April grinned at him in the rearview mirror. “I’m sure he will.”
“You want him to be, right?”
“Of course.”
“I have a proposal.”
“Uh-oh.” She tried to hide her smile and failed miserably. She knew what was coming.
“All the other dogs in service training live with families so they can acc…accli….”
“Acclimate?”
Kevin beamed. “Yeah, that’s the word Shane used. Acclimate to being around people all the time. Right now, Alex, I mean,Mr. Hoff, is caring for all the Jets. That’s what the litter is called. Each litter has a name to keep track of them.”
April laughed softly. “I get it. Benny and the Jets.”
The musical reference flew right over her son’s head and he was too invested in his proposal to ask about it. “Mr. Hoff and his wife already have trained dogs at home, but no kids. And service dogs need to get used to kids, just in case they get assigned to one.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Yup, she knewexactlywhere this was going.
Kevin’s shoulders sagged for a moment—he knew that tone and it didn’t bode well. So he spoke faster, as if rushing the words out would help his case. “So, for Benny to be the best service dog ever, he needs to be around a kid.”
“I see.”
“And just think how great it would be if he was around a kid he trusted, who understands him.”
“That would be something.” April turned onto the stretch of road that snaked up a hill to the Watchdog guard house and front gate, still marveling at how her son had managed to bypass all the cameras.
“And Alex…Mr. Hoff, said it would be alright with him if it was okay with you.”
“What would be?”
“Mom.” Kevin frowned. “You know what I’m getting at.”
This time, April laughed. “Yes, I do. You want us to foster Benny.”
“Mr. Hoff said it wouldn’t be full-time, just a couple days here and there. So, can we?”
“That depends. What is this proposal?” She slowed down as she approached the gate. The guard saw her coming and slid his window open.
“I’ll take full responsibility for Benny. I’ll feed him, and take him for walks, and train him, and he can sleep in my bed. I’lleven pay for his dog food. I’m good for it since Shane’s working pro bono.”
April stopped at the window and showed the guard her pass. He wished her a good morning and opened the gate. “You’re forgetting the biggest responsibility.”
“Right. I’ll give him tummy rubs and make sure he knows he’s loved.”
Oh my God. That went straight to her heart. How could she ever think Kevin was anything like Vince?
“Okay, thatisthe most important thing. But I was thinking of something not so…fun.”
“Oh, you mean the poop? I’ll scoop it all up, I promise.”
“Pinkie promise?” She watched Kevin’s entire face light up in the mirror.
“Does that mean yes?”
“Only if it’s totally all right with Mr. Hoff.”
