“Hey, baby,” I say. “How’s my brave girl?”
She looks at Duke instead of me.
“Is he still staying with us?” she whispers.
There’s a knock at the door before I can answer.
Three sharp, official-sounding knocks.
My heart jumps.
For a stupid second, I think it’s someone coming to take him away right now.
Animal control. The police. Somebody in a suit.
It’s just our downstairs neighbor, Mr. Patel, holding a grocery bag.
“I brought some food,” he says, eyes soft when he sees Duke. “For you. And some treats for him. My wife cried when she saw the video.”
My throat tightens.
“Thank you,” I manage.
He hesitates in the doorway.
“Listen,” he says. “Not everyone here complained, you know. A lot of us like seeing your daughter walk that dog. It makes the building feel… safer.”
The word “complained” lands like a stone.
The letter from the landlord flashes in my mind.
We talk for a few minutes.
He pats Duke’s head, waves to Lily, and leaves.
For a second, I let myself believe things might be okay.
