He often thought about adopting her properly, giving her a real home and a warm bed. But his wife had severe allergies to animal fur, and bringing Lola home was simply not an option. It hurt, but Pedro didn’t let that stop him from caring for her the best way he could.
He bought her a soft dog bed and placed it under the tree, along with a few squeaky toys and a blanket for chilly days. Lola accepted it all with quiet gratitude, curling up each afternoon after her leaf-and-sausage exchange, dozing off under the branches as students walked by with fond smiles.