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"Uncle Shane," he says between bites, "did you think about it yet?"
"What's that, bud?" I respond, wiping my mouth with a napkin.
"The puppy," he reminds me, his eyes wide with anticipation.
I look over at Nicole, who gives me a small shrug, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"I did, buddy. I think it's okay, as long as you can promise to eat your vegetables... without Nicole having to chase you down," I say, grinning.
"Okay," he says eagerly, nodding his head with enthusiasm. "I'll eat any vegetable you give me."
"I guess you just have to check with Nicole," I add, turning my attention to her.
Nicole raises an eyebrow, feigning surprise as she meets our expectant gazes. "Just one thing... We all get to pick the name together," she says.
The next morning, we head into town for brunch, and afterward, we stop by a few local pet stores.
It's at the third one where we find him—a small, brown-and-white puppy with a wagging tail and bright eyes. He's a rambunctious little thing, full of energy, and Jaime falls in love instantly. The dog seems just as smitten, sticking close to Jaime as if they've known each other forever.
We sit in the pet store, watching Jaime play with the puppy while the owner looks on, a smile of disbelief on her face.
"He's usually terrified of everyone," she says, shaking her head. "But I guess some people just have that touch."
"So, is this the one, buddy?" I ask, leaning down to ruffle the puppy's fur.
"Yeah, I love him," Jaime says, his eyes bright with excitement.
"And what are we going to call this little guy?" Nicole asks, crouching down next to Jaime.
"I want to call him Buddy," Jaime says with a grin. "So we'll have the same nickname."
We take Buddy home that day and introduce him to his very own room in the estate. That night, Jaime plays with Buddy until they both fall asleep, side by side, the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Chapter 18
Nicole
Jaime continues to impress me. We sit on the floor of his room, side by side, as he reads aloud from his favorite book. According to his teacher, he's reading at a second-grade level, which is impressive for a six-year-old.
"And the mom and dad, brother and sister all put on their shiny gold hats and stepped into the magic doorway," Jaime reads, his little voice full of excitement. "The end."
"Wow, Jaime, you didn't miss a single word," I say, smiling with pride.
"Thanks, Nicole," Jaime grins, clearly pleased with himself.
"What did you think of the story?" I ask, curious to hear his thoughts.
"It's so cool! I love that the family worked together to get home."
"Yeah, having family and friends is the best, right?"
"Yep," Jaime agrees, nodding eagerly. "Hey, Nicole, I want to draw you a picture of my family."
"Sure, buddy," I say, my heart swelling a little. "Why don't you run over to your desk and get started?"
Jaime jumps up from the floor, hurrying over to his desk. He pulls out a sheet of paper and his box of colored pencils, his little hands moving quickly as he starts to draw.
I watch him for a moment, lost in thought. It's been so long since I last drew a picture of my parents. Gio used to draw one every few weeks after they were taken from us, almost like it kept them alive in his heart. I remember reading somewhere that it's part of the healing process, and it's good to see Jaime naturally embracing that. Our shared tragedy is a bond between Jaime, Shane, and me—a sad bond, but also a reminder of how much we have to rely on each other.