If I have to leave Baxter behind, it will be my complete undoing. I’m desperately trying to hold on to something of my former life. Baxter is the most innocent creature in all of this. They are going to take him away from me.

“We can look after him,” Marian offers.

“Well, that would be nice,” Craig says. “And, you know, we can figure something out. Plus, we don’t even have a ticket for him. Maybe he can visit at Christmas.”

“I don’t get to keep my dog,” I state, not hiding the anger in my voice.

“We’ll see what we can do. We don’t want to keep you two apart,” Craig says with a friendly nudge of his elbow, like he’s on my side. Like he’s my pal.

“Yes, we wouldn’t want to take me away from the things and places I love,” I say with every ounce of spite I can conjure.

The air goes out of the room. I’m not going to pretend this is okay. I may have no say in what’s happening, but I can make my feelings perfectly clear.

“You know, we can maybe build a doghouse in the backyard and Baxter can stay there?” Craig offers.

I stand up. “Let’s just go.”

I’m done. I’m finished. I want to take one step after the other. Get on that plane. Get to Florida. Get to my new home. And do what Sheriff Gleason says: start counting down the days until I graduate and then I can return here.

I bend down and pet Baxter, who licks my cheek. “I’m sorry, buddy. Marian will take really good care of you. Be a good boy.” Baxter barks and turns around again in excitement, thinking he’s going somewhere with me. A tear trickles down my face, and he licks it. “I’ll see you soon. I will.”

I make quick with my goodbyes to Marian and her family. I feel if I stay another second in this house, I won’t have the courage to ever leave again.

“I’ll see you in two weeks,” Marian whispers in my ear as she hugs me goodbye. “And I’m bringing Baxter with me.”

“Thank you,” I reply.

Sheriff Gleason checks for any reporters, and then we walk out to Paula and Craig’s rental car, a fancy SUV. After one more round of hugs, I get in the back seat and take one last look at my friends, my family. I wave to them as Craig pulls out into the road.

Paula looks back at me. “It means so much to have you back with me, honey. I know this is hard on you, but don’t think of it as an ending. Think of it as a new beginning.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter

TWENTY-SIX

I can’t stop staring, mouth wide open. I’ve never seen anything like it.