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

“Sure, I’ll go up and grab my stuff. If you change your mind—”


“Okay.” Now it was Flynn who felt himself trembling a bit. He wanted to ask if he could at least put stuff away but had the feeling if he pressed Mac on anything, he’d explode. He tried to console himself as he headed back up the stairs to the bedroom. It’s not you. It’s not personal. He’s just had a horrible loss he wasn’t even expecting. Give him his space, but let him know you’re there for him.


The bed still looked warm and inviting, with slats of sunlight falling across the white sheets. Flynn stared mournfully at it, thinking how life could change in an instant. He dressed quickly and went back downstairs.


In the kitchen he found Mac on the floor, holding Barley close and stroking his head. He didn’t think Mac heard him, because he didn’t look up as Flynn looked on from the kitchen archway. Mac softly wept into the dog’s fur.


Chapter 59