Vronsky groaned. “Believe only the bad stuff. My mother often crowns me with a halo I don’t deserve.”

Before Anna could reply, Vronsky’s mother snapped, “Nonsense, you’re the most eligible bachelor in the city. Such a shame Anna’s already taken by the OG, or I’d insist you ask for her hand immediately.”

Anna and Alexia traded secret smiles at his mother’s use of the nickname, both certain she had no idea that OG stood for “original gangster” as opposed to “Old Greenwich” like she probably assumed. Vronsky’s mother barreled on, as was her way. “We traded stories of our children, my human ones and her four-legged ones. Anna is an accomplished rider and has two show dogs competing in Westminster next week.”

Anna, embarrassed by the praise, quickly corrected her. “I’m not showing them myself, my handlers Lee Ann and Ali will be doing the honors. But it’s true, I’m a girl who prefers the company of animals to people.” Vronsky studied her face while she spoke, barely registering her words. She was truly the most stunning girl he had ever seen, a perfect blend of Eurasian beauty: almond eyes and sleek shiny dark hair combined with high cheekbones and a perfect WASPy ski-slope nose.

The conversation ended abruptly as a commotion erupted outside of the train. There was suddenly lots of shouting and people running by their window.

“Wait here, let me see what’s going on,” Vronsky said. Anna nodded, stepping toward Vronsky’s mother and helping her sit back down.

He returned a few minutes later followed by Steven, reporting it was safe for them to leave now. Anna asked what was going on, but both boys exchanged looks and remained silent. Anna demanded, “Tell me; I want to know.”

Vronsky gravely explained that a homeless man was the source of the uproar. The man had two dogs and was insisting that one of them had jumped out of his arms onto the tracks and was hit by the train. Anna gasped at the news. “Our train? Oh god, is it true?”

Her eyes were already welling up when Vronsky, compelled to be honest with Anna despite her reaction, confirmed the ugly truth. “I’m afraid so.”

“That’s so awful!” Anna cried, not bothering to wipe away her tears. She felt a roiling in her stomach. This is a bad omen, she thought. The four of them were on the platform heading to the escalator when Anna turned to see two police officers on the scene, one of them placing the still howling homeless man in handcuffs. Anna stopped walking. “Why are they arresting him?”

Steven explained that the homeless man had shoved the train conductor during the commotion. He then put his arm around his sister trying to usher her onto the escalator, but she refused to move.