Re: lakeside mansion; hugh c./dietre a.
Satisfied the dogs were keeping to the yard, Hugh turned around to face Dietre more completely, taking in the quiet movements, and the words that Dietre was sharing, and trying to fill in pieces that he didn't know from the words he was being given. Dietre had been in the hospital before, and given the dog as a thing to keep care of, and he'd just been in the hospital again, presumably Hugh supposed for something similar. He didn't ask, yet, instead he nodded, small encouraging smile on his lips.
"That definitely qualifies as a rescue," Hugh agreed, eyes glancing to her again for a moment as he took a sip of the chocolate. "She's a lovely dog though. I had a friend that had multiple rescue dogs," he turned back and smiled at the memory although his eyes said there was more than just the happy memories there. "It's how I learned to be a dog person after all. And now I've got Heart and it's nice to have someone to take care of, but also she sort of takes care of me, you know?"
He leaned up against the railing on the porch. It was cold in the winter, and eventually they'd have to go in - maybe he'd start the fire up when they did - but for now he just wrapped fingers around the mug and took another sip before the liquid could get cold. "Who was she a gift from? Before?"