Jude

You get it, don’t you?” Mom asked him. “Even if I liked dogs—and I’m sorry, Jude, but that is never going to happen in this lifetime—even if I could stand to have a dog in the house, it’s the totally wrong time. I’m really hoping to get that job. I need to put money into the car, I need to pay for day care for Spy. I’ve got way too much to figure out.”

This wasn’t her usual I say so. End of story. Mom was actually trying to explain.

“You were really trying to get that reward for us?” She brushed the hair back from his brow. “Mister, that was a loco thing to do.” Her dented smile. “I still appreciate it.”

He worked his mouth but no words came out. If only he knew the right ones! Mom rested her hands on his shoulders.

“You meant to do the right thing. That counts. I shouldn’t say this, but it makes me proud. I’m proud of you, and your dad would...” She touched her forehead to his, then stepped back. “I have a chance to make things better for us. And it’s going to work out, I promise. Up to the moon and stars, I promise things will get better.”

He wanted to tell Mom Okay. Okay. But he couldn’t. Things couldn’t get better without True.

“Ahem,” Gladys said.

Jude and his mother both spun around. She and Mr. Peters stood a few feet behind them, True at their feet. Tail swishing, mouth open like, Guess what?

“You.” Mom eyed Gladys. “The partner in crime.”

Gladys switched on her high-beam smile. Which only made Mom look at her suspiciously. Meanwhile, Mr. Peters pressed his palms together like he might start praying. When Mom turned that suspicious gaze on him, he took a step back. Cleared his throat. Took another step back. He might’ve turned and run for his life if Gladys hadn’t given his shirt sleeve a tug.

“Hello, Diamond,” he said.

“Mr. Peters.”

“I...uh...” He coughed. “Would you like to borrow my lawn mower? Or I could mow your grass. I wouldn’t mind at all.”

Mom set her hands on her hips. “Is that what you came over to say?”

Another tug from Gladys.

“We used to have a dog. When my wife was still alive, we had a schnauzer. He was smaller than True but very naughty. She spoiled him, is why.” Mr. Peters’s big voice thinned. “Peppermint died three months after she did.”

Mom’s hands slowly slid off her hips.

“She died?” Spider said.

Mr. Peters nodded. Spider handed him his lightsaber.

“Thank you.” Mr. Peters clutched the sword. Cleared his throat again. “It’s been a long time since I took care of anything.”

“Besides your lawn, you mean.” Soon as she said it, Mom looked sorry. But Mr. Peters only nodded.

“I think I may be ready to give it another try. Not the lawn, I mean. But caring for something.” He bent to rub the white stripe between True’s eyes.

Mom smiled. Her real smile, like a leaf turning in the breeze.

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying, Mr. Peters?”

“I hope so,” he said. And then he smiled, too.

Ms. Suza, who’d been hovering in the background, stepped up. “Mr. Peters, one thing you need to know.” She sounded like she wished she didn’t have to say this but she did. “I’m going to try to locate True’s true owner.”

“I understand. Till you do, I’ll think of myself as foster care.”