Chapter 28
“ T hey’re here!” Sean cried, racing Sally, Daisy, and Snowball to the front door. Dodger’s excited barking soon joined the familiar voices of the three dogs.
David and Dodger stepped into the chaos inside the front door.
David commanded Dodger to be quiet and dropped to one knee to greet and calm the other dogs.
Sally, Frank’s older border collie mix, backed out of the thrashing tangle of tails, keeping her dignity intact.
Snowball rose onto her hind legs and placed her front paws on Dodger’s shoulders.
He turned toward her, and they bumped noses in greeting.
Daisy, Sean’s Australian shepherd–cattle dog mix, stood taller than Dodger and waited patiently for his attention.
“Mom said we should take the dogs into the backyard,” Sean said. “To let them run.”
“Good idea,” David replied. “It feels almost like spring today, but the weather forecast is calling for record-breaking low temperatures starting tomorrow night. It’ll be too cold for them to do anything but go out for a quick bathroom break.”
Sean led the way down the hall and through the kitchen to the back door. The four dogs burst outside, racing around the perimeter of the yard like thoroughbreds erupting from the starting gate.
“Look at them go,” Sean said.
“I know,” David replied. “Snowball has the shortest legs, but she’s in the lead. That little dog has wheels.”
“Does Dodger like working at the Guide Dog Center?” Sean asked.
“He’s not allowed to come with me,” David said. “My landlord has a small dog, so Dodger has company during the day and someone to play with. But I think he really loves afternoons like this, when he gets to run with a pack.”
They watched as Sally stopped to sniff something under a bush. The other three dogs noticed she’d fallen behind and joined her.
“Are your mom and Frank home?” David asked.
“They’re in the garage doing something,” Sean replied. “Mom said they’ll come inside to say hello when they’re done. Did you see our new car?”
“You mean that huge SUV in the driveway?” David chuckled. “I could hardly miss it.”
“We got it yesterday,” Sean said. “I didn’t even know we were looking for a new car. Mom told Frank they both need cars that hold seven passengers. Frank’s Mercedes SUV didn’t have a third row, so that’s why they got this one.”
“It sure looks fancy,” David said.
“Did you get a new car?” Sean asked. “The one you pulled up in isn’t yours.”
“No, mine is still in the shop,” David said. “It needs a lot more work than we thought. That’s my mom’s car.”
Sean nodded. “I heard Mom and Frank talking about you needing a safe car.”
“I know,” David said. “I want to leave tomorrow because the storm bringing freezing temperatures to Westbury is also supposed to dump heavy snow between here and California. Driving through snow isn’t my favorite thing to do.
My mom offered to let me take her car back to school.
She’d drive mine once it’s fixed, but I don’t think that’s fair to her. ”
The dogs continued romping and playing in the sunshine.
“I’ve taught Daisy how to jump through a hula hoop,” Sean said. “Wanna see?”
“Of course,” David replied. “That’s great. Are you going to work on agility skills with her?”
“I am,” Sean said. “There’s a class starting this spring. As long as I keep my grades up, Daisy and I can enroll.”
He whistled for Daisy and picked up a hula hoop leaning against the side of the house. “Sit,” he commanded.
Daisy’s bottom hit the ground, her gaze never leaving the hoop.
Sean walked ten paces away, held the hoop vertically six inches off the ground, and said, “Okay, girl.”
Daisy bounded forward and cleared the hurdle with inches to spare.
David clapped. “Nice going, you two! I’ll bet she’ll be a natural at agility. I can’t wait to see her when I come home for Easter.”
Dodger spied his doggy friend and came trotting over.
“Does he remember how?” Sean asked.
“Only one way to find out,” David replied.
Sean held the hoop out to David, but David shook his head. “Give it a shot. Let’s see whether or not he can do it.”
Sean repeated the commands with Dodger, who sailed through the hoop with easy grace. He continued the game with each dog, raising the hoop a little higher each time.
