My brothers were going crazy when I walked into the kitchen the next morning. All seven of them were sitting on stools around the center island, shoveling food into their mouths.

“Dotty, Ace has been outside all morning!” Easton yelled at me, turning in his seat to look at me.

“He’s been out there all night actually,” Elliot corrected. “I saw him out there before we went to bed last night.”

“Why is he just sitting out there, Dotty?” Easton pushed. “Why doesn’t he come inside? He could eat breakfast with us.”

I didn’t need them to tell me Ace was still outside. I was well aware. I’d barely slept,...