Chapter 58

Austin

Maggie warned me that she’d be late today. First, she had to take Harvey to the vet, but if he checked out okay, he’d come with her for a visit. I see her mom’s SUV pull up in front of Brayside. Maggie gets out and opens the back-seat door for Harvey. He jumps down with more care than he used to, and trots toward the sliding doors. He doesn’t need to wait for her. He always knows his way into Brayside.

I bend down and he runs right into my arms, raising his head to lick my chin. “How are you doing, Harvey?” I say. He still has a little bald patch where the stitches were, but in every other way, he looks normal.

Mary Rose comes around the front desk. “Are you happy to be back? Are you, Harvey?” she says in a singsong voice, which makes Harvey’s tail wag faster.

“Yep! The vet gave him a thumbs-up,” Maggie says. “Just no more fights with raccoons.”

Harvey’s sitting between us with his ears pricked like he knows we’re talking about him. His white beard is especially scruffy today, sticking out all over the place like he’s a dog version of Albert Einstein. “I never would have thought Harvey would be the fighting kind,” Mary Rose says.

Maggie laughs. “Me neither!”

Lately, Maggie laughs a lot and I wonder if it’s because of Mrs. Fradette. It’s funny how old people rub off on you. She’s becoming like one of Mrs. Fradette’s outfits, brighter and bolder. I’m not worried about Maggie using up her twenty volunteer hours anymore. She’s here for the long haul. “You’re just in time for the sing-along,” Mary Rose says to Maggie with a wink.

“Another sing-along,” I grumble. I thought we were done with those now that Grandpa’s job is safe.

“Oh, come on! All the old people want to see Harvey anyway.” This was true. They’d been waiting all day to see if he’d show up. Funny how a little dog can bring such excitement to a place.

The games room is packed. All the usuals are there, but I’m surprised that Artie came on his day off. Louise is there too, pushing Mrs. Gustafson in a wheelchair. It’s the first time I’ve seen Mrs. Gustafson out of her room in weeks. Maggie’s face splits into a grin when she sees the room full of people. Harvey trots beside her and no one makes as big a deal about him as I thought they would. I mean, aren’t they all here for him?

Maggie nods at Mrs. O’Brien and she comes up to me. Her eyes are shining. “Austin,” she says, and looks behind me.

I turn to the door and see my mom. What the heck? “Mom? What are you—”

Grandpa is there too, but it’s Mom I’m looking at because she’s holding something in her arms. It’s a puppy.

I stare at both of them for a minute because I don’t believe it. “Austin,” Mom says, and holds the dog out to me. For a second, I don’t move. I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long. Grandpa and Mom are both waiting for me to do something. So are all the old people, and Maggie and Louise and Mary Rose and Artie.

“Go on,” Grandpa says. “She’s yours.”

My hands tremble when I reach out and take her. It’s the puppy Harvey found in the alley. The one I brought to the shelter and thought I’d never see again.

“Is she really mine?” I ask, because I still can’t believe it. I’m sort of crying and laughing at the same time. Her fur is silky soft, and when I hug her to my chest she sticks out her pink tongue and covers my neck with kisses, even though she doesn’t know me. Or maybe…maybe she does.

“But you said no dogs,” I say to Mom.

Mom laughs. She’s tearing up too. “I know, but Maggie is very convincing.”

Maggie. She’s standing with Mrs. O’Brien and Harvey is at her feet. “It wasn’t just me,” she says. “Everyone helped. They all put money in.”

“If anyone ever deserved to have a dog, it’s you,” Miss Lin says. Mr. Santos, the Kowalskis, Mrs. Gelman, and Mr. Singh all nod.

“What are you going to call her?” Maggie asks.

The only name I could call her. It’s been on my mind since the day I found her. It’s a name that belongs to a strong spirit, a fighter. And I know Mr. Pickering would approve.

“Bertie,” I say.