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“You don’t have any tattoos like your sister?” I asked in surprise.
Her head, which had been bowed, tipped up and regarded me. Her eyes moved over my features as if she could see.
Then her beautiful mouth tipped up into a smile. “Can you imagine what my sister would put onto my body if I took her with me? I would never really know if she put something offensive on me or not. I can see her doing it, too. She talked me into it once, but we were both drunk. I’m not even sure if it says what she says it does. Luckily, mine’s on my ribs.”
I returned my eyes to the road, trying my best not to roll my eyes. “You and your sister have the weirdest relationship. My brothers would kick my ass if I ever tried to do something like that. Although, they’ve kicked my ass for less, so it’s nothing new.
“How many brothers do you have?” She asked as she turned her attention back down to the dog in her lap.
I turned down Main Street and went to the park she’d indicated; glad it was still too early for the spray park to be open. Luckily, I knew quite a few of the city workers, one of which I’d called on the way, who’d told me the code to get in the gate.
“I have two brothers. Miller and Foster. They’re both SEALS.” I said as I pulled the car into a parking spot directly in front of the gate.
“Like the bad ass ones that have to survive being water boarded before they become SEALS?” She asked quizzically, as I shut off the car.
I rolled my eyes as I got out of the car, opened Radar’s door, and then went around to Viddy’s. She was still sitting there patiently with Hemi in her lap.
Scooping the dog up easily, I backed up until I was out of her way, and watched as she stood, unfolded her cane, and closed the door behind her.
“There aren’t any steps. Only smooth concrete once you step up on the curb that’s about six inches in front of your left foot.” I instructed her.
She followed my directions, and we walked into the splash pad, only stopping once to input the code.
I set Hemi down on his feet, walked over to the button that I’d seen Sebastian’s son hit multiple times during his last birthday party, at this very place. Sebastian’s the vice president of The Dixie Wardens. He’d rented the entire place out for his son’s fourth birthday.
Mostly, he rented it out because The Dixie Wardens tended to be off putting to the normal population. Therefore, to save themselves time and heartache, Sebastian rented the place so no other kids, nor parents, could attend while we were there.
“Is he playing?” Viddy asked me.
I watched as Radar got right up next to Hemi, nudging and urging until, finally, Hemi started walking slowly towards the spraying water.
Once the water hit him, renewed vigor started to pour through Hemi, and he started moving a little more jovially until finally he was trotting, keeping up with Radar as they both frolicked and played.
“Yes, Radar’s playing with him. He looks happy, honey.” I told her, watching her face.
The next four hours went about as expected. Radar and Hemi played in the water for a good hour before Hemi finally lost his battle with the exhaustion. Once they were efficiently dried off, we took him to go get a steak dinner. Sadly, he only ate about a quarter of it before he lost the desire to eat, and nudged the rest in Radar’s direction, who’d refused to eat it.
Then the final moment came as I pulled up to my house that was set off in the woods.
At first, I’d been willing to take Hemi back to his doctor to be euthanized. Then, I’d heard about Viddy’s treatment, and knew that I’d never take them there.
Instead, I called my good friend, who took care of Radar and my other animals, Kosher, Tequilla, and Mocha. All three were German Shepherds. Radar being the oldest, at nine, followed by Kosher, who was two, and finally to Tequila and Mocha who were still small at nine weeks old.
I trusted my good friend, Dr. Zack Toler. Zack had taken care of Radar when he’d been sick or needed a check-up for nine years now, and had taken very good care of him.
“Where are we?” Viddy asked when she heard the crunch of gravel underneath the tires of my cruiser.
“How do you know we aren’t anywhere we’re supposed to be?” I asked as I put the car in park and slid out.
I let Radar out, and then made my way around the car to Viddy, who had her feet up in the seat to allow Hemi to sleep on the floorboard.
“The sounds are different. Nowhere I know has that kind of gravel. So, where are we?” She asked as she turned in her seat and placed her feet on the ground.
Not thinking about the fact that she hated being led around, I grabbed her by the elbow and took her hand to guide her to the front porch and then to a seat.
“We’re at my house. I have a friend who’s a veterinarian. He’s coming over now to help.” I explained as I walked towards the front door, opened it, and moved to the side as Kosher came barreling out.
Kosher was a bundle full of energy, which was why I’d moved Viddy out of the way as I’d done. He wouldn’t have understood that she wasn’t able to play like all the other people that came over. When my boys weren’t on the job, they were free to play and have fun just like any other dog. Which included jumping up and licking faces.
