126 The Pieces of the Puzzle

She can't believe what she's seeing: Gabriel acting like a child, cooing and making baby talk to the puppy. He acts like he's holding an actual human baby, showing the puppy around the suite, giggling when the puppy licks his face.

"He's so cute," he says. "Where did you get him?"

"It's a 'she' and her name's Samantha," Claire says. "Bought her at the park."

"Really? Somebody's selling dogs at the park?"

"I guess I just got lucky. It was serendipitous."

A shadow passes over Gabriel's face, remembering why he's here in the first place: because Claire wasn't around when he tried to pick her up. "What came over you, vanishing on me like that?"

Claire gazes out at the city skyline. There's still no sun. Everywhere are clouds and grayness. "That's what I need to speak to you about."