The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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."

Karen fell silent again, gently running her fingers through Danielle's hair before finally saying, "Alright, I'll take you to see the fireflies!" Danielle's eyes sparkled with excitement, his cheeks flushed with joy as he fearlessly grabbed Karen's hand, eyes glued on her.

Karen's heart melted at his cuteness, and she led the way outside.

lead Danielle away, felt a warmth in his heart, thinking that maybe

followed Karen, eager to see how she would

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

Danielle's hand, wandered around, looking for untrimmed tall

the Linklater's and turned the nozzle to

a shovel from the tool shed, towering

out to touch the tall tool, "Auntie, what's this big

tool," Karen said, positioning

shovel, looked up at it, lips tightly pressed together, his chubby hand

how you use it, little buddy. You look like a

lift the shovel, huffing and puffing

from behind. Danielle, with a push, managed to shovel some dirt,

around, confused, "Honey, why

little guy

we see fireflies tonight depends on this hole. Oh, and did you find the earthworms and

Arthur showed a bag full of soil, worms wriggling inside. "I got bitten by bugs hunting

pecking his cheek, "Get to

fall, it'll be more thrilling than a roller coaster!" Danielle, only five,

had a funny way

chuckled,

Arthur's shoulders, watching him dig,

Karen's gentle face, he

teased, "If you don't wake up now, the fireflies