Page 21 of Wicked Healing

Chapter 6

They surfedthe newspaper ads on line, and even a few realty sites. They found a few places that could be options if they had more time. Only one place sounded ideal, with a fenced back yard and a kennel, several miles outside of San Diego. But it was currently occupied. It wouldn’t be open until the end of the month, two weeks away.

“You know,” she said thoughtfully. “If you have the money you could stay in a motel in the intervening time.”

Luca’s frown deepened. “I have money, but I don’t want to be in a motel or hotel that long. Especially not with him.”

Wicked was still curled at the end of the bed. He was a good-sized dog. Being trapped in a room that small would drive him nuts.

“Do you need to stay here on the coast?”

Luca looked thoughtful. “No, not necessarily. It’s just what I’m used to.”

Well, that opened up their search area.

Luca’s bedside phone rang. Reaching out a long arm he snatched it up. “Yeah,” he paused, his dark gaze flying to the clock on the wall. “Oh, shit, Trey, I’m sorry. Be there in a minute.”

He dropped the phone into the cradle and gave her an apologetic look. “I have rehab. I totally forgot.” He dropped his tablet to the bedside table and began shifting from the bed. Wicked jumped down from the bed, looking up at Luca with alert eyes.

Erin gathered up her things. “Well, we might go ahead and go, then. I’ll find a dog park for Wicked to run for a while and we’ll be back in the morning.”

Luca stood, straightening his t-shirt. He reached for the cane at the end of the bed, then paused, looking down at his buddy. Lowering himself to his good knee, he cupped Wicked’s head in his hands, rubbing his ears. “You be good for Erin, Boss.”

Wicked whined, sensing that something was amiss. Erin leaned down and fastened the lead on his collar.

“I’m sorry, Wicked.”

Luca pushed to his feet, using the end of the bed to brace against. Then, with a final look at Erin and Wicked, he walked out the door. It was like ripping his heart out all over again.

* * *

Erin could tellthat Wicked was upset. As soon as she loaded him up into the SUV he curled up on the seat and refused to look at her.

“Hey, now, you seem to forget who actually brought you to see your partner, buddy. That wasn’t a small thing. And it’s not like you’re not going to see him again. We’ll be back tomorrow.”

The dog looked at her as if he understood her words, and she wondered again what his vocabulary was. The average dog knew or recognized about 165 words, but it was obvious from working with Wicked that he understood way more than that. He was eerily alert and watchful.

Erin took him to a large dog park a few blocks away from La Jolla. There were several dogs wandering around, but they seemed older and disinterested in the new guy. Erin walked him to the far back corner and let him roam to the end of the long leash.

Wicked seemed disinterested in the other dogs as well. He did his business then came back to her, looking up at her hopefully. Then he lifted a paw to her knee. “We’re not going back to the hospital. I know what you’re thinking.”

Wicked heaved a sigh and wandered away to sit on a patch of high ground, looking out over the park.

Erin felt bad. She kinda wanted to go back as well. Luca had to be in turmoil.

It’s not your place to worry about his well-being, she told herself. But it didn’t play. She was worried about him.

The guy was old enough to figure out the ways of the world, though, no matter the lost look in his big brown eyes. Erin rubbed her eyes beneath her sunglasses.

Her phone rang in her pocket. “Hey, Mom.”

“Erin, I wanted to check on you. How did it go?”

Erin told her mother about the day and watching the two warriors reunite. “It made me tear up, Mom. I mean, you know how I get when I see those military reunion videos. It was just like that but in technicolor. I had to go park the car so he wouldn’t see me crying. Wicked acted like he’d been reborn.”

Her mother sniffled on the other end of the line. “Oh, that makes my heart happy. I was so worried about Wicked. He’s a special animal.”

“Yes, he is,” Erin sighed, watching the dog. “Luca is special too. It’s obvious to see why the dog is so amazing.”

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