Alice is clearly pleased with him and praises him for ordinary behavior all the way home. The unhappiness that she had emanated earlier is gone and she is singing along with the radio. In the dog’s eyes, Alice is lighter.

It’s nice to be in partnership again with someone. But if this primary training is the limit of what Alice wants to do with him, he’s disappointed. He’s already shown her how to dance; why doesn’t she want to do that? For such a simple act, which he would do without command, Buddy/Mack is given the kind of praise that only Justine has ever given him. Not the praise of food, or “Attaboy,” but the praise of connection.

Ed has signaled that he is ready to partner up. Hanging out with him isn’t the same thing as partnering. Ed has been a good host, but now it feels like he’s ready to connect. Alice has long since done that, so it is nice to think that if Ed is equally on board, Buddy/Mack may find it easier to get the two of them into the same room. Already they’re in the kitchen together for a longer period of time than to eat, and together they took him to an older person’s home to work on his “greet” skills. Sweet. They are doing more tongue language that isn’t directed at him, although he hears this word Buddy frequently enough that he knows they are talking about him. He likes the sound of Ed’s soft, rumbly voice, which he has been using at night when they climb into the bed. Alice doesn’t always talk then, but sometimes she sighs or laughs in response to something Ed has said. Last night, they invited him into the bed. He burrowed into the space between them, feeling the double weight of their arms over him. It was nice to be invited, but he only stayed till they slept. He heads back into the living room to stretch out on the couch—the better to keep an ear out for trespassers.

Buddy/Mack knows that he is no longer a guest. He is now responsible for the safety of this place.

He is their Buddy.

Chapter 37

37

Jen Coulter is at the door, a basket of late-season vegetables over one arm, a bottle of wine in the other. “I can’t stand any more squash. You have to eat these or throw them out when I’m not looking.” She puts the basket on the counter beside the sink and hands Alice the bottle of wine. “Somebody at work gave Derek a ticket to the Sox, so he’s in Boston and won’t be home till midnight. Thought we could both use a little company.”