Epilogue

The keys to finding a happily ever after:

Love
Friendship
Respect
Coffee
Lots and lots of books.

I believe Miss Josie did manage to ravish Mr. Nate that night. I couldn’t say for sure. Jackson, Rocco, and I got locked out of her room, but, judging by all the lovey-dovey behavior we witnessed the next morning, I had to assume they’d done the deed.

Mistress Sue arrived a few days later, as promised, to check on me. Miss Josie and Mr. Nate greeted her nervously, but they needn’t have worried.

“You’re doing a fine job,” she said, as I wiggled and wagged my tail and licked her. When she pulled a treat out of her pocket and told me to sit, I immediately complied. “And you’ve taught the pup manners, too. Well done.”

“It took time,” said Miss Josie. “We’re not done training him yet. He’ll start the next round of obedience classes in a few weeks.”

“Excellent,” she said. “You have to train a dog as much as possible while he’s young, and socialize him, too. It’s important. But he’ll learn. He’s the smartest puppy I’ve ever met.”

Miss Josie folded her hands in her lap. “Can I ask you a question?” When Mistress Sue nodded, she continued. “Why was he the last of the litter to be adopted?”

Mistress Sue smiled and patted me on the head. “I couldn’t let a dog like this go to just anyone. I had to find the right person, or I planned to keep him myself. When your friend, Anne, came to the farm, and told me you had a bookstore, I knew you were the right person for Capone, and this was the right place. He loved books and stories and watching PBS on the television. He was always a weird little guy, but what could be better for a dog that likes books than to live in a bookshop?”

If I could cry, I would have been weeping right now. I hadn’t gotten adopted last because I lacked something. I’d gotten adopted last because Mistress Sue loved me and wanted the best for me. It was the most wonderful news I’d ever had.

“How did you come up with the name Capone?” asked Miss Josie.

“I named the puppies in his litter after gangsters as a joke and expected them to be given new ones as soon as they were adopted,” said Mistress Sue. “But I’m curious. Why didn’t you change Capone’s name?”

“Because I love him for who he is, the good parts and the not so good parts. I don’t want to change a thing about him. Not even his name. That’s how it is when you truly love someone. You accept them, faults and all.” Miss Josie’s eyes met Mr. Nate’s, and they both smiled. I smiled, too. I smiled so hard, in fact, I thought I might burst with happiness.

Not long afterward, on a cold November day, Mr. Nate showed up in the shop in a suit, carrying a leather briefcase. He looked like a gentleman, but, of course, Mr. Nate had been a gentleman all along—even while wearing torn up T-shirts and faded jeans. His actions made him a gentleman, not how he dressed. I understood it now.

Snow began to fall; fluffy, fat flakes whirled and danced as they covered the sidewalk and the street in a blanket of snow. Gracie sat inside with us, waiting for Ms. Anne to come back to the shop and pick her up. Jackson walked through the door after Mr. Nate, shaking the wet snow off his back.

“It’s cold out there, puppy. I nearly froze my hairy butt off.” He let out a chuckle when Gracie rolled her eyes. He loved to annoy her. It was a skill, but I wasn’t paying attention to them. I stared outside, mesmerized.

I’d never seen snow before. It was exciting. I couldn’t wait to go out in the back garden and play in it. Miss Josie had promised she’d let me out as soon as Ms. Anne came back. I nearly vibrated with anticipation.

She looked up with a smile as Mr. Nate came in. They’d made a date for dinner, and she’d put on a fancy dress, and had her hair up in a bun.

“Hello, handsome,” she said.

“Hello, beautiful.” Mr. Nate stopped, his face getting a little pink. He seemed oddly nervous.

“Are you okay?” asked Miss Josie as she walked over to him.

He took her hand in his. “Yes. No. I mean I have something I need to ask you.” He went down on one knee, and Miss Josie gasped. I gasped, too. Could this be what I thought it was? Gracie, Rocco, and Jackson watched the scene unfold, just as entranced as me.

Mr. Nate cleared his throat. “Josephine St. Clair. I love you more than anything.” He reached into the bag he carried and pulled out four rather old and battered-looking books.

I looked at Jackson, Gracie, and Rocco in confusion. “Books? I thought it was supposed to be a ring. Did I miss something here?”

“It is supposed to be a ring,” said Gracie. “A big, sparkly, diamond ring. Ms. Anne has had quite a few in her day. She’s been engaged half a dozen times at least.”

“That’s…a lot,” said Jackson. “I don’t think it’s normal.”

“If Mr. Nate is giving her books, there must be a reason for it,” I said.

Miss Josie sank into a chair in front of Mr. Nate and took the books in her hands. “These were published right after Jane Austen’s death. By her brother.”

“Do you like them?”

