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They were worker dogs, not family companions as much as Fred was.
Could be that was why he didn’t do it either. He’d want to cross the line. Faith had done well with Fred. Trained him beautifully but allowed him to be a dog at the same time.
That silly goofy smile in the picture telling him it’s what he’d need soon.
“She is who she is,” he said. He told himself he wasn’t going to ask where she was today but had to know. “Speaking of her, she’s not coming?”
His grandmother looked down at the floor. “She’s on vacation.”
“What?” he asked. “She went on some trip with a guy rather than be here with her father and mother?”
Her grandmother sighed. “She said the vacation was planned before his surgery and since they flew out a few days ago, I’m going to have to assume it was. We just got the surgery date two weeks ago. You know that.”
“Whatever,” he said. “Things like that can be rearranged and you know it.”
“Lucy does what she wants when she wants. She knows you’re here.”
Which was probably why his mother didn’t bother to change her plans.
Then he realized, she wouldn’t have done it even if he wasn’t here.
By three thirty he was in his SUV driving back home.
He hit the button on his steering wheel to call Faith. She wanted to know when he’d be on the road and said she’d take his call at work. Since he didn’t normally bug her with more than a text, he didn’t feel horrible about this call.
“Hi,” she said, picking up right away. “Are you on the way home?”
“I am,” he said. “I should be there a little before six. Been a long day.”
“First, how is your grandfather?”
“He’s doing great. Came out like a champ. I went in to see him, but he won’t remember. They don’t have his room ready yet and it could be some time yet for that.”
“How is your grandmother doing?” she asked.
“She held up like a champ too. I made sure she had a good lunch. She said she is set for the week, but it’s just her at home. I’ll be back on Saturday to make sure the house is ready and she has everything for when he’s discharged.”
“They said at least a week, right?”
“That is my guess,” he said. “Could be closer to ten days. He’s older. I think they wanted to give that cushion. He could need physical therapy and that is what will add to the time for him to get home more than anything else. He’ll be moved to another department for that though.”
“It sounds as if everything went as well as expected then. I’m glad.”
“Me too,” he said.
“I know you’re probably tired and you’ve got to work tomorrow. But if you want to come to my house, I’ll have dinner ready for you. You can stay the night. Fred would love to see you.”
“I’ll be there,” he said. “Fred has a ball waiting for me, you said.”
“He does,” she said, laughing. “Maybe I’m waiting for you too. Not with a ball, but how about a hug and a kiss?”
“That works even better,” he said.
They talked for a few more minutes and hung up after that.
He’d have to say it felt good to look forward to something and couldn’t remember the last time he did.
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