“Her name is Higgins?” Elias asked.
Sabine tilted her head. “His name is Higgins.”
Aboy dog, right. He should remember that.
But what kind of name was Higgins? It sounded like a butler with a stiff upper lip and a stuffy British accent. “Is that his real name?”
“It is. We know Higgins’s history, which isn’t often the case.” Sabine petted the dog, whose tail wagged like a broken metronome. “A car hit his person. He was killed instantly.”
“Tragic.”
“This little one was alone for a night until someone remembered about him.”
Poor guy. Elias hoped Higgins hadn’t been scared. Wait. Did dogs get scared? Still… “That’s sad.”
Nodding, Sabine rubbed behind the dog’s ear. “The man had no will.”
Elias’s temperature shot up lightning quick. He gripped the leash tighter.
“What’s wrong with people? They can download a fill-in-the-blank will off the internet. If you have a dependent…” He blew out a breath, trying to gain control of himself, but this was a massive pet peeve. “Sorry. Occupational hazard.”
“Right there with you, but few people think they’re going to die.” Sabine patted the dog’s head before standing straight. “The man’s parents surrendered the dog. After a few transfers from overcrowded shelters, Higgins ended up at ours. You’re lucky. He’s super smart and chill.”
Elias pictured his newly installed wide-planked hardwood floors. “Potty trained?”
“He’s had no accidents at the shelter or in the van.”
Elias’s bunched shoulders relaxed slightly. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
Sabine eyed him warily. “You’re up for fostering, right?”
Nope. He forced a smile.
“Of course.” He used his trial voice, which worked miracles with jurors whenever he was allowed in the courtroom. “It’s one more way to support the Extravaganza and your rescue.”
“You’re doing a great job at the temporary ice rink.”
“Thanks.” Overseeing the rink’s installation in the town’s park had been easy, which explained why he’d volunteered for that job. He just needed to stop by each day to make sure the volunteers were doing what they’d signed up to do.
“You took your grandparents’ place on the committee,” Sabine said. “Were you talked you into fostering?”
“No.” He didn’t hesitate because that was one hundred percent the truth. It hadn’t been his grandparents but his father. However, Dad might not be thrilled when Elias had to go home at lunchtime to let the dog out and could no longer stay late. Fostering might work out better than he imagined. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”
Elias sounded so confident he’d almost convinced himself.
Sabine bit her lip.
He didn’t want her to cross-examine him. “Don’t you have other animals to drop off?”
“I do, but—”
“Higgins and I will be fine.”
“Okay.” Sabine headed to her van and opened the door. She faced him. “Have fun.”
Fun might be pushing it. Still, Elias would make the best of the situation for the law firm’s reputation and the orphaned dog. He glanced at the closest box. A stocking withHigginswritten in glitter glue across the cuff sat on top.
“Guess we should hang your stocking next to mine.”
