On a bright autumn day, Flynn Marlowe lost his best friend, a beagle named Barley, while out on a hike in Seattle’s Discovery Park. On a cold winter day, Mac Bowersox found his best friend, a lost, scared, and emaciated beagle, on the streets of Seattle. Two men. One dog. When Flynn and Mac meet by chance in a park the next summer, there’s a problem -- who does Barley really belong to? Flynn wants him back, but he can see that Mac rescued him and loves him just as much as he does. Mac wants to keep the dog, and he can imagine how heartbreaking losing him would be -- but that's just what Flynn experienced. A “shared custody” compromise might be just the way to work things out. But will the arrangement be successful? Mac and Flynn are willing to try it ... and along the way, they just might fall in love.

Lost and Found

No one said anything. They all seemed pretty intent on watching the old lady at the kitchen counter, getting their tea ready. She poured the tea into tall glasses filled with ice, then garnished each one with a lemon wedge. Looking deathly serious, she set a glass before each of them and didn’t appear to hear their mumbled thanks.


She put a hand to her forehead. “Oh! We need something to go with this. Who’s up for cookies?”


At the mention of the word “cookie,” Barley lifted his head and sniffed. He hasn’t changed much.Clara also shifted into anticipatory mode, Flynn thought with an inner chuckle.


As Dee busied herself filling a shallow bowl with gingersnaps from a box, Barley returned to his dreams.


Dee brought the cookies, along with a sugar dispenser and a half quart of milk, over to the table and set them down. “Please, help yourselves. If you want something more, I can make you a sandwich. I have olive loaf and Swiss cheese.”


Chapter 19