It was clear that, at three years old, Layla possessed qualities that are rare in most adults. She was exceedingly kind and nurturing and bonding deeply with Buddy. Maggie and I marveled at the tenderness and love that she was pouring into her new puppy.

I left for work at noon and Maggie stayed. Everything was going very well at the new “day care.”

I spent the afternoon at the law firm and couldn’t wait to see my girls and hear the stories about how the afternoon went, so at 5pm sharp I was out the door walking briskly home through the afternoon rush hour.

Bounding up the stairs I could hear Layla’s laughter through the door.

Not to my surprise, I found Layla and Buddy playing on the big rug in the middle of the living room floor.

Maggie, hearing the front door open, walked out of the kitchen to greet me. She was holding a wooden spoon and wearing an apron that was covered in flour. She had a little flour on her nose and in her hair.

She said, “I’m baking a cake!”