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We slid off the table and made our way to the paved trail that led into the park reserve.

It was spring. Everything was bright green and blooming. Butterflies and bees buzzed around and the air smelled like earth and grass. We went right when the trail forked and were walking under some trees, Woofarine pulling on the leash like he was charging into battle.

“I wonder how far we’d have to go for him to actually get tired,” I said.

“How long is this walk?” Chris asked.

“I don’t know. Mike said it’s an hour and a half loop.”

He looked at his smartwatch. “I’m gonna track it. See how many miles it is.” He nodded at Woofarine, straining against his harness. “Want me to take him?”

“No, I’m okay.”

“If he were bigger, he’d be dragging you.”

“If he were bigger, he’d be hunting bears.”

Chris laughed.

“Poor Woofie. He probably never got to go for walks,” I said. “He has a much better life now.” I glanced at Chris. “Have you thought more about keeping him?”

“I was going to talk to you about that. How do you think things are going? Are you still good with everything or…”

“Yeah,” I said. “I like helping. I’ll keep taking him if you keep him.”

“Okay.” He looked at me. “Then I’ll keep him.”

I grinned. “Really?”

“Yeah. He’s a good boy. I do have one request though,” he said.

“What?”

“You gave him a bath the other day.”

“Yessss, I sent you a picture.”

“You didn’t spike his hair into a Mohawk. That’s mandatory dog bath stuff. I don’t make the rules.”

I let out an amused sound. “Okay, well, I have it under the highest authority that you went to get coffee with him last week and you didn’t get him a puppuccino. That’s illegal and you should be in jail.”

He looked surprised. “Who told you that?”

I’d seen him. I was delivering a drink order, one of my many jobs.

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Just know that I see and hear everything, and going forward I will consider that a violation of our custody order.”

“I didn’t know about the puppuccino thing and nobody offered me one.”

“Poor Woofie, still living in neglect. Promise to do better.”

He chuckled.

My phone made an oink sound and I pulled it out. “Sorry, it’s one of my pet-sitting clients. I have to reply.”

“You pet-sit?”

“Yeah. It’s a pig.”