Ethan Preston looked at the little girl across from him, who was just as tall as he was. For some reason, he felt a strange sense of closeness to her.
He smiled. "Yeah, that's my mommy."
"Why do you have a mommy, but I don't?" Lemonie's voice was tinged with grievance.
Ethan was taken aback. He didn't understand why she was saying this to him, but hearing that she didn't have a mother made his heart ache for her.
"Sweetie—"
Noelle Preston happened to drive up just then and called for Ethan to get in the car.
Ethan looked at Lemonie, feeling conflicted. Seeing his hesitation, Noelle Preston got out of the car.
"What's wrong, little one?"
As soon as Noelle got out, the large dog next to them immediately pounced on her. Noelle fell to the ground, and the dog started licking her face with its big tongue. Noelle pushed the dog away with her hands.
Ethan said to Lemonie, "Quick, call your dog off! Don't let it hurt my mommy."
