back to the bed and wrapping the blanket around her. “I love you, Jenna.”

Balto awakened with a start; there had been some sort of noise. He didn’t have to wonder what it was, because it suddenly came again. “Balto!” It was Jenna; she had just called his name loudly. He was going to acknowledge her, but he noticed she wasn’t facing him. When he leaned over to look at her, he saw that her eyes were closed; she was dreaming, and it was obviously not pleasant. “Please!” she cried. “Don’t leave me!” She tossed and turned, breathing rapidly, her voice terrified and agonized. “Balto, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Please don’t go! I love you! Stay with me, please! Oh, please, no! Balto!” Deciding to try to help Jenna, Balto leaned up toward her head so he could speak to her. “I’m not going to leave you,” he said softly into her ear, caressing her cheek and head. She moaned and squirmed. “Please don’t leave me!” she begged. “I won’t,” he said. “I promise. I’m not going.” Jenna quieted a little. “Stay, please…don’t go…” “I’m staying. I promise.” He continued stroking her, and she soon calmed. “I love you,” he whispered, kissing her muzzle. She smiled a little, and her breathing slowed. “…Love…love you too,” she said quietly, falling out of her dream and back into peaceful sleep. Balto nuzzled her and watched her for a few minutes, making sure she was alright before going back to sleep.

Dawn came all too soon, and the light pouring in the windows awakened Jenna. “Oh, no…” she groaned, so tired she was barely able to speak. Balto, who was still asleep, woke up suddenly at the sound of her voice. He embraced her, trying to keep the sun out of her face. “Go ahead and go back to sleep, honey,” he said. Jenna sighed. “There’s no way I’ll be able to get back to sleep, sweetheart. I might as well get out of bed.” She stood, trying to stretch her stiff muscles but getting little relief from it. Leaning against a wall, she shook some of the cobwebs out of her head and sighed again. Balto, feeling sorry for her, got out of bed, walking over and nuzzling her. “Did you sleep better after you fell asleep last night?” “Yes, but I had a nightmare.” “I know. I helped you calm down.” Jenna’s face brightened somewhat. “I thought I heard your voice. I’m glad you talked to me.” She closed her eyes, and it seemed to Balto that she was still miserable. He thought for a moment. “Jenna, I’ve got an idea to help you cheer up.” Jenna didn’t see any point in asking Balto what made him think she was down; she knew how obvious her suffering must have been. “What did you have in mind?” “I thought we might go to the restaurant for breakfast, maybe dance, and take a walk on the beach afterwards. You know, just stuff to help you relax. Provided you feel up to going out, obviously. How does that sound?” She nodded. “It sounds great. I’ll be really glad to get out.” They both headed out the door and onto the crowded street, chatting idly on their way to the restaurant. During one instance where Balto had finished speaking, Jenna nuzzled his shoulder affectionately. “Thank you, Balto,” she said, tired sadness mingling with the gratitude in her voice. “For what?” “Without you, I couldn’t have made it through last night. Thank you for being there for me.” They kissed, and Balto smiled. “It was nothing, Jenna,” he said gently. “I’m glad I could help you.”

When they reached the restaurant, Balto became caught up in a short conversation with a sled dog. Jenna knew he would be finished soon, so she didn’t mind waiting. As she glanced at the street, something caught her eye, and she slowly turned her head in its direction to affirm that she had indeed seen who it was. Yes, that was her. The girl who she had seen sharing a kiss with Balto was standing several yards away, talking and laughing. So now, here she was, here was Balto, and here was the girl. A horrible choice faced her: what would she do? On one hand, she could simply be silent, have her day out with Balto, and go home, but she didn’t think she could stand the pain much longer. On the other hand, she could confront Balto with what she had seen, but the thought of his answer being that he had done it with amorous intentions almost made her gasp in fear. She thought back and forth for a few seconds, completely unsure of what to do, until a thought crossed her mind: if not now, then when? An opportunity presented itself as Balto wrapped up his conversation. She swallowed hard, and slowly turned towards Balto, her eyes still on the girl. “Balto?” she said slowly, fear and uncertainty in her voice. “Yeah?” he said. She nodded hesitantly at the girl, making a desperate bid to keep the emotion out of her voice. “Who is that?” “Who?” Balto said, having no idea of who Jenna was referring to. “Her,” Jenna said, gesturing toward the girl. Balto’s relatively happy look faltered. “Oh,” he said, disdain in his voice. “That’s Rita. She’s new in town.” Jenna bit her lip, bracing herself for the worst news as she prepared to ask Balto more questions, but she didn’t get a chance; he continued talking. “I know she looks like a nice dog, but she’s actually…well, kind of annoying.” This caught Jenna off guard; she hadn’t expected a response like this. “How’s that?” she asked, becoming curious. “Well, I ran into her while I was going to get some juice the day before yesterday. She introduced herself and all that, and I went to leave, but she didn’t let me. She wanted to take me out to dinner, and I told her I was married, but that didn’t turn her off. It’s like she instantly fell in love with me or something. You know what she did? I see this look in her eye like she’s going to make a move, so I tell her not to kiss me, and all of a sudden she just grabs me and does it! I couldn’t believe it! I told her you were the love of my life and the only one in the world for me, but it didn’t convince her. I had to practically threaten her to get her to leave. I guess some dogs are just…”

