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everywhere together.”
    “Then I know he’ll come back if he can,” Greg said sympathetically.
    The boy’s blue eyes widened. “What if he’s hurt like my mama and daddy were? They never came back.”
    “There are going to be lots of people out looking for ways to help each other in the next few days and weeks, son. I’m sure someone will find your dog. And we’ll look especially hard for him, just like we promised.”
    “You—you will? Cross your heart?”
    Greg made the motion that went with the question as he replied, “Yes. Cross my heart.”
    In truth, he felt as if his heart was breaking for this sad, lonely child. Remembering his own youth he could readily identify with Tommy. There had been no one in his young life at the Garrison estate who had understood him except his mother, and when she’d died he’d been so bereft that no words could describe it. Although he’d still had a father, Dan had become even more withdrawn than usual, leaving Greg feeling totally isolated.
    In those days, if he hadn’t had some animals to tend, to talk to without censoring his thoughts and words, he’d have been as forlorn as Tommy was now.
    Blinking, he fought back the tears that had so unexpectedly filled his eyes. He didn’t know how they were going to find the missing dog, or if they ever would. Only one thing was certain. He was going to try as hard as possible.
     
    Maya kept peeking past Beth’s shoulder at the astonishing scene taking place in the Otises’ yard. If someone had asked her an hour ago whether shethought Gregory Garrison even liked children, let alone empathized with them, she would have flatly denied that possibility.
    Now, however, she was witnessing a show of compassion from her crusty boss that she could barely believe. Not only was he comforting Tommy, he was doing so on his knees in a wet, muddy yard despite his expensive slacks.
    Then again, she mused, the rest of his suit was already ruined back at the office, so she guessed it didn’t matter much. It was amazing what things no longer did, such as keeping her hair looking neat or her shoes polished, not to mention making sure her own yard was tidy.
    Maya shuddered as she contemplated going home. Assuming I still have a home, she added silently.
    Her conscience reared up and kicked her. Things could be replaced. People could not. She should be praising the Lord and thanking Him that they had all survived instead of worrying about lost or damaged possessions.
    Smiling slightly, she took another peek at her boss and Tommy. They had separated. Greg was getting to his feet. He offered his hand to the boy and they shook solemnly, apparently sealing a gentlemen’s agreement.
    Maya was so touched by that tender sight she almost wept. A big, strong man was treating a frightened little boy as his equal.
    Never again would she view Gregory Garrison in the same light as before. He might deny it—and probably would—but he really was a nice, nice man under all that sternness and supposed perfectionism.
    And he had just earned himself a place among those few special, extraordinary individuals whom she most admired.
    Of all the shocks this day had brought, that was certainly one of the most meaningful.

Chapter Four
    M aya waited patiently with Layla until Beth and her husband had ushered Tommy into the house and Greg had come back across the hedge.
    “Well, what’s next?” he asked. “How far is it to your place?”
    “About a block and a half. I live at Logan and Second Streets, past the elementary school grounds.”
    “Do you want to walk on over and see how your house fared?”
    She shrugged and grimaced. “I’m not sure. I want to see, but I don’t, if you know what I mean.”
    “I certainly do.” He gestured down the narrow sidewalk, then held out his arms to Layla. “May I have the honor of carrying you, Princess?”
    The three-year-old giggled. Maya could tell that her daughter wouldn’t mind if Greg took her for awhile so she