“I love them. They are the first books to acknowledge her as the author of all her works. Oh, Nate. This gift is amazing.”

Note to self: Books are the way to a lady’s heart.

He lifted one of the volumes and placed a small box on top of it. “I thought Persuasion was appropriate, because I wanted to persuade you to accept this.”

Miss Josie sat with the pile of Jane Austen books on her lap and stared at the tiny box. He opened it, his eyes on her face, and I saw the sparkle of a diamond in an elegant, antique setting. It matched the sparkle in Miss Josie’s eyes.

“Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” Mr. Nate’s voice cracked with emotion. Miss Josie couldn’t speak. She nodded her head, her lips trembling as tears filled her eyes.

Mr. Nate slipped the ring on her finger and pulled her into his arms. It filled my heart with happiness. Miss Josie had been alone for so long, and now she had Mr. Nate and me and Rocco and even Jackson. She had a whole family, like she always wanted. She had us.

When Ms. Anne returned and heard the news, she found a bottle of champagne stashed in the basement, a leftover from dear Mr. Bartleby, and popped the cork, toasting the happy couple.

“To the beginning of your story,” she said, raising her glass. “May it be a happy one.” They sipped the champagne, Miss Josie and Mr. Nate practically glowing with happiness. “By the way, I suspected this might happen.”

“How did you know?” asked Miss Josie. She had one arm around Mr. Nate’s waist and stared at him with absolute joy on her face.

Ms. Anne shrugged. “I’ve been engaged a few times myself,” she said with a wink. “I know the signs. By the way, I have some news myself. I’ll stop by tomorrow and share it with you.”

I’d assumed Ms. Anne might be getting engaged again. Or perhaps she was going on a cruise. It was neither of those things. Ms. Anne walked into the store carrying something tiny and fawn colored in her arms.

“Um, what is that?” asked Mr. Nate.

“My news,” she said brightly and set a miniature version of Jackson on the floor in front of us. “His name is Faraday, after the physicist, James Faraday. His owner abandoned him. Can you believe it? I found him at the shelter. He’s only three months old, poor baby, and he needs some love, but he’s a purebred pug, like Jackson. Gracie gets along so well with your dog, I knew she’d love him. I couldn’t resist.”

Ms. Josie knelt on the floor next to him. “Oh, my,” she said. “He’s so tiny. And adorable. What do you think, Gracie? Don’t you love your new little brother?”

“Hmph,” said Gracie. “The jury is still out.”

Faraday stood in front of us, a little ball of trembling fur. As soon as the humans finished fussing over Faraday’s overwhelming cuteness, we finally had a chance to introduce ourselves.

“Hi, little guy,” I said, keeping my voice gentle. “Welcome to Bartleby’s. I’m Alphonse Capone, but you can call me Capone. The pretty girl over there is your sister, Gracie. Rocco, the cat, is on the shelf. He acts mean sometimes, but he’s quite kind.”

Rocco muttered a dirty word. Faraday looked up at him and narrowed his eyes, but I ignored Rocco to make the last introduction. “And this handsome dog is Jackson. He’s a pug like you. Do you know what a pug is?”

I was about to start with an explanation about how pugs once sat on the laps of kings, but Faraday cut me short with one withering glance. “Of course I know what a pug is, you idiot.” He rose on his four stubby little legs, meeting each of us eye for eye. “Prepare yourself to be dominated. You are my servants, and I plan to take over—first this bookstore, then the world. You cannot stop me. I’m Faraday the Fearless, and I’m what laymen like to call an evil genius.”

“Oh, hell,” said Jackson. “When Anne said she had a surprise, I thought she was bringing snacks. This is a nightmare.”

“Tell me about it,” said Gracie. “At least you don’t have to live with the little monster.”

Faraday let out a decidedly evil laugh. It was strange to find such a cute little package could contain such malevolence. “You’re right, Mr. Fatso Jackson. I’m your own personal nightmare—” He got a far-away look in his eyes, then suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, peed on the floor. When he came out of his trance, he jumped, startled. “Oops. Excuse me. What was I saying?”

Ms. Anne interrupted him. She’d noticed the puddle, made a tsking sound and picked him up. “There, there, Faraday,” she said. “Not in the store. I think we’re going to have to call you Mr. Tinkles. It might suit you better than Faraday.”

Jackson, Gracie, Rocco, and I looked at each other and burst into gales of laughter. Faraday climbed to the top of Ms. Anne’s shoulder to glare at us as she carried him outside.

“I am not Mr. Tinkles. I am Faraday, the Evil Genius, and I’m going to make you pay. You’ll be sorry you laughed at me. Consider it a promise.”

Note to self: Faraday is going to be a problem.

CLICK HERE to read the next book in the series, “Hearts, Flowers, and a Dog Named Al Capone.”

EPILOGUE