Two years ago, I snuck into her place and stole a sweater. I’d brought it home for Snow and trained him to seek out the smell. I wanted him to learn it wasn’t a threat. It looks like it worked since his tail has started to wave back and forth in excitement. “Myjesto.” I tell him to stay in Russian. I’m not Russian, but it is one of five languages I can speak. When I trained him, I didn’t want his commands to be in English. Snow stills; even his tail stops swinging back and forth, obeying my command.

I head back out to my truck and open the passenger door. It’s not until I have Eve in my arms that she wakes. I’d managed to take her seatbelt off without waking her.

“What?” she mutters, confused. Her eyes start to flutter open as I carry her into the house. “Where are we? I thought…” She trails off. “There is a polar bear dog in your house,” Eve whispers as if I don’t know I have a giant dog.

“Are you scared of dogs? I promise you he will not hurt you.” In fact, he’ll do the opposite. Snow stares at Eve, watching her intently.

“I’ve never seen a dog that big.”

“A lot of it is fur.” I try to help calm her worry. He is well over a hundred pounds.

“Okay.” She wiggles in my arms. I don’t want to put her down, but she wants to pet Snow. I wasn’t sure what she was going to say when she realized I hadn’t taken her to her place. Now her attention is on Snow. I’d rather keep it there than on her wanting to leave.

I put her on her bare feet. I’d slipped her heels off when I got her in my truck. I’ve seen Eve run around town in heels, but I always worried they hurt her feet.

“What’s his name?”

“Snow.” She walks over and pets the top of his head. Snow doesn’t move. Eve drops to her knees, making her eye level with Snow. She continues to stroke him, and I can’t help but be a tiny bit jealous of the attention she’s giving him. Is it ridiculous, of course, but that doesn’t stop it.

“I don’t think he likes me.”

“Molodets.” Snow's tail starts to wag as he gives all his attention to Eve.

“Molodets?” She laughs when he licks her cheek. “I thought you said his name was Snow.”

“Molodets is what I tell him so that he knows he’s free to do what he wants. It’s Russian.”

“Your dog speaks Russian?”

“Not that I’m aware of, but he understands it.” A giggle slips past Eve’s lips. The sound soothes me in a way I didn’t know I needed. Her crying put me on edge. I’d felt helpless in getting her to stop. Helplessness isn’t something I’m used to.

“Are you always full of jokes? You've been keeping them hidden from the town of Snow Hills,” she teases me as she pets Snow. He’s making her smile, which I’m grateful for. Even though I want all those smiles for myself, this will have to do for now.