The drive home was only a few blocks. The old craftsman-style house with its open porches, overhanging beams, and rafters welcomed her even when she couldn’t have the hanging baskets overflowing with pretty flowers. The thick columns with the stone supports on the front porch were her favorite part. The decorative lights had come on as the sun went down; those usually gave the house a fairytale look that made her happy, but tonight emptiness filled her.

She parked in front of the carriage-style garage door and hitched her canvas bag on her shoulder. As usual, she had a treat for Gray tucked in the front pocket. She twisted the key in the lock and hung her purse on the hook by the front door. As soon as she pushed the door closed, behind her she heard Gray’s hooves scurrying against the tiles in the mudroom, followed by his high-pitched snorty-squeak welcome.

At least this little guy brought her joy and love every day. He was way more reliable than any other man she’d met anyway.

“Hey Gray. How’s my best buddy?” She peered over the bottom half of the Dutch door.

He danced around, doing a little hippity hop with his front feet up off the ground, but really it was like his nose did all the work.

“That’s my boy. Dance for momma.”

She opened the door and stepped inside the mudroom and sat on the floor with him.

When Gray had started growing, she’d had an addition built to the house to accommodate him. Her contractor had come up with the perfect solution. Putting a mudroom off the back end of the house allowed Gray to come and go all day while she was away without keeping him in the house. From the mudroom, a doggy door led to a covered play area with a sandbox.

Every Sunday she spent time using her old bulb planter to hide treats in his yard area. It gave him something to do. She’d learned early on that a bored pig was a destructive pig, and that wasn’t good for anyone.

“Look at that face.” She put her hands on his cheeks. His snout was dirty. He’d most definitely done some rooting around today. She grabbed a towel to wash his face, but like any little boy he tried to wiggle away.

“Now that you’re all cleaned up, let’s do our tricks.”

Gray sat down. Then stood and spun around.

She held up her hand. “Wait a minute.” Sometimes Gray got so excited that he started before she gave him the command. “Okay. Now sit.” He did, one ear flopping low over his eye. He looked so stinking cute when it did that.

She handed him a treat. “Now spin around.”

Gray spun in a circle and waited for his reward.