Page 99 of Second Time Around
“How’s he doing at Dr.Quillen’s?”
“He’s missing his people and his buddies here. When I take him out of his crate, he always look around like he’s expecting someone else.”
Kyra’s heart twisted. She’d tossed and turned last night as she debated whether she could handle the responsibility of a dog. But her time with Will had given her a taste of having love and caring in her life. Maybe Shaq couldn’t quote Shakespeare, but at least he would love her with all his big pit-bull heart. That sounded pretty good to her right now.
“I solemnly promise to give Shaq the best home I possibly can,” she said, crossing her heart with her finger. “I’ll take him on long walks and find him a nice dog park to play in.”
“He may not be allowed in a dog park. Pitties ain’t ... aren’t always welcome. It’s tough when you look big and mean.”
She had a feeling Diego spoke from experience, and that twisted her heart even more.
Will stood beside a fidgety Isaiah at the front of the lounge. The boy was dressed in a bright pink polo shirt and new jeans to honor the occasion. On Isaiah’s other side, Diego held the about-to-be-adopted Khonsu by his leash.
Emily Wade faced their little group and gave Isaiah an encouraging smile. The kindness and caring in her expression made Will understand why she was the perfect director for the Carver Center.
Behind him, he could feel Kyra’s presence. She probably thought she was well camouflaged in the far corner of the lounge with a sea of kids in front of her, but he’d spotted her the moment he’d walked into the room. Everything and everyone else had faded into a blur when he found her, her ponytail falling in dark waves over her shoulder, her lips curved in that near smile he found so intriguing, as she listened to the woman standing beside her. He’d forced himself to turn away, even as his entire focus locked on her. He’d hoped the intensity of it would lessen but he craved her even more. The depth of his hunger shocked him. For both their sakes, he would respect the fact that she wanted to avoid him ... unless his craving overpowered his self-control.
Emily spoke, her voice clear and solemn. “We’re here to celebrate Isaiah Ford and his new K-9 Angel, Khonsu.”
The cheering was raucous and jubilant with Khonsu’s excited barking adding to the volume. Emily made a gesture of pushing down with her palm, which made the kids—and the dog—go quiet almost instantly.
“As we all know, having an Angel requires a commitment, so we ask you, Isaiah, to affirm your willingness to take on all the responsibilities of caring for a dog.”
Isaiah nodded. “Yes, Ms.Emily. I be down with that.”
Will caught the twitch at the corner of Emily’s mouth, even as she maintained her serious expression.
“Good to hear, Isaiah,” she said before checking the note card she held. “I’m going to ask you a series of questions. I want you to answer them honestly.”
Isaiah nodded again and Will saw that the boy’s fingers were knotted together. He dropped his hand to Isaiah’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze of comradeship. The boy glanced up at him with a nervous grin.
“Will you always be kind and patient with Khonsu, whether he’s being a good dog or a bad dog?”
“Yeah, I will,” Isaiah said.
“Will you spend as much time with him as you can whenever you are at the Carver Center?”
“Yeah, ’cause he be my homie.”
A murmur of approval went around the room.
“This is an important one, because you should never feel alone or worried that you don’t know how to handle your K-9 Angel. And Khonsu should never suffer because you are afraid to seek out help,” Emily said. “Will you ask for help with Khonsu if he seems sick or sad or angry?”
“I promise,” Isaiah said.
“And this is the most important question,” Emily said. “Will you love Khonsu with all your heart?”
“I already do,” the boy said, tweaking something in Will’s chest.
Emily lowered her note card. “Diego, please pass Khonsu’s leash to Isaiah.”
Diego’s huge hand dwarfed Isaiah’s as he ceremoniously presented the looped handle of the leash to Khonsu’s new master. “You picked a real good dog,” Diego said.
Isaiah looked a little worried as he took the leash, but Will figured that was a good thing. It meant the boy understood that he had a significant responsibility now.
Emily picked up a white box and flipped it open. Pulling out a small gold pin shaped like a paw print with wings, she fastened it on to Isaiah’s collar. “Congratulations on becoming the newest member of the K-9 Angelz,” she said.
The cheers erupted again, and Will could swear he heard Kyra’s voice among them.
