And neither does the end.
“Oh, Amelia,” he murmurs, closing the book and gazing at her photo on the back. “You pulled it off. I don’t know how, but you brought Adam around and made me believe he could change in the ways he needed to. That hehadchanged for Carmen. You showed me it was possible, and I loved it—every single page.”
He shuts his eyes and stays that way for so long that Iwonder if he’s fallen asleep. But then he sits up suddenly, and darned if the man doesn’t look straight into my eyes like I’m human, too. “Harold,” he says decisively, “you were spot-on.”
Well,Iknowthat.The question is, which part is he talking about?
“Not thinking about Amelia being gone all the time made me feel like I was betraying her, so I pushed Fiona away.” He shakes his head. “And every time I put distance between us or insisted on making myself more miserable, your overbite would pop out, and I couldn’t figure out what that was for—it was like you were mocking me or something. I understand you now, though, dog, and I’m sorry it took so long. You just wanted me to be happy and find love, because you knew that’s what Amelia would have wanted for me. And now I see that I can love and be happy again without ever letting go of what she and I had together.” He glances around. “I have the home she made for us. The friends I have, my community, my life—those are because of her. And of course you, Harold. She gave me you, too, and you made our little family complete.” He wraps his arm around my back and presses his head to my fur.
Then he murmurs, “Thank you for helping me see she’s still everywhere. That she’ll always be with me.”
—
Things are changing. And although I can’t be certain, I don’t think I feel that way because of my heart or what’s happening at the store. One season is soon to become another, and there will be even less time than there is now.
I somehow sense that Amelia Mae knows this, too. Which is why I’m not surprised when she knocks on the back door the morning of the reopening.
Oh, hello,I think, peering at her through the glass as she grins and waves at me.I definitely conjured you.
Miguel, who has just walked into the kitchen behind me, hasn’t heard her. Because when he spots her out of the corner of his eye, he immediately folds into himself, even though he’s got a perfectly acceptable amount of clothing on. Then he remembers that he’s dressed, stands back up, and throws open the door.
“Um, hi there,” he says.
“Land ho!” She’s wearing a pair of sunglasses that are too big for her face, and she lifts them to look up at him. “We have arrived.”
“I see that,” he says, squinting. “Or at least I see you. Where’s your mother?”
She points in the direction of the street. “In the car. Can you believe I got her to drive here? And I convinced Uncle Jon to watch Walter, too, and he’sreallynot a dog person. Though he swears Walter is a cat in a tiny dog’s body.”
I can believe it. She could’ve told me she got Fiona to sprout wings to fly them here and I wouldn’t have been shocked.
“She did great,” she assures Miguel. “I’mveryproud of her. I’m sure she’ll show in a minute, but I needed to see Harry as soon as possible. Is it okay if I come in?” she asks, already charging towardme.
“Don’t get him too excited!” Miguel calls as I bark and rub myself all over her.
“We’ve got to be careful with you, Harry,” she says, gettingdown on the floor, but I jump on her because I can’t not. What is pain, anyway, when you’re in love?
It’s worth it,I think, licking her cheek as she giggles.It’s always worthit.
On the deck, I can hear Miguel greet Fiona. Amelia and I immediately stop pouncing on each other, and she holds a finger to her lips and leans toward the door.
“I understand,” he says. “I really appreciate you being here.”
“It’s for Amelia Mae. And for Harry.”
“Thank you. This is the happiest I’ve seen him in—well, to be honest, since the last time they were together.”
Amelia Mae grins atme.
“I’m glad,” says Fiona. “Is he doing okay?”
“Better than I expected. Thanks for asking. How’s Walter?”
“He’s great. Well, except for his preternatural ability to steal our food if we so much as glance away for a second.”
That dog is a far better student than I’ve given him credit for.
“He’ll learn.” He pauses, then says, “Do you want to come in?”
