Thom Baron has been struggling with social anxiety his entire life. He's taken the medications, gone to the therapists, followed the programs, and concluded his best life is a solitary one. When he comes across a dog in obvious need at his local market, it rekindles the desire to have some company around. It may come with a dishevelled coat, a notched ear, and a refusal to respond to anything but its given name "Ugly," but it could still be a friend.<br><br>However, Thom's new fur buddy has no such need to keep to itself and immediately befriends the man Thom has secretly coveted since he moved in -- Justin, Thom's gorgeous, bright-eyed neighbour. No matter how Thom tries to evade the man, the dog keeps drawing them back into each other's lives, and it doesn't take Thom long to recognize it's simply pursuing the demands of Thom's own heart. With the dog giving him the courage to try, Thom reaches out to return the love being offered.<br><br>Until a stranger shows up insisting the dog is his and demanding its immediate return ... a loss Thom knows will take all of his efforts and newfound confidence with it.

But by the Grace of Dog

“Hey, you,” she said, leaning over to get a better look at Dog. “Nice boots. You still just as troublesome?”


“I’m sorry, do we…” Justin cocked his head. “Wait. Madam? Madam Magical Meadows, right?”


She laughed. “Something like that, yeah. Most people just call me Christina when I’m not in costume, though.”


Justin waved at the pies. “Working on something a bit more lucrative these days, I see?”


“Meh.” She shrugged. “Just more seasonally appropriate. It’s hard to get folks to sit and have their fortunes told when it’s cold out.”


Thom looked between the two of them, wondering why it seemed so weird they were having an ordinary conversation. Then it hit him. He turned to Christina. “You sound so normal.”


“No, I just…I mean, uh…” He laughed, embarrassed. “You’re just being a normal person. Not playing a part, I guess.”


Chapter 52