Buddy was asleep beside her.

Marcus handed her a cup of coffee.

“You know,” he said, “Caleb would have loved this.”

Diane smiled.

“I know.”

They sat quietly.

After a while, Marcus said:

“I used to think he saved me.”

Diane looked at him.

“He did.”

Marcus shook his head.

“No.”

“What do you mean?”

“He gave me a chance.”

Diane waited.

“I had to choose what to do with it.”

She smiled.

“That’s true.”

Marcus looked toward the house.

“I think that’s what he wanted.”

“What?”

“To remind people that being helped doesn’t mean you’re weak.”

Diane nodded.

“It means someone believed you could keep going.”

---

And Then Buddy Did Something Unexpected

Just before sunset, Buddy suddenly stood.

He walked toward the garden.

Then he stopped beside a young tree.

Diane looked at Marcus.

“What is he doing?”

Marcus laughed.

“Probably looking for something.”

Buddy scratched gently at the soil.