We’re getting to an awkward moment, and I just want to be gone. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”

“He should go out before you go. Ed, can you take him?”

Ed counters with “You should.”

“Both of you, go, take him. We’ll wait here.” Mitch holds my shoulder, as if he thinks I’m going to chase after them down the back steps.

I really don’t want to stand here making small talk with someone whose heart I am clearly breaking, but in the end, Ed and Mitch go out back with Mack. I realize that Alice needs to say something to me.

“He’s a wonderful dog. You tell him that for us every day.” Alice is a woman who has shed tears in public and is unashamed of shedding them now.

“I will.” The dreamed-about joy of this reunion is absent. I am happy and sorry at the same time.

“When we lost our daughter, Ed and I, well, we grew apart. Having Buddy—Mack—has…” She pauses, collecting her thoughts. She keeps her eyes on the faceless teddy bear, stroking it. “Helped.”

I am not a demonstrative woman, but I hug Alice. We hug each other.

Mack comes bounding back in, tail wagging, overjoyed to see me still here. But there is something different. He seems as overjoyed to see Alice as to see me. As much as I have been frantic over his whereabouts, imagining in my darkest moments the absolute worst, Mack has been with good people.

Mack moves from Alice to Ed, sniffs at Mitch, wags his tail. And then dashes back to me, where he throws himself bodily against my legs, as if asking me to dance.

I send my dog back to the Parmalees so they can give him one last hug.

“You be a good boy. You’re going home now.” They keep saying the same words over and over, echoing each other, grasping his muzzle and kissing it. “We love you. Don’t forget us.” Mack gently licks Alice’s face in what can only be farewell. Not vigorously like he does when he’s excited, but one careful touch, with his ears cast back and his eyes holding hers. He’s licked away her tears.

Epilogue

Epilogue

I bury my nose in Mack’s fur, inhaling his familiar doggy scent, relishing the feel of his body in my arms. I can’t imagine how the Parmalees must feel. Oh yes, I can. It’s how I felt when Artie drove away with him. I felt that way when Anthony called to tell me Tony wanted to stay with him permanently, effectively ending my life as a single mom. I felt that way when my father married Adele. I felt that way every time some man made promises that he couldn’t keep. Bereft. Grief-stricken. Alone.