Page 86 of Forbidden Whispers

“It would be incredibly difficult,” Noah agreed.

“I’m just so glad this whole thing is over,” Maggie sighed, snuggling up against Noah’s shoulder. He savored the feel of her soft body against his.

“Okay,” Hugo said, brushing the crumbs from his fingers. “Who’s ready for a game of two-on-two beach volleyball? Me and Ani against the two of you.”

“Is that really going to be fair, old man?” Noah laughed as they all rose from the table and began cleaning up. “Our incredible athleticism against an old man and a kid?”

“You must not have experienced my dad’s mad volleyball skills yet,” Ani said, tossing a balled-up napkin at Noah’s head. “Otherwise, you’d never be talking smack like that to us. You’d be afraid. Very afraid.”

“Ha!” Noah said with a smirk, snatching the napkin out of the air. “Oooh, look at those reflexes.”

“Oh yeah,” Ani taunted, pressing the lid onto the bowl of grapes. “Try and catch this one.” And she threw the bowl at him.

“Ani, no!” Hugo cried as the container flew through the air.

Noah made a dive for the bowl and caught it, but then tripped over a nearby grill, jamming his toe. “Ow, ow, ow!” he howled, hopping around for a few seconds before landing hard on the ground.

Boon was by his side in an instant, licking his face. Then in his now familiar style, he clambered onto Noah’s prone body and tried to lay down on him.

“Boon, get off me!” Noah cried, pushing at the dog’s massive body.

“Finally,” Maggie laughed. “It’s your turn!”

“Oh my gosh!” Ani cried.

Everyone looked at her. But she was staring at Noah and pointing at the dog with her mouth hanging open.

“What?” Noah said, still struggling to get out from underneath Boon.

“I just remembered where I’ve seen Boon before!” she said.

***

Noah parked and turned off the engine. They were on Main Street in the center of downtown Whispering Pines, only steps from where they’d been assaulted by Nick and Johnny in the alleyway beside the trash can where Valentina had tossed out her cell phone.

“I still can’t believe I didn’t recognize this place when we were here before,” Noah said.

“Well, as we now know, too much alprazolam can do that to you,” Maggie said from the passenger seat. Then she sighed deeply. “I’m glad Ani remembered meeting Boon here when she and her friends volunteered a few weeks ago. But I sure wish we didn’t have to do this.”

As if sensing that they were talking about him, Boon poked his nose in between the two front seats. He was panting softly and his ears were flopped over in that uniquely adorable way of his.

“It’ll be all right, boy,” Noah said, scratching the top of his furry head. “But we sure are gonna miss you.”

Maggie buried her face in the ruff of his neck and Boon whined softly, giving her a lick. “Let’s get it over with,” she said with a sigh.

Noah attached the original blue leash to Boon’s collar and they all climbed out of the vehicle.

Together, they walked toward the door of the Mitten Mutts Dog Rescue. Maggie opened it and Boon pulled them through, straining at his leash.

As they approached the counter, a massive Great Dane suddenly peered over the top of it.

“Well, hello there,” Maggie said with a grin. “Are you the official greeter?”

The dog tilted his head as if in inquiry at the sound of her voice.

Just then, a young man came around the corner from a room behind the counter. “Oh hey! Sorry about that. Down, Mack!” he said.

And the dog obediently sat down, but continued to gaze at them.