As we rounded the final bend of the stone pathway, Eloise's cozy cottage came into view, bathed in the soft morning sunlight. Standing right on the front porch was Toby, happily stacking small river stones into a little tower.
The moment his bright eyes caught sight of us walking up the path, his face lit up. "Rachel!" he cheered, abandoning his rocks and scrambling down the porch steps as fast as his little legs could carry him.
He ran right up to me, coming to a sudden halt in front of my boots. His eyes immediately darted down to my hands, catching sight of the smooth wooden wolf cub I was holding. He tilted his head, pointing a tiny finger at it. "What's that? What do you have?"
I crouched down to his eye level, holding out the hand-carved toy with a warm smile. "It's a housewarming
