Annie and Myra followed Charles and Fergus into the kitchen, where they took up their favorite spot by the kitchen window to observe their family. “Two new members to our family, Annie. How great is that?”

“Personally speaking, my dear friend, I don’t think it gets any better than that.” Annie smiled. “We did good, Myra. By that I mean we all did good. Look how happy Amalie is! And she’s going to be even happier when she ties the knot with Director Sparrow. It’s just a matter of time. And I guarantee that by the end of the year, young Dennis and Rosalee will be engaged.”

Myra laughed out loud. Always and forever the matchmaker. “Someday, I want you to tell me how you pulled off that nursing scholarship for Rosalee.”

“Whatever do you mean, Myra? Look,” she said, trying to divert Myra from her question. “Is it my imagination, or do Jack and Harry look . . . off their feed, anxious. Something is off. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

“I did notice that. I’ve never seen Harry agitated before. Never. He looks agitated to me. And Jack looks . . . I don’t know, antsy is the only word I can come up with. But does that answer your question?”

“Not really,” Annie said, a frown building on her forehead. She continued to watch Harry and Jack through the window, while Myra turned away to do something for Charles. A shiver ran down her spine. She wished she could hear what the two of them were saying. Something wasn’t right.

Annie was correct, she just didn’t know it.

Jack tapped Harry on the shoulder. “Hey, Harry, let’s go for a walk. I need to talk to you.” Harry suddenly looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He didn’t say anything but fell into step with his best friend in the whole world.

“Listen, Harry, I . . . this is going to sound really crazy, and I can’t help it, so will you hear me out?”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“I woke up this morning at 3:33. I never wake up at 3:33. I was wide-awake, like someone punched me in the gut. My head was buzzing with . . . thoughts. And then . . . and then . . .”

“You heard the name Cooper, is that what you were going to say?” Harry asked in a strangled-sounding voice.

“Yeah. Jesus, Harry, how did you know?” Jack asked, his voice sounding even more jittery than Harry’s.

“Because the same thing happened to me. Exactly the same thing. I was trying to get up the nerve to tell you all day. Spooked the hell out of me.”

“That dog is not . . . Cooper is . . . I don’t know what the hell Cooper is.”

“I have a text coming in,” Harry said, feeling his cell vibrating in his pocket.

“Aren’t you going to answer it? No one ever texts you except . . .”