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eating his food as fast. And not running around the yard barking at imaginary predators on his turf. She’d soon lose her old cats as well. They were nearly as old as Willard.
    She wondered if the cats would miss Willard as much as his people would. Probably so.

Chapter Seven

    When Jane got back from the vet, she had a blinking message from the architect on her phone. “Jane, this is Jack. I forgot to tell you something. When we get approval for this project, we’ll have to take part of your south fence out to get the equipment into your backyard. I noticed that you have a dog. So take it outside on a leash when we’re ready.“
    She didn’t have the heart to call back and say she no longer had the old dog. Even though she was curious about when the pouring of the foundation would start. She’d ask him later.
    Nor was she calm enough yet to tell Katie and Mike. She did call Shelley, who sympathized in the best way. “That’s the thing about well-loved pets. We always outlive them. 1 suppose the worst scenario is that one would outlive us and have to go to strangers.“
    “Thanks, Shelley. You’re right. I’m never getting a dog again. It’s too hard to lose one. The same with cats. Well, not exactly. They don’t really need you to be home all the time. Leave lots of kitty litter and food and water and go away for a weekend and they’re mildly happy when you get home. Dogs aren’t like that. They love their people and are sad when they’re left alone, or—God forbid—put in a kennel.“
    “There is another difference,“ Shelley said. “Dogs love their owners. Cats think they own you.“
    Jane laughed and then went on to tell Shelley how nice the vet had been, especially to Todd. The vet took so much trouble to comfort Todd on Willard’s death, and explained about the headstone idea.
    “He’s such a nice man,“ Shelley said. “We had always taken our pets to him back when we had pets. He cared about them and their owners, even though one of our cats’ records was headed `Caution—Mean Cat.“
    That made Jane laugh again. She vaguely remembered that cat of the Nowacks’. It had bitten both her and Mike the first time each of them had tried to pet it.
    “You really need to go shopping tomorrow for your dress for the fake wedding,“ Shelley said.
    “That sounds like excellent therapy.“
    They took along the scrap of charcoal fabric they’d talked the tux guy into finding. But after two completerounds of trampling entirely through three dress stores, found nothing even close.
    “Don’t worry, Jane. A fabric store will have an exact match and I know an excellent dressmaker who can make whatever you need.“
    “Right now what I need most is to go home and see if Todd has finished his headstone for Willard. Todd will want me to compliment it the moment he finishes and his feelings will be hurt if I’m not there.“
    Shelley, who’d often been in similar situations with her children when pets had died, agreed. “We have lots of time. Neither wedding is for a few months. Give me that scrap of fabric and I’ll go through every fabric store in town like Sherman through Altanta.“
    Todd had finished the headstone and did a good job of it.
    “How did you get all that writing so neat?“ Jane asked. “With one of my pens that was out of ink.“
    In large letters at the top it said WILLARD. Below that were the dates of his birth and death. At the bottom Todd had drawn quite an accurate drawing of the dog in his prime. He’d even colored it in.
    “That’s a fine job. Are you going to varnish it so it won’t fade or run?“
    “I hadn’t thought about that. That’s a good idea. But it needs to dry completely before I do it. It’s still a bit damp.“
    “I need to call Mike and Katie with the bad news. They’re going to be as sad as we are.“
    Todd looked away. “I’ll do it if you want. I’ve been remembering when he was a puppy and I wanted him to sleep in my bed with me and you