Page 67 of Finding Gideon

“He’s even cuter now,” she said.

“He’s a total diva,” I replied.

“He earned it.” She kissed the top of his head.

She wasn’t wrong.

Behind her, Nia and Rachel caught up, waving as they stepped into the yard. “Hope we’re not interrupting,” Rachel said.

“Not at all.” My voice came out a little hoarse. “Good to see you guys again.”

“Junie insisted Toast needed treats. And a squeaky fried egg,” Nia said, holding up the paper bag. “Because, apparently, Toast and egg make the ultimate breakfast buddies.”

Junie gasped. “I forgot about the egg!” The little girl scrambled up and ran the few steps to grab it, then dropped back down next to Toast, already rustling inside.

“We should have asked if Toast is allowed picnic snacks first,” Rachel said with an apologetic smile.

“He is,” I said, watching Junie smooth her palm down his side. The dog was completely at ease. “But he’s got a weakness for peanut butter. So… you’ve been warned.”

She grinned. “Duly noted.”

Junie turned to us and said with a gap-toothed smile, “Next time we’ll get him rubber bacon.”

We all burst into laughter. Junie was too adorable for words.

That tickle at the back of my neck flared. Awareness. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Malcolm stepped through the gate. He came to stand beside me, close enough that a shift in either of us would bring our arms together.

“Hey,” he said, voice warm. “How’s it going?”

“Can’t complain,” I replied, glancing at him long enough to catch the corner of his mouth tipping up. My pulse gave a traitorous kick.

Dennis gave a soft chuff and wound between us like it was his job to make sure we didn’t forget he was there. Malcolm crouched, rubbed behind his ears. “Hey, Dennis,” he said, low and fond.

Malcolm rose to his feet and turned to the moms. “Nice to see you all again.”

They greeted him back with easy smiles, then drifted toward Junie and Toast. Nia knelt beside her daughter, while Rachel scratched under Toast’s chin, cooing at him.

“They’re the best duo since Tacos and Tuesday,” he said, voice pitched low like it was a secret between us.

My throat tightened a little. “She loves him. And he’s… calm. Around her, I mean. It’s as if she’s his home.”

He didn’t say anything at first. Just watched them romping on the grass.

“Are you thinking of placing him with them?” he asked eventually.

I nodded. “Yeah. I think they’re perfect for each other.”

Junie had started humming again. Same silly little tune. Toast’s leg gave a half-kick like he wanted belly rubs. Rachel snapped a photo and Nia laughed softly.

I hooked my thumbs into my pockets, shoulder brushing Malcolm’s as we both watched the scene unfold. “Makes me wonder if there are others like Toast out there,” I said, my voice low enough for just him. “Animals that are blind, deaf, disfigured. The ones most people overlook.”

Malcolm’s head tilted slightly toward me, but he didn’t speak.

“What if it’s not just about getting them adoptable?” My eyes stayed on Junie’s small hands moving over Toast’s fur. “What if there are people out there who need them as much as they need someone? If there were more like him…” I exhaled, glancing at Malcolm’s profile before looking back at the yard. “I don’t know. Maybe I’d want to do something about it.”

Malcolm didn’t try to fix it or frame it. He just said, “You never know, Gideon. There might be.”