That night, I dragged an old blanket into the nursery and put it under the crib.
The dog curled up so close to the rails his nose touched the bars.
Every time Edduin fussed, he lifted his head, checked on him, then laid back down.
I sat in the rocking chair, baby monitor in my hand, watching the same scene on my phone screen and in real life.
Instead of creepy shadows, it was a baby and his scruffy guard dog.
For the first time in weeks, my body actually relaxed.
The next morning, I went to the pet store.
I bought food, bowls, shampoo, a collar, a tag.
I hesitated at the engraving machine, then wrote “Casper” on the tag.
Doblo had been John’s name for him.
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