Molly pointed at the open passenger door on Brad’s SUV. “Do you think that’s Sophie in the front seat?”
The only part of Sophie that was visible were her legs and her all-too-familiar purple running shoes resting on the running board. “Yes. I’m sure Brad asked her to wait in the car. Otherwise, she’d be climbing into the dumpster herself, pregnant or not. She’s that determined when it comes to saving animals.”
“Hazel and I can wait with Sophie.” Molly got out of the truck, removed Hazel from her car seat and tucked her daughter on her right hip.
Drew joined the pair at the front of his truck and set a burp cloth over Molly’s shoulder. “There’s something you should know about my niece, Ella.”
“She’s blind,” Molly said softly. She tipped her head toward Brad’s SUV.
Drew followed Molly’s gaze and smiled. A young girl, blond braids tracking down either side of her head and a wide smile pressing her dimples deep into her cheeks, walked toward them. She relied on an extended white cane to navigate the short distance between the cars.
Drew called out, “Ella Bella.”
“Uncle Drew!” The joy in Ella’s voice was unmistakable. “Now you can help Dad. He won’t let Mom help. Even though she’s pregnant, Mom could still get the dog faster than anyone else.”
Sophie slipped from the passenger seat of the SUV, put a hand on her stomach and joined them. She set her other hand on Ella’s shoulder. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ella. But I’m not sure how fast I could be with these two babies weighing me down.”
“Still faster than Dad,” Ella whispered.
Sophie laughed, then introduced herself and Ella to Molly.
Ella folded her walking stick and reached for her mom’s hand. “Can I meet baby Hazel?”
“I think Hazel would like that.” Molly moved closer to Ella and Sophie.
“Hazel hasn’t been able to stop watching you, Ella.” Wonder eased into Drew’s words. “Each time you talk, Hazel’s smile grows bigger.”
Ella beamed. “Hazel’s like the baby sister I never had.”
“What about the twins?” Sophie rubbed her lower back.
“They might be boys and then I won’t get a sister.” Ella’s eyebrows lowered, then lifted. “So, I need to claim Hazel right now.”
Hazel giggled and waved her arms.
“Did you hear that?” Ella clapped. “Hazel agrees too.”
“From what I’ve heard, Ella, you are quite an expert on all things baby.” Molly shifted Hazel so her daughter’s back was against Molly’s chest and stood in front of Ella.
“Evie and I have been researching and teaching everyone.” Wisdom coated Ella’s musical voice. She added a sage nod to reinforce her words. “Babies are a lot of work.”
“I wish I’d had you with me when Hazel was born,” Molly said.
“Well, you have me now.” Ella clasped her hands together. “Can I meet the sister of my heart now?”
“You sure can.” There was a catch in Molly’s voice.
Drew edged beside Molly and Hazel.
Sophie guided Ella closer. Ella reached out both arms, but paused. Indecision shifted across her kind face. She chewed her bottom lip. Drew stepped forward to intervene. Ella always asked permission to touch someone’s face to learn who they were. But Hazel was only a baby.
Molly’s sweet child reached out and grabbed Ella’s hand first. Her tiny fingers curled tightly around Ella’s, as if Hazel were claiming Ella. Sisters of the heart indeed.
No further permission was required.
Drew cleared his throat.
Molly dabbed at her eyes.
Ella, refusing to release Hazel’s hold on her hand, patted Hazel’s cheek with her free hand. The young girl touched Hazel’s cotton headband and her grin blossomed into recognition. “I wear these too, Hazel. We’re going to get along perfectly. I already have so much to tell you.”
“Ella, you’ll have to talk to the baby later.” Brad walked up, hands on his hips. The tenderness in his gaze ruined his attempt at a serious frown. “I need some help before the puppies decide the sewage drain looks like a fun place to play.”
“Puppies?” Molly glanced at Drew.
Drew shrugged, then introduced Hazel and Molly to his older brother.
“That’s right. There are five sad puppies and their mom looks sick,” Brad said. Concern suddenly washed over Ella’s face. “We have to save them as soon as possible.”
“And we’re going to.” Drew leaned over and kissed Ella’s forehead. “Right now.”
Ella’s eyebrows bunched together. “Uncle Drew, do you know what you’re doing? This is a dog rescue, not a courtroom.”
“I have your dad to explain it all to me.” Drew slapped his hand on Brad’s shoulder. “He likes to tell me what to do all the time. He’s been doing it since we were kids.”
Brad elbowed Drew in the ribs. “You better listen a lot more than you did back then.”
Sophie sucked in a breath and touched her stomach.
Brad scowled. “Please, Soph, you need to sit down.”
“I can’t tell you what you need to do from inside the car,” Sophie argued. “You can’t hear me.”
Drew opened his mouth. Molly cut him off. “I have an idea.”
Everyone turned to look at her. Molly continued, “If Sophie doesn’t mind holding Hazel, I can stand with Ella near the car. We can pass on Sophie’s instructions and relay to Sophie what you two are doing wrong.”
“I should take offense at that.” Brad chuckled. “But it’s a good plan.”
“We’ll collect the puppies.” Ella beamed.
“We have a laundry basket for them.” Sophie took Hazel and cradled the little girl against her chest. “Aren’t you precious?”
Ella placed her hand on the back of Molly’s arm and ran through a quick recitation on how to guide a visually impaired person. Drew waited for the pair to get into position in front of the SUV, which was close enough to hear Sophie in the front seat and within calling distance of the dumpsters.
Molly kept her head tilted toward Ella. His niece had launched into a running commentary, but Drew wasn’t close enough to hear the topic. Only saw Molly’s quick smile,
