Anne and Stevie stood looking at the empty street.
“Wish Walleye was still here,” Stevie said sadly.
“Let’s take a drive, too,” I said.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up to Schanno’s house. He was standing in the front yard with Trixie yanking on a long leash and investigating every bush that the length of her tether would allow. There was a FOR SALE sign stuck in the ground near the street.
Stevie had been quiet on the drive over, but when he saw the dog, he brightened and ran toward it. Trixie jumped all over him. Annie joined them while I spoke with Schanno.
“You’re sure about this, Wally?”
“I’m sure. Hell, an old man shouldn’t have a young dog. Besides, every time I call her name I think of Trinky.” He walked to a little redwood bench in his yard. He had to use a cane. He looked old beyond his years. I’d thought-hoped-that in asking him to back me up in Canada, I was offering a way for his spirit to rebound from the loss of his wife. Instead, something in him had died, died out there with Trinky Pollard, died for good, I was afraid. He sat down and stared ahead. “Realtor says the house’ll move fast. My daughter’s looking for something for me near her in Maryland. Condo, town house, something like that.”
“Mind’s made up, huh?”
“I’m tired, Cork. I’m just so damn tired.” He nodded toward the kids. “Have you told ’em?”
“Not yet.”
“Don’t you think it’s time?”
“Hey, guys,” I called. “I’ve got a surprise. Trixie’s coming home with us.”
“We’re taking care of her for Mr. Schanno?” Stevie said eagerly.
“We’re taking care of her for good. She’s ours now.”
“Really? I love her, Dad. I love you, Trixie.” Stevie put his face to hers, and she licked him like a lollipop.
The biggest word in the human vocabulary has only four letters and no definition that’s ever been adequate. We love our dogs. We love our children. We love God and chocolate cake. We fall in love and fall out of love. We die for love and we kill for love. We can’t spend it. We can’t eat it when we’re starving or drink it when we’re dying of thirst. It’s no good against the bitter cold of winter, and even a cheap electric fan will do more for you on a hot summer day. But ask most human beings what they value above all else in this life and, five’ll get you ten, it’s love.
We’re a screwy species, I thought, as I watched my son and daughter roll in the grass with the puppy slobbering all over them.
“Dad,” they squealed happily, “help us!”
And I did my best.