“Forgive me,” Jenna gasped, her eyes welling up. She lowered her head and began sobbing hard. “Jenna?” Balto said, quite worried. “Jenna, come here, honey,” he said, leading her into a side alley. “Jenna, what’s wrong? You can’t tell me it’s nothing; there’s something wrong.” Jenna looked up and opened her mouth to speak, but then looked down again and continued crying, too ashamed to look in Balto’s eyes. He gently lifted her chin with his paw, meeting her eyes. “Please, Jenna. What’s wrong?” Jenna was finally able to speak, somehow finding the ability to force words out amidst the storm of her emotions. “I…” she wept, “I saw…her kissing you. I thought you were sharing it.” Balto closed his eyes and sighed as realization hit him, the explanation behind the events of the last couple of days appearing to him. Jenna continued, her voice becoming more and more pained. “And I…I got so angry and…” “Why didn’t you tell me?” Balto asked in disbelief. “I was afraid!” Jenna cried. “I was so scared! I was scared that you’d get mad, that you’d think I was prying, but…but I was also scared of what the answer might have been!” Balto looked into her eyes with sympathy. “Jenna, I promised I would always be faithful to you. I promised never to do something like that.” “I…I know; that was part of what made it so…oh, Balto, it hurt so badly! Balto, I’m sorry! I was so cruel to you when all the time you hadn’t done anything! I know I hurt you! I’m so sorry!” Balto embraced her, holding her gently as she sobbed hysterically at the top of her lungs, talking to her with a forgiving, gentle voice that harbored no anger, only compassion and love. “I forgive you, Jenna. It’s okay.” She tried to stop herself, and Balto spoke softly. “No, Jenna. Let it out. It’s okay; just let it out.” She did so, letting all the fear, all the anger, all the grief, and all the pain pour from her heart like a bitter flood. Balto held her as she sobbed, rocking her back and forth. “It’s okay, Jenna. You’re alright. It’s gonna be okay.” He let her cry for several minutes, one paw around her body, the other holding her head to his shoulder. “Shhh,” he said. “I’m here. It’s okay, baby. I forgive you.” After another minute or two, Jenna’s heart stopped feeling so burdened, and she was able to stop crying. Balto pulled back, and even though Jenna’s face was covered with tears, he thought she looked far better now than she had over the past days. He took one of her paws. “Hear me now, Jenna,” he said very seriously. “I promise to always be faithful to you. You will never, ever have to worry about that. Ever. Do you believe me?” Jenna nodded. “Yes. I believe you. I’d like to make the same promise.” Balto nodded. “There. We won’t even have to think about it.” “Thank you for being so sweet and understanding,” said Jenna. “No problem,” Balto replied. “Someday, you’ll have to be sweet and understanding with me. We all make mistakes, Jenna, and that’s all this was: a big mistake, and it wasn’t your fault.” He smiled comfortingly. “Here, let’s dry those teary eyes…” He wiped the tears away, then took her face in his paws. “Now, what do you say we go home, eat dinner, get cozy in front of the fire, fall asleep holding each other, and forget all about this?” Jenna smiled with relief and nodded. “I’d love to.” They shared a wonderful kiss, and headed off for home.

After eating dinner, Balto took Jenna to bed, hoping that a massage could relieve the physical pain her stress had brought. She lay on the piled-up cushions with her eyes closed, listening to Balto talking. “You know, I should have told you about Rita. I just didn’t think anything of it, seeing as how I wasn’t really doing anything.” “Believe me, love, I was the one who should have told you about what I saw; it could have all been cleared up in the first hour if I had. If I ever see something like that again, I don’t think I’ll wait to talk with you about it.” “That’s fine with me; anything to not have to see this happen to you again.” “By the way, thank you so much