Blake ruffles her hair. “That’s right, you do.”
Sprinkles follows, and for such a massive dog, he shows remarkable grace, his paws finding the center of the ramp with each step.
Once on the solid dock, he presses against Quinn’s side, as if sensing her nervous energy.
“Thanks for the lift,” Blake says to Kyle as he steps onto the dock. He rolls his shoulders, working out the stiffness from the boat ride. “Think you’ll be okay doing this on your own tomorrow, princess?”
She nods solemnly. “You’ll drop me off with Kyle at the home dock, he’ll bring me to the dock here, and Mr. Leif will pick me up here to take me to school. And we do the opposite when going home.”
“That’s my girl.” Blake tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you ready for your first day at Pinecrest Academy?”
Quinn’s face flickers between excitement and uncertainty. “I think so. Mr. Leif helped me pack my backpack with everything on the list. And I have my brave shirt on.”
“And Sprinkles will be with you the whole time,” Blake adds, scratching the dog behind his ears.
Quinn’s fingers twist in Sprinkles’s fur, drawing obvious comfort from the contact. “What if the other kids don’t like him?”
“Impossible,” Blake declares with absolute certainty. “Sprinkles is the most likable dog in the universe. Scientific fact.”
This draws a giggle from Quinn, the sound bright. Leif’s expression softens at the exchange, but it doesn’t quite mask the worry in his eyes.
“We should get going if we want to get there early and settle in.” He helps her take off the life vest, revealing a star-speckled shirt beneath, then offers his hand again, which Quinn takes without hesitation.
I reach out to take it from him, and he gives me a nod of thanks.
“Bye, Uncle Blake!” She waves as they head for the parking lot. “Bye, Kyle! Bye, Mr. Jared!”
Blake watches them go with a mixture of pride and wistfulness. “She’s growing up so fast.”
Kyle claps a hand on Blake’s shoulder. “She’ll be fine. She’s got a good support system.” He tips his chin toward Leif. “That one’s solid as they come.”
I move to help Kyle prepare for the return journey, coiling excess rope into neat loops. “How’s everyone settling back into the Homestead?”
“Dominic bought way too much furniture,” Kyle says. “Not to mention what Blake has been building from scratch. They’re going to have to build a second Homestead just to fit it all.”
Blake scratches his beard. “Some can go into the staff cabins.”
“Has Grady decided whether he’s going to move there or keep staying with you?”
Kyle shrugs. “Seems content to stay for now, and it’s nice to have someone to chat with in the evenings.”
Blake tears his eyes away from Quinn and Leif, who have made it to the parking lot. “What’s Emily got planned for hervacation? Will she actually relax, or is she taking on a side job this week?”
I laugh, the sound carrying across the water. “She’s got a whole list of Christmas donations she plans to knock out. But she loves that stuff, so for her, it is relaxing.”
“That sounds about right,” Blake says with a chuckle. “Make sure she takes at least one day to just sit and watch a movie or something.”
“I’ll do my best, but you know Emily.” I help Kyle unhook the gangplank, folding it back into its storage position. “Stillness isn’t in her vocabulary.”
As Kyle prepares to cast off, my eyes drift to where Leif is helping Quinn and Sprinkles into his car, securing the dog’s harness to the special attachment in the backseat.
A pang of concern tightens my chest.
I hope their first day goes smoothly.
I hope our worries about Carson prove unfounded.
I hope Quinn finds friends who appreciate her enthusiastic curiosity and don’t mind her service dog.