Snowball eventually joined them but retreated when offered a chance to jump, electing instead to curl up in the sun beside Sally for a nap.
Loretta opened the kitchen door and stepped outside. “I thought that was you when we heard the dogs barking,” she said to David. “Looks like you two and the dogs are making the most of this beautiful afternoon.”
“We are,” David said. “It’s hard to believe it’ll be below zero in forty-eight hours.”
“Right? I hate to think about it. Spend as much time out here as you can,” she added. “Before you leave, Frank and I need your help with something in the garage—if that’s okay.”
“Of course it is,” David said. “Is Frank still in the garage?”
Loretta nodded. “But it can wait. Enjoy your time outside.”
“No, I’ll help him now,” David said.
Sean looked from David to his mother. “Do you need me, too?”
“Of course we do,” Loretta said, opening an arm to him. “We want both of you there.”
The two boys followed her around the side of the house to the garage. Loretta tapped the key code into the garage door opener and stepped aside.
The door rose slowly. Loretta’s large SUV sat in its usual spot. Next to it was Frank’s compact Mercedes SUV. The metallic paint gleamed in the sunshine streaming through the open door. A wide red ribbon encircled the newly detailed vehicle, and a gigantic red bow sat on top.
Frank stood next to the driver’s side door, key fob in hand, smiling so broadly it looked like it hurt.
David glanced from Frank to Loretta and back again.
Sean clamped a hand over his mouth to suppress a giggle.
“What do you need help with?” David asked, eyes narrowed in confusion.
“We got a new car yesterday,” Loretta said. “I’m going to take the new one, and Frank’s getting my old car. That means we have one too many cars.”
“You know how much I hate parking a car in the driveway or on the street,” Frank said. “We were wondering if you’d take this one off our hands.”
David took a step back. “I … I can’t afford a new car—much less your Mercedes.”
“We’re not selling it to you, son,” Frank said. “We’re giving it to you.”
“That’s why they put the bow on it,” Sean interjected, grinning at David.
David placed his hands on either side of his head. “You can’t do that. This is far too valuable.”
“I already talked to your mother,” Frank said. “It took some convincing, but she finally said it’s okay.”
He and Loretta stepped closer to David.
“We want to do this,” Loretta said. “You’re like a second son to us.
I would’ve worried myself sick about you on the road to California in that old car.
You know how hectic our life is with the twins and the three big kids?
The last thing I need is one more thing to fret about—especially something I can fix. ”
“We’ve been talking about getting a new car for weeks,” Frank added. “Loretta’s telling the truth. Instead of trading mine in, we gave ourselves peace of mind by giving it to you. There’s an extended warranty that goes with it, too.”
Like a time-lapse video, David’s expression shifted from confusion to disbelief to joy.
Frank pressed the key fob into David’s hand. “Ready to take it for a spin? It has a few more gizmos and gadgets than your old car. I’ll explain everything, so you’re comfortable driving it back to California.”
David exclaimed, “Oh my gosh, that would be wonderful! This means I can leave in the morning and avoid the storm.”
“That’s what your mother and I thought,” Loretta said.
Frank opened the driver’s side door for David.
“What should I do with my old car?” David asked.
“Sell it. I’ll bet the repair shop will give you a fair price,” Frank said. “I’ve dealt with them for years.”
“I’ll give you whatever money I get for it,” David said.
“You don’t need to do that,” Frank said. “Keep the money. There’ll be something you need.”
“If you won’t take the money, I’ll donate it to Forever Guides,” David said.
Loretta wrapped him in a hug. “You are a dear,” she said.
Frank clapped him on the back. “We’ll gratefully accept it.” He walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. “Hey, Sean, want to come with us?”
“Sure!” Sean said. He slipped into the back seat.
Loretta pulled the oversized bow off the car. She waved as David shifted into reverse and pulled his new vehicle out of the garage.