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Galan

We rushed not at all, at least until we finally admitted we were ready to commit to forever together. At that point, everything went into overdrive and we got ready to cohabit. I had informed them at work that I now also had a family life and was not going to be taking on all the travel. Everyone would have to do their share. I’d agreed to one trip a month of no more than three days, with an occasional extra in an emergency. And any late meetings?

I held my status as the one who could take them from home. If they hadn’t agreed, I’d have looked elsewhere for work, and I let them know that.

Fortunately, they believed me and valued my work enough to be willing to negotiate. I didn’t want to switch employers, since overall, I liked my job.

Lake had been leaving Dog with me when he was out of town for some time, and he already regarded my house as his second home, so when we had to decide which home to keep, it came down to the pup’s preference.

“The little stinker likes your house best,” Lake said, patting the stinker’s head. “You’ve spoiled him entirely.”

“He likes the agility training classes,” I protested. “It gives us something to do while you are away for work. Plus, he’s a rock star.”

“And the setup in the backyard?”

“Well, he has to practice if he’s going to enter the contest at the end of the month.”

“Since there is no room for a full obstacle course at my place, and since he whines when you leave us there, I guess it’s decided. We move here.”

“Really? Because if you prefer yours…”

“No. Honestly I like the extra room inside and out. And watching you two work out on the obstacle course is the best entertainment I’ve seen in years. You know there’s no way he’s going to win anything. Mostly he just sits and watches you run the course.”

“I’m demonstrating.”

He grinned at me and Dog barked.

Two weeks later…

We decided to rent out Lake’s home after a Realtor friend at Chained informed us it was not a seller’s market and suggested he not even try for at least a year. High mortgage rates among other factors, some of which we understood and others that went right over our heads, made it a better time to find a tenant if we didn’t need the money from a sale right away.

And…he had a tenant in mind. A new club member who’d just moved to town and had perfect credit. Bam! A win all around.

But the new tenant needed to move in as soon as possible because he was staying with his sister and her large family while searching for his own place, and he didn’t want to be underfoot too long. Fortunately, he was also interested in a furnished home, although he hadn’t expected to find one. That made the move much simpler. We spent a weekend packing up all Lake’s things and then called real official movers with a truck to haul it all over to my house. Our house now. And I loved everything about how that sounded.

In all logic, we should have spent the next weekend unpacking and getting organized, but with Dog’s first agility trial only two weeks away, we had a lot to do. He could actually do everything on the obstacle course if he chose, which he sometimes did in class, but as Lake had pointed out, most of our home practices were less successful. I ran the course, he watched, and Lake laughed. Finally, I came to sit next to him. “Lake, you’ve seen this often enough. Why don’t you run it this time and see what it’s like.”

He was still guffawing as he got to his feet and moved to the start of the course. “I’m confident I have the skills to run it as well as you do, Galan. Watch.”

I leaned back in the chair, about ready to call off the trial. If the pup didn’t want to do it, it was fine. He didn’t have to. But to my shock, no sooner did Lake take a step than the dog was at his heel on full alert. He accompanied Lake through every obstacle, better than he’d ever done. Better than any other dog in his class, in fact. And when they both returned to my side, I applauded and cheered. “That’s it. He wants to compete with you. We are going to beat them all. You need to practice every day, though, to be sure.” I went down on one knee to ruffle Dog’s ears. “You were so good.”

“Wait!” Lake gaped at us. “Was this a trick?”

“Not at all.” I kissed the shiny black nose. “Dog just likes it when the whole family is involved.”

Epilogue

Lake

I woke up my favorite way, snuggled against Daddy with Dog wedged between our feet.

Today was the first day of a three-day weekend where neither of us had any work to do, any trips to take, or any responsibilities other than spending time together. I’d been looking forward to it all month—a lazy weekend at home. We’d considered going away to ensure no one bothered us with any “responsibilities,” but there were very few places we could take Dog, and we decided the three of us here together would be better than any road trip.

I must’ve moved when I woke because Dog suddenly decided it was time to get up.

Daddy disagreed.

“I’m with Daddy,” I mumbled.