She felt a warm body next to hers. Opening her eyes she found Ike sound asleep on the sofa with her. “Okay, big boy, time to go out!” she whispered, patting him gently. Ike turned his head and licked Claire’s face before jumping to the floor and lumbering toward the kitchen. Yawning, Claire stretched and looked around. Not a bad night considering she thought, pushing herself up and out of the sofa. Ike was waiting for her at the back door. It was barely dawn and the rain was coming down in buckets. “Ike, I love you, but I’m not going out in that.” Opening the door she added, “Hurry and get back here as fast as you can.” Turning back to the kitchen Claire filled the coffee maker and opened the refrigerator to retrieve bacon and eggs. A scratch at the door told her Ike was ready to come back in. Ike waited until he was in the middle of the kitchen to shake his rain soaked coat.
