Pawliday Love

Chapter 8

DOG

M y head hangs out of Beast’s, I mean, Sven’s truck. The wind feels fantastic in my fur even though my eyes are so dry I have to keep blinking. But I can’t not do it. This has been a much longer drive than when Dad used to take me to drive-thrus for chicken nuggets. Apart from the coffee shop, Sven hasn’t visited any of Dad’s favorite food places. It’s been kibble with an occasional treat. I feel like I’m withering away. But I can run faster, so at least there’s that. I lick my muzzle. Good thing I still have my bone. I give a wink to my girl, proudly displayed on the seat next to me. I could almost smile if it weren’t for Sven side-eyeing me like he’s going to drop me off at the vet.

The car stops. I yip at him. I don’t like the vet.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” Sven asks.

Walks are my second favorite thing after my bone. No, third. Because Dad is my most favorite thing. My ears perk up. I run across the seat onto Sven’s lap and back to my window. Sven is now, for sure, number two after Dad. Okay, walks are fourth. How can I say no to a walk with Sven? I perk up and grab my bone in my teeth. My butt wiggles so fast I think it’ll fly off.

Hopefully, chicken nuggets are still involved.

I jump down from the car, grinning behind my bone. It isn’t a drive-thru or a vet. There are trees and grass, but it’s also not a park. The acrid smell of gunpowder hangs in the air. This smells like the other place where Dad and I said goodbye to our Marine friends.

My ears lower, and a heavy sadness creeps through me. I start to shake, and my tail hides between my legs. Who are we here to say goodbye to?

Every time we came, there was that part when they would lower the box and then . . . the loud booms. At first, the noise scared me. I wanted to run. The air reeked. But after several visits, I learned what those smells and sounds meant.

When dogs go for a long nap, the one they never wake up from, their scent changes. The scent from the booms meant that the Marine wouldn’t wake up either. It was the humans’ way of saying goodbye.

“Komm hier.” Sven steps are heavier than usual.

I trot after him. His face is unreadable. By now, I know most of Sven’s expressions. This is a new one. He’s not exactly grumpy like when he gets interrupted or put out like when he scoops up my poops. Sven’s nostrils flare like mine do when I’m trying to sniff my way around. I bump my head against his calf and woof, “Are you okay?”

Sven stops and bends down, patting his leg. We’re by a fresh mound of dirt. I creep up to him, tuck my tail low, press my ears back, and sit as close to him as possible.

“I found your owner, Pablo.” Sven’s gentle rubs to my head are as soft as his voice.

Owner? My owner?

My dad?

Did Sven find Dad?

“Felix . . . your dad . . . he’s gone. He died.” Sven pauses and looks at me.

An understanding passes between us. I drop my bone at Sven’s feet and paw his hand. Are those tears I see in his eyes?

“This . . .” he turns back to the fresh dirt, “is where we say goodbye.”

From his pocket, Sven pulls out the white hat Dad wore. I sniff it, and my heart bursts with pain. I know that scent. Dad. In the distance, the same gunshots we used to hear at all the funerals go off. The smell of gunpowder fills my nose. I look from Sven to the dirt. I sniff and dig a little, searching for a stronger scent, but I can’t find one. I don’t understand everything, but I know this spot is important.

It clicks in my head.

Dad isn’t coming back.

Dad’s dead.

I whimper a soft goodbye and drop my head.

My nose touches my bone, the only thing of Dad’s I have left. He got it for me because I was his goodest boy. I nudge my bone. Dad has always been my goodest boy. I will never forget our days training to sniff bombs, the years of finding the bad guys, and the memories of serving our country together. The retirement life was different. My heart warms at the memory of Dad throwing the tennis ball for me in the park. I loved our car rides for dinner and our morning walks to the coffee shop. But also our quiet days in the office when Dad spent too much time on his poop pot while I hid my bone.

I lay my bone on the dirt, raise my snout to the sky, and howl.

Booms fill my ears. One. Two. Each thunders inside my body, competing with my cries. A third echo, and then there’s nothing. I stop. The sudden silence is so quiet I can hear my heart breaking.

A heart that will never stop loving Dad.

I straighten and sit at attention with my chest out. As a final salute, I give Dad the moment of silence he deserves.

Beside me, Sven sniffs.

His hand reaches over, and he places Dad’s hat next to my bone.

Our gazes meet. Eyes glassy, Sven hoists me into the air, stands tall, and gives his salute. Marine to Marine. My body relaxes, and I nestle into the crook of his arm. The hard line of Sven’s jaw slackens.

“I don’t know for sure.” His voice trembles. A tear runs down his cheek. “But maybe your dad led you to the office to find me.”

“You might be right, Sven,” I woof and lick the tear off his face. This is what Dad would’ve wanted. He did train me to find what’s important. I paw at Sven’s chest. That must be you. My ears perk up. I got it! I know what my new job should be.

Looking after you.

You really have been a good friend. You always make sure I have enough food. You never complain about our necessary seven daily outside trips. And I even like the sweaters Gretchen insists I wear. Plus, you’re getting real good at throwing that tennis ball.

“You’re going to be okay.” He wraps his arms around me.

I rest my head on his shoulder. Our hearts beat in sync.

“You’ll never be alone again,” he says.

I wag my tail as hard as I can. You won’t be alone either, buddy.

“I can’t replace your dad, but if you’d like, Pablo, we can be forever roommates.” He swallows hard.

Is that how he asks the ladies out on a date? I’m adding that to the list of what I’ll need to help him with.

Time for a new list.

Get Sven to smile. Get chicken nuggets. Get Sven a lady-friend. Get me a new bone.

I stare into Sven’s eyes. Ready to tackle item number one, I grin. His lips twitch. I smile bigger, my tongue dripping slobber on his jacket. He shakes his head. I’m so close, I can finish this list by tonight. I bark with excitement. A smile splits Sven’s face.

All of his teeth are on display.

Damn , I’m good.

Maybe I can convince my new roomie to stop for chicken nuggets on the way home.

Thank you for reading Pablo and Sven’s meet cute. Don’t miss Sven’s full-length romance Loving the Grumpy Bodyguard .