The woman paused. “She asks for her every night.”

Aaron swallowed hard. “Then she deserves to see her again.”

The next morning, under soft drizzle, he loaded Lulu onto his bike and rode toward the foster home.

When he arrived, a shy little girl with auburn hair peeked through the window.

Aaron smiled gently. “You must be Sophie.”

Her eyes widened the moment she saw the small bundle in his arms.

“Lulu?” she whispered.

The puppy barked weakly — and that’s when the whole house went silent.