#peanutthedog

Leonor: "OK, something's up. I could tell you were, like, holding something in all during dinner. So spill."

Citlali: "It's about Carl." In a few sentences she told her sister all there was to tell: the kiss, his departure, her anxiety. It was good to tell someone else. "I know it's silly, but I can't help but worry he's just . . . not going to come back."

Leonor: "So, first. He's obviously obsessed with you, like duh. He's gonna come back. But second. Is this a crush we're talking about? A fling with an older man? Or do you, like, love him?"

Citlali hesitated, her expression becoming almost pained.

Citlali: "I . . . think I do. Love him," she said slowly. "Miguel already practically seems to think of him as a father. Seeing the two of them together, it just feels right. Inevitable, almost. And when we kissed, I felt . . . " she trailed off.

Safe. Wanted.

But is that enough?

Leonor: "Well, if you love him, you have to trust him. Including trusting that he'll came back."

Peanut started life as a stray before being adopted by Citlali when Citlali was just a child. She's lived with the Morales family ever since, beloved by all--but she's always truly been Citlali's dog.

Peanut had three puppies, Bandit, Tibby, and Riley, with Max, Cintia’s loyal shadow and Panorama's very first pet. She was a very good girl her whole life.

The very next day called for another excursion to the park, this time with the entire family, including the dogs.

No one said so aloud, but they knew Peanut was getting up there and might not make it to spring. The old girl deserved to enjoy her final days to the fullest--chasing sticks, getting belly rubs, and taking in new sniffs surrounded by her family.

Later that evening, Sylvie gave birth to three puppies—two males and a female.

But Citlali wasn’t the only one up and about at this hour.

“Back again, huh, girl?” She cooed at the familiar stray. “Are you going to let me near you this time? I promise I’m not scary.”

She slowly stepped forward. To her surprise, this time the dog didn’t run away.

All it took was a scratch between the ears. The dog leaned into Citlali’s hand, wariness melting into a goofy doggy grin and rapid-fire wagging of her nubby tail.

“Uh-oh. I think I know what this means,” Domingo said, emerging from the house to see Citlali and her new companion. “So, what’s the name of our newest family member?” Peanut looked nonplussed.

"Oh! Hi, Dad. I don’t know... You’re a pretty girl, aren’t you? Maybe... Sylvie? Do you like that? Would you like to live with us, girl? You poor thing, I can see your ribs. It’s weird, though--you didn’t look all that skinny from a distance. Anyway, if you stay, you can have all the food you can eat. What do you think, girl?”

As if in answer, the once-skittish dog flopped over, exposing her strangely engorged belly and wagging her nub even harder.

“I think we’re going to have more than one new family member soon, Dad,” Citlali said. “She’s pregnant.”

For several weeks now the Moraleses had been receiving regular visits from an uninvited guest.

The stray always made a beeline for Peanut and Bandit’s food bowl, scarfing up its contents in short order while Peanut watched the intruder from a distance with an expression of pained forbearance.

Citlali had been trying to get the dog accustomed to her presence, with little success so far. As long as she spoke quietly and stayed seated a good distance away, the stray--a young female, as far as Citlali could tell--would keep a wary eye on her but stay put until she’d finished her meal.

But every time Citlali tried to get any closer, the dog’s body would grow rigid and a moment later she would be bounding away at full speed.

Citlali sighed. I only want to help you. Poor thing.

“One more story. Please? I’m not tired yet.” Miguel yawned.

“I have reason to doubt that,” Citlali smiled. “Anyway, you need your rest. Are you excited for your first day of school tomorrow?”

“I guess.” Miguel’s eyes drifted closed. “Can you just stay and read a little bit longer until I’m asleep?”