Max stayed in my car with me after giving his keys to the guy he’d come with.

When we got home June, by now deaf and half blind, came up to us, nose up and tail wagging.

After thouroughly inspecting our scent and giving each of us a lick on the hand she headed back to her basket.

My mother came down later, making exclaimations over how wet I was and then giving each of us a kiss on the cheek before sending me to change.

I pulled on a pair of pajama pants, a tank top, and a oversized sweatshirt I’d gotten on a family vacation to Alaska with Max’s family.

When I headed downstairs Max already had a DVD in the player.

I had just sat down on the couch when the phone rang. “You get it,” I called to Max, making popcorn.

He nodded and answered it.

“Robinson residence, Max speaking.”

I’d been teasing him about the formal way he always answered the phone for forever, and almost said something about it when he looked over at me, a faint frown on his mouth.

“It’s for you.”