This is a novella written in dual first person points of view. Each chapter will be labeled with who is narrating.

So far, Jameson Petry meets Iris, a senior citizen, when his dog gets loose. After a brief conversation, they become friends. This is their story.

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JAMESON

After parting ways with Iris, I start walking home. I can't wait. I have to talk to Finny. If I can't physically hold him, I, at least, need to hear his voice. I call Amanda, knowing full well it will be a waste of time to call Claire. She puts Fin on the phone.

"Daddy," he squeals.

"Hey, buddy, how have you been? You being a good boy?"

He's talking gibberish, making silly noises. Hearing his infectious belly laugh is like an invisible hug. I feel a warmth spread through my body.

"I'm going to come see you tomorrow. You want to come home and see Hessy?"

"Doggie. Hessy dog." he says.

"Yes. I think Hessy misses you."

"I see you," he whispers. His eye gets close to the screen. And just like that, he's tired of talking and drops the phone on the couch.

Amanda picks it up and sighs. "I think he's finished talking."

"Give him a kiss for me. And, Mandy, if you ever need a break, let me know. I'll come get him."

"I've told Claire that," she says with an unmistakable tightness to her voice. "She always says you're too busy."

I bite my tongue before answering. "I'm never too busy for Finny."

"I'll pass that along."


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The only thing between my place and Claire's sister's house is endless miles of tall pines and a few plowed up fields mixed in for good measure.

When I pull up to the house, I see Mandy pushing Fin in one of those bucket swings.

She looks over as I walk up. "You're early," she says.

"I didn't think you'd mind. Claire here?"

She tilts her head to the house. "Inside. Taking her sweet ass time in the bathroom."

"Okay, Finny. I'm going to go talk to mommy. I'll be right back." I give him a big one handed push before jogging to the front steps.

I knock but don't wait to be invited in.

"Claire," I call out loudly. I listen and hear the sound of the blow dryer coming from the hall bathroom. She's a creature of habit. Every morning she showers and then spends forty-five minutes messing with her hair and her makeup. When she doesn't answer, I bang on the door.

"What?" she turns the hair dryer to low, but doesn't bother to turn it off.

"Claire, it's me. I'm getting ready to take Fin."

"Okay. I put his bag of clothes by the door."

"Can you open the damn door, please? "

The dryer goes silent and the door handle rattles. She stands there, arms folded across her chest.

"Thank you," I say. "I was wondering if we could maybe talk when I bring him home tomorrow."

She does nothing to disguise her annoyance. "Soon, Jameson."

"You keep saying that."

"What do you want? I can't just pick a date on the calendar and say that's the day I'll be ready to talk. I keep telling you I need time."

"And I've given you time. It's been three months."

"It's not giving me time if you're pestering me every other day. Can we talk? Can we talk? How about today?"

I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "My life is on hold, Claire."

She looks away with a forced smile playing on her lips. "I forgot that you're the only one who is affected by this. Hello. I'm living with my bat shit crazy sister."

"Then come home."

"I hate that place."

"We can look for another place," I say, reaching for her hand. She pulls away like I'm a leper.

"Don't." She takes a step back into the bathroom and starts to close the door. "Get his bag and have a fun day with your son."

The door closes in my face.

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I drive back to Patterson numb. I check the rear view mirror to look at my son. He's staring out of his window, his eyes heavy lidded as the ride works its magic to calm him. I want my family back plain and simple. But, if that happens, it's going to take time. I have what I need right now. Looking at him reminds me no matter what else is going on in my life, I am the luckiest man in the world.

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We check on Heston before going to the Aquarium. Fin is obsessed with the sharks, so I end up buying him an overpriced t-shirt with a great white shark on it. We dig in the sand pit for shark teeth. We're having a great time until it gets close to nap time. Then it gets ugly.

He takes off running back towards the entrance to the building. "I go see sharks."

"No, Finny. We're going home now."

He let's out a blood curdling scream, thrashing and kicking when I pick him up. "Stop it. Don't be like this."

I wrap my arms around him tightly, holding him until the fight goes out of him. "Come on, Finny, let's not have a bad day. Okay? Let's go get some chicken nuggets and go see Hessy. We can watch a movie." I press my lips to the top of his head, and after a few minutes he relaxes, laying his head against my shoulder.

He eats a couple of nuggets, a handful of my French fries then falls asleep on the way home.

Heston greets me as I carry him inside the duplex. He makes little whimpering sounds as he recognizes Finny's scent. Three months without him and Heston hovers over him as I put him on the couch.

I stand there looking down at this beautiful boy, trying to memorize this moment. Heston gently climbs up beside him, his big head close to Fin without touching him.

"I think you missed him almost as much as I did," I whisper, reaching down to stroke Heston's wiry hair. He wags his tail as if to answer me, then closes his eyes.