Ruby laughed. “Oh honey. You are a good, good, man. That little dog means the world to her.”

“I know. Everybody in town knows Mister. But he was so wet I almost didn’t recognize him. So, rest assured your food is fine. It was in the front seat. Mister was in the floor in the back seat. Dog and chili dogs did not co-mingle.”

Ruby laughed. “Good to know. Now get yourself home and into more dry clothes. Just leave all the wet stuff in the utility room. I’ll get it to the cleaners.”

“Thanks babe,” Peanut said, then winked at all the girls. “Enjoy your dinner,” and then ran out the back door into the rain.

* * *

While everyone else in Blessings was bemoaning the inclement weather, Cathy had pulled back the curtains in the living room so she could watch it. After all the years she’d lived in Las Vegas, a state with a startling lack of rainfall, a good downpour was an enjoyable experience.

It also gave her a good view of the street and her driveway so she could watch for Duke to return. Twenty-four hours ago, she hadn’t even known he existed, and now he had been to her house twice.

And so she sat within the quiet of the little house, lulled by the rain on the roof, and watching it turning into a curtain between her and the world as it ran off the porch.

All of a sudden, a small, bedraggled figure walked into her line of vision, dragging what looked like a black garbage bag. She leaned forward, trying to focus through the rain when it finally dawned on her that it was a child.

Ignoring the pain in her ankle, she got up and quickly hobbled out onto the porch, staring in disbelief. She looked up and down the street, unable to believe a little guy like that would be out in this weather on his own.

She called out “Hey!”

He looked at her without breaking stride and kept walking.

Cathy knew immediately something was wrong. And he was way too little to be in this storm on his own. She didn’t think twice as she hobbled down the steps and then out into the rain, moving as quickly as the pain would allow until she caught up with him halfway down the block. Once she got in front of him, she stopped, and got down on one knee.

She was pretty sure he was crying, because his eyes were red, but it was hard to tell because of the rain. His brown hair was plastered to his head and down the back of his neck, and his clothes were sodden and clinging to his little body.

“Hey, my name is Cathy. What’s your name?”

“Melvin Lee.”

“So, Melvin Lee, are you lost?” Cathy asked.

“No, ma’am. I’m a’goin to my granny’s.”

Cathy frowned. “Does your mother know where you are?”

And just like that, he set his jaw and glowered.