“I picked up Spot yesterday from the family of an elderly woman who’d died over in Winthrop. The kids don’t want to keep her, even though she was their mother’s constant and loyal companion in the last years of her life.”
“But you run an animal rescue, so you’ll find a new home for her.” Avery flicked another glance at the dog. Spot’s eyes were lowered to half-mast and the tip of a pink tongue lolled out of her mouth like she was exhausted. Avery had yet to see the dog walk two steps.
“Eventually,” Meredith said slowly with a sweet smile that looked awkward on her. “She needs to lose weight first.”
“Don’t you have a whole ranch where she can run around?”
“Sort of.” Meredith shrugged. “The property is twenty acres, and I have four separate fenced exercise enclosures.”
“Why do I feel like Spot’s rear end isn’t the biggest ‘but’ in the room right now?”
“She’s self-conscious.”
Avery snorted. “She’s a fat dog.”
“Don’t say that,” Meredith scolded. “You’ll give her even more of a complex.”
Avery glanced down at the dog. Spot gave a lazy wag of her tail. “Is that possible?”
“It’s like when a morbidly obese person starts a fitness program. Haven’t you watched My 600-lb Life?”
“Not once.”
“The Biggest Loser?”
“Nope.”
“Spot knows she can’t keep up with the other dogs, so she won’t try. She’s not very social. She needs to get in better shape on her own. It’s a self-confidence thing.”
It said a lot about Avery’s life since coming to Magnolia that this was, in no way, the strangest conversation she’d had. “What does that have to do with me?”
“I thought you’d make a good foster family.”
“Wow,” Avery repeated. “That sounds great.”
Meredith let out a relieved sigh. “Really?”
“No,” Avery yelled, throwing out her hands. “Are you crazy?”
Meredith crossed her arms over her chest and jutted out a hip. “Come on, Avs.”
“No one calls me Avs.”
“I just did.”
“Don’t do it again.”
“Say you’ll keep Spot.”
Avery shook her head. “You said you needed a family. I’m one person.”
“Good enough for Spot.”
“I’m not keeping the dog.”
“She’s great on a leash and potty trained. Hardly ever barks. She needs love and a lot of exercise.”
“Also, less kibble.”
Meredith gave her an awkwardly enthusiastic thumbs-up. “See? You’re already a natural.”
“No.”
“Just for a couple of weeks? She’ll be a distraction for you.”
“I don’t need a distraction,” Avery answered. “I need to focus so we can get Niall’s estate figured out.”
Meredith studied her for a long moment. “If you keep the dog, I’ll be more helpful. I’ll work on my attitude and pitch in cleaning out his house.”
“It’s your house now.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“I thought you were going to work on your attitude.”
“Will you foster Spot?”
Avery looked at the dog again. Spot had fallen asleep and was snoring softly. “Can’t you find someone else?”
“She’s a special case. I need a person I trust.”
“You trust me?” Avery stifled a disbelieving laugh.
Meredith took a step toward her. “You’re my sister,” she answered, almost reluctantly. “I don’t know why that means something since we’re practically strangers, but it does.”
“It does to me, too,” Avery agreed, then laughed softly. “Have you always been this good at manipulating people?”
“I grew up with older brothers. I’m a master manipulator.”
“Two weeks,” Avery muttered after a moment. “I’ll keep her for two weeks.”
“I’ll take it.” Meredith pumped her fist in the air. “She really is sweet. You can help her.”
“I can barely help myself.” Avery rolled her eyes. “But I’ll do better if you pour me a cup of coffee.”
“You pour the coffee,” Meredith said. “I’m going to my truck to get Spot’s supplies and the donuts I picked up.”
“You’ve been holding out on me,