“He’s still with my mom’s dog walker,” Vronsky reported. “I’ve taken him to the vet and he’s had a full checkup. I had them scan to make sure there wasn’t a previous owner before Johnson, and Balboa didn’t have an ID chip.” Vronsky reported these facts in a tone that was hard to read, though it softened as he went on. “It’s funny his name is Balboa, because I had been calling him Rocky since I found him.”

Anna nodded, her smile withering and her mood now matching Vronsky’s. “So you’re asking whether we should reunite the dog with his homeless owner?” Anna paused, thinking. “I would need to talk to him. The man. I can’t decide until I meet him. Maybe I’ll see if I can find him.” Anna folded the paper Alexia had handed her and put it in her purse. She then pulled out her wallet.

“Whoa, whoa. You mean to do this right now?” Vronsky asked, more than a little surprised by Anna’s decisive nature.

“This sign is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. He must be out of his mind right now. I’d go insane if one of my dogs went missing for two minutes; I don’t know what I’d be like after two weeks. Do you know how happy he’s going to be to get his dog back? And if we have it in our power to bring a happy ending to this story, why wouldn’t we do it on a day that’s all about love?”

Vronsky found Anna’s passionate outburst captivating, though he wished she would be a bit more realistic. “Anna, everything you just said may be true, but that doesn’t change the fact the guy’s homeless. Shouldn’t we consider the dog’s welfare first?” Vronsky asked this in a way meant not to challenge Anna, but to better understand her.

“Alexia, most people don’t choose to be homeless. I know my dogs would rather be with me on the streets than in a home with someone else. But I also concede that I’m a crazy dog lady so maybe I am jumping the gun. Look, I’ll know what to do when I find Johnson.”

“That’s fine, but what’s not is you tracking down some homeless dude by yourself.”

“Well, then I guess we need to get the check, because I only have a few hours before the Best in Show judging starts.”

Vronsky shook his head in wonder. Perhaps winning that ribbon and fulfilling her childhood goal had catapulted her into adulthood after all. He stood up from the table. “I’ll go get the check, but you owe me a dessert.” Anna looked up at the beautiful boy standing before her and nodded.

XII