He sniffed the corners of the living room, the legs of the dining chairs, David’s shoes by the mat—memorizing the space like a soldier scanning a safehouse. Lily toddled toward him, her hands sticky from a banana she’d been eating. Ranger froze, head lifting, ears forward. David tensed, ready to snatch Lily away if anything looked off.
But Ranger lowered himself instead. First his head, then his front legs, stretching out until he was fully on the floor, his posture soft and submissive. Lily squealed with delight and patted his back. Ranger’s tail thumped once. Just once. But it was enough.