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“Let me take her out,” she said. “I’ll hold up the umbrella to cover us both, and I’ll be more than safe. The doors let out right to that patch of grass there, see? I’m sure Finn will let me.”

Hope flickered in Renee’s eyes. “Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

But Maisie insisted, and in the next moment, Renee secured Trifle in her bright pink coat, then handed over her precious bundle before Maisie grabbed her umbrella and took the pup to the front of the bus.

“Hey,” she said to Finn, who turned in his seat to face her. He smiled, though tensely. “I know this is probably against the ‘Bus Rules,’ or whatever, but do you think I can take Trifle here to do her business on that patch of grass right out there?”

Finn was silent for a minute, looking at the grass she motioned to, then back at Trifle. “We’re not really allowed to exit the bus on a road,” he answered hesitantly.

Where was his joking nature from before? Was he really that put off by what she’d done?

“What about in case of emergencies—like a dog peeing all over Bob?”

He looked up at her, a sparkle in his eyes before he blinked it away. “Aye. But perhaps I ought to be the one to take her out?”

Maisie blew out a small laugh. “Good idea. Let’s see if you can make the dog who hates you do her business.”

A smile flicked at his upper lip, then with a sigh, he motioned to the doors. “Alright, just make it quick, like.”

Maisie nodded, feeling more energized by his response. Clearly, he couldn’t help but want to smile around her—so why was he not allowing himself to?

Finn opened the doors, and she stepped outside of them and out onto the grass, popping up her umbrella before lowering Trifle to the ground and holding the loop of her leash securely in her hand.

“Alright, puppy,” she said, “do your business.”

But Trifle just stood there. Her white hair stuck out in tufts at the front and back of the coat, one paw lifted from the grass, as if she couldn’t bear to touch the wet blades.

“Any day now,” Maisie mumbled.

Trifle didn’t move a muscle.

She glanced behind her, Renee’s eyes focused on her with an encouraging nod and smile. Mrs. Waterstone, who was situated a few seats behind Renee, was also looking out at Maisie, but in the next moment, she looked away with a bored expression.

Would she be complaining about Maisie next?

“Okay, Trifle, let’s go,” she said, facing the dog again.

Was there a command she was waiting for?

“Make,” she tried. “Go pee. Hurry up. Doo doo.”

But once again, nothing worked.

“Come on, nice little doggie,” she urged, a single shiver running through her. “I’m freezing and would like to go back inside. Wouldn’t you?”

This time, Trifle, at least, sniffed the ground.

Maisie looked back at Renee, but the woman merely smiled. So this was normal, then, taking an hour to go?

As Trifle sniffed the ground around her, Maisie glanced ahead of her to where all the cars were still lined up around the corner of a steep hill. At least no one was moving yet.

“Go, Trifle,” she said through clenched teeth as she smiled tensely at the dog, not wanting Renee to see her growing impatience.

Footsteps sounded behind her, and she thought for a minute that Renee might have tried to brave the elements, but when Maisie turned around, her heart thumped against her chest at the sight of Finn.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Miss Trifle’s takin’ her sweet time, isn’t she?” he asked, his sweater sleeves pulled midway up his forearms.