Vanessa thought about Duke barking in the kitchen.
She remembered him pressing his nose against her hand and refusing to leave her alone.
“Did he save me?” she asked.
The doctor answered carefully.
“We can’t know exactly what he understood or why he behaved that way. But his unusual behavior helped draw attention to the emergency, and your neighbor’s decision to call for help was crucial.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
She had always believed Duke understood her.
Now she wondered whether she had failed to understand him when it mattered most.
Two days later, she was discharged from the hospital after her medical team determined she was well enough to recover at home.
Before returning to the house, she stayed with Daniel while qualified technicians inspected the property and addressed the dangerous appliance and ventilation problems.
She also made sure the home was equipped with working carbon monoxide alarms.
Duke returned from the veterinary clinic after being cleared to leave.
