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and hugged Gabe before quickly catching up with her big sister.
    When his nieces passed him, he said, “Wait by the car. I need to let Sarah know what happened.”
    â€œUncle Liam, we didn’t—”
    â€œMadison, we’ll talk when we get back to Aunt Betty’s house.”
    Both girls slumped their shoulders and hung their heads as they trudged the rest of the way to the gate.
    As Sarah descended the stairs to the deck, commanding Gabe to stay, Liam called Richie and his aunt to let them know he’d found his nieces and would be back shortly. Sarah caught up with Liam as he exited the backyard to keep an eye on his nieces.
    She looked him up and down in his firefighter uniform. “It’s obvious you didn’t bring them over here.”
    â€œNo. I was at work when my aunt called to tell me they were missing. They left her backyard and rode their bikes here without permission.”
    â€œI can imagine the commotion that caused. The neighbor across the street called when she saw you peeking into a window then heading for the backyard. She knows we work all day Saturday and...”
    â€œThought I was here to rob your place?” He grinned.
    â€œSomething like that. But when I saw the SUV and the bikes, I figured it was you. She’d called the police, and I managed to get hold of them before they arrived. They were on the way. My neighbor told me when I pulled up.”
    â€œMadison and Katie are good kids, but sometimes they act without thinking about the consequences. My aunt was beside herself with worry.” Not to mention he was, too.
    â€œDid you think someone abducted them?”
    â€œNot when I saw their bikes gone. I’m sorry you had to leave the salon.”
    â€œNo problem. I had a thirty-minute window to eat lunch. I’ll grab something here and be back before my next client.”
    â€œStill, the girls need to apologize to you and Aunt Betty.”
    â€œI agree. I’ll walk with you to your car.”
    He approached his nieces with Sarah next to him. Her presence eased the last remnants of tension in him. “Girls, leaving without letting anyone know was not okay. You scared Aunt Betty. You scared me. Sarah came home from work to check on who was at her house uninvited. What do you have to say to her?”
    Katie mumbled, “Sorry,” while staring at her tennis shoes.
    Madison took in a deep breath and peered right at Sarah. “We just wanted to let Gabe know we miss him. I’m sorry.”
    â€œOkay, you two, into the backseat. I’ll put your bikes in the trunk. I need to get back to work.”
    After he’d set the larger one in the trunk, Sarah picked up the smaller bike and handed it to him. “Have you thought of getting them a dog?”
    â€œYes, but I can’t ask Aunt Betty to take care of a dog and the girls when I’m working. Dogs require more attention than other pets. After today, she might not want to watch the girls. I’m sure they added a few more gray hairs to her head.”
    â€œHow about a cat? They’re pretty independent. I seem to remember when I was a teenager that Betty had a cat. She used to talk about it with my mom when she came to get her hair done. She might not mind helping you with one.”
    â€œI’ll think about it. But not for a while. They need to realize the seriousness of what they did.” He walked toward the driver’s-side door. Before climbing in, he twisted toward her. “Thanks for being so understanding about my nieces.”
    Liam opened the door and slid behind the steering wheel, then carefully backed out of the driveway since the trunk lid was up all the way.
    Both girls cried out at the same time, “We’re sorry, Uncle Liam,” as if they had rehearsed what they had said. “We won’t do it again.”
    â€œI’m locking up your bikes for the next week. No television, either. When you two disappeared like