The box had apparently been buried as a personal collection of memories connected to Max and his former owner. The old photographs captured their years together, while the collar and other belongings represented a relationship that had existed long before Max came to live with James.
But one question remained.
How had Max known exactly where to dig?
Perhaps the dog remembered the tree. Perhaps a familiar scent remained somewhere beneath the soil. Or perhaps the location had simply stayed in his memory after all those years.
James couldn’t know for certain.
He sat on the porch beside Max, holding the old photograph in his hands.