Chapter 18: Eight Candles
The dining room was a vibrant explosion of pink balloons, streamers, and wrapping paper. Lily’s eighth birthday party was in full swing, attended by a dozen of her school friends.
Finn, ever the social butterfly, was in his element. He navigated the sea of small, hyperactive children with the patience of a saint, happily accepting endless back scratches and "accidentally" dropped pieces of cake.
When it was time for presents, Lily sat in the center of the room. Finn immediately sat right beside her, resting his chin on her knee, making it clear that he was going to supervise the unwrapping process.
As Lily tore into a large rectangular box, revealing a new telescope, she squealed with delight. She immediately threw her arms around Finn's neck before she even hugged her parents.
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"Look, Finn! We can see the moon!" she told the dog, who responded with a happy woof.
Arthur stood by the doorway, watching the scene with a warm heart. He remembered the terrified little girl hiding on the kitchen floor, absolutely certain that her father would take away the thing she loved most. Seeing her now, so confident, joyful, and completely bonded with Finn, Arthur knew that letting the dog into their lives was the best decision he had ever made.
