The Million-Dollar Heart

Karen thought for sure that Danielle would use his kid card to get what he wanted.

Danielle remained silent for a moment, lips pursed, fingers nervously twisting the fabric of his shirt. "Then, I want one thing," he finally said.

A smile spread across Karen's face, finding his serious demeanor adorable. She pinched his cheek, waiting for him to continue.

"I want you to find my sister and have her take me home," Danielle said earnestly.

"She told me she was just going to the restroom and would be right back. But after waiting for a while, she didn't return. So, I went to wait by the restroom, and when I came back, she was still gone."

His head hung low, lips puckered in a pout of grievance.

Karen had a hunch, "Your sister's name is Alyssa?"

Danielle nodded, eyes twinkling, "Have you seen her?"

Karen fell silent. She couldn't very well tell him that she had kicked Alyssa out. It was astonishing that Alyssa could leave and forget about her brother like that!

With a sense of resignation, Karen knew she had to call the Wright family again to come and pick up this little bundle of joy.

Gathering everyone would take some time. Karen tapped the table and ruffled Danielle's hair. "I have met your sister. She told me she had to rush back home for an urgent matter and that someone would come to pick you up in the evening. How about I fulfill your second wish in the meantime?"

A shadow of disappointment crossed Danielle's eyes, but at the mention of a second wish, he perked up a bit, "I want to go see fireflies."

to see the fireflies!" Danielle's eyes sparkled with excitement, his cheeks flushed with

melted at his cuteness, and she led the

his heart, thinking that maybe adding a little brother to the family wasn't such a

curious, followed Karen, eager to see

turned to Arthur, "Can you help me gather some snails and earthworms from around the bushes?" Arthur's eyes crinkled

hand, wandered around, looking for untrimmed tall grass and lower

the Linklater's and turned the

shovel from the tool shed, towering over the little Danielle holding her

curious, reached out to touch the tall tool, "Auntie,

on, it's your special tool," Karen said,

of the shovel, looked up at it, lips tightly pressed

look like a koala trying to climb it," Karen laughed, demonstrating how

mimicked Karen's movements, struggling to lift the shovel,

from behind. Danielle, with a push,

peeked around, confused, "Honey, why are we

hole. Oh, and did you find the earthworms and snails

bag full of soil, worms wriggling inside. "I got bitten by bugs hunting for these,

blushed, quickly pecking his

hoisted Danielle onto his shoulders, "Hang tight, kiddo. If you fall, it'll be more thrilling than a roller

Wolf sure had a funny way of