moment. "He could sleep on the screened-in porch with you," she said. “Now I know why that’s your favorite spot.”
"That would be great," Gabe said, grinning.
"We have plenty of dog food," Alice volunteered. "We'll bring some over."
Gabe jumped up and down, the dog’s ears flapping in the wind. "Do you hear that, Mutt? You can stay.”
At that moment, Logan walked in, basketball shorts and no shirt, wiping sleep from his eyes. Shelby felt her breath catch.
"What's all this? Is that Mutt?” He walked over and petted the dog.
“So you knew about him too,” Iris said.
Logan shrugged. “Guilty.”
“He gets to stay with me.” Gabe looked back at this mother. “At least for now.”
"Welcome to the family, Mutt," Logan said. He smiled at Shelby. "Good morning. I wondered what was going on so early out here this morning.”
"Well, you can thank your brother for that,” Iris said.
“Looks like I missed out on all the details,” Logan said.
“You did,” Shelby said. “I'll tell you the whole story. Coffee first?”
Logan followed Shelby into the kitchen. “What the heck happened?” he asked.
They stood drinking their coffee while Shelby relayed all the details of the night before, trying not to be distracted by Logan’s closeness. His hair drifted across his forehead, and she wanted to reach up and brush it out of his eyes.
"Thanks," he said. "But tell me something. How long have you known about Mutt?"
"A while. And what about you?" she asked Logan.
“Me too. Gabe didn't know, but I saw him sneaking food and disappearing in the woods before the Fourth of July party. That night when we brought Mutt home, I knew it wasn’t for the first time.”
Shelby lowered her voice. “When Gabe first told me about Mutt, he asked me to keep it a secret. I didn’t want to break his confidence by saying more. I figured he would tell you all soon. And Mutt needed some care.”
"Gabe must really trust you, if he confided in you," Logan said. "He’s pretty reserved, usually. He could have come to me."
"He's such a sweet kid,” Shelby said, touching Logan’s hand lightly with her fingertips.
Logan looked back toward his mother and Alice, then took her hand in his. "I'm sure glad my father isn't here. I’d hate to think what would be happening instead. Gabe loves that dog so much already."
Alice stood and called over to Shelby, “Let’s get home now. Scarlett will want breakfast, and probably feels like we deserted her.”
Shelby took the scruffy dog from Gabe’s arms. She could feel his ribs under her fingers. Just in time, she thought, holding him close. “We have all the supplies at our house. He’ll be in good hands.”
At the door, Iris thanked them for taking such good care of Gabe.
“See you later at the beach,” Shelby called to Logan.
If she had the energy, she thought.
When she got home from the DeLucas’ house, Scarlett was whining in the kitchen.
Alice called the dog to her. “We’re back,” she said, “and your food is coming.” She put the dog bowl down in the kitchen and Scarlett scarfed up her breakfast, her dog tag clinking on the stainless steel food bowl.
After bathing and brushing out Mutt, Shelby was exhausted. "I think I might take a little nap,” she told her grandmother
“Are you sure you don’t want to eat first?” Alice asked.
“Maybe later.”
Alice nodded. "Of course. I'll check on Mrs. Williams later today. I'll give the hospital a call and see if they will give me any information on visiting times. I’ll also let Eleanor know what happened.”
"That would be great.” Shelby yawned. "I don't know if I can sleep. I'm so...I don't know, restless.”
"Why don't you just curl up on the couch? I'll be quiet in the kitchen."
"You don't need to be quiet," Shelby said. Watching Alice puttering around the kitchen was a comforting sight. Stretching out on the couch, she rested her head on the pillow. Scarlett jumped up and lay next to her, then gave her slobbery kisses all over Shelby’s face. “Sweet girl,” Shelby said, running her fingers through the curly red hair on top of her head.
She loved this dog and never wanted to leave her. Shelby never wanted to leave her grandmother, either. It was the first time she felt like she could breathe, exhale, and nothing was going to fall apart if she didn’t stay on guard every minute anticipating…anticipating and being prepared.
Shelby tried to fall asleep, but the adrenaline still pumping through her body made it impossible. Insomnia was not an unfamiliar