re hogging him,” Willow said.

“I’m not hogging him. I’m calming him down. You’ve been bitten enough for one day, don’t you think?”

“He’s got baby teeth. They don’t hurt.”

“He didn’t bite me.” Riley knotted her hair at the nape of her neck and then held out her arms. When Noah handed him over, she cuddled him to her chest.

The event organizer walked over. “Willow Rosetti, when will I ever stop doubting you? You told us you’d find Lucky a home, and it looks like you did.”

Willow shot a panicked glance at Noah, afraid he’d think she’d set him up. She would never do that, not to him or to Riley, and not to Lucky. “I did. I did say that but I didn’t mean Riley and Noah. We’re just giving Lucky a cuddle before we leave. But I promise, I’ll keep trying to find him a home.”

“Can we keep him, Noah, please? We can’t let him go back to the shelter. He doesn’t have a mom. He needs a family. Everyone needs a family.” She held Lucky up to her cheek, giving her brother pleading eyes. But Noah missed them because he was glaring at Willow.

I’m sorry, she mouthed, feeling horrible for the position she’d unintentionally put Noah in. She stood up, moving away to give Noah and Riley some privacy.

The event organizer whispered an apology before walking to the other end of the barn with the veterinarian.

“Noah, please? I’ll take care of him. You won’t have to take him for walks or feed him. I’ll train him.”

He put his arm around his sister. “I’m sorry, Tink, but you know you can’t have a dog. Billy—”

“If you tell him it’s part of the deal, he’ll say yes. You know he will. All he cares about is the money. You can talk to the managers of my trust fund and make it a stipulation for me going back to LA.”

Noah looked gutted by what his sister had just revealed and he bowed his head.

“Please, Noah,” Riley pleaded again.

He kissed the top of his sister’s head. “Sure, Tink. Whatever you want.”

Riley jumped to her feet with Lucky in her arms and ran to Willow. “You really are my fairy godmother. I told you I had a dog on my wish list, and you made it happen. You’re the best, Willow.”

Chapter Seventeen

Willow sat on the Adirondack chair beside her sister watching the sun rise over the bay. It was a beautiful morning, peaceful and quiet. The only sound breaking the silence was the lullingshushof the waves rolling onto the shore.

Willow took a sip of her coffee and glanced at Sage. “You’re supposed to be helping me figure out why Mom called at the butt crack of dawn, not sleeping.”

“I’m trying to figure out why I agreed to a sleepover in the first place. I’m renaming it a wakeover, and I’m renaming the dog Demon Spawn.”

“He’s a puppy, and it was his first night in his new home. And you agreed to stay over to spend time with your aunt and so you didn’t have to lie to Mom and Nonna. You don’t think they somehow found out about Cami, do you?”

“What did Mom say again? I must’ve fallen asleep while you were telling me.”

“Seriously? You were looking right at me.”

---