Harold asked for Walter before he asked about his house.<\/p>\n
Denise told us the next morning.<\/p>\n
Greg was standing at the stove making eggs when his phone rang.<\/p>\n
He listened.<\/p>\n
Then turned off the burner.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s awake?\u201d<\/p>\n
I watched his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can speak?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg leaned against the counter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
He listened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can bring Walter.\u201d<\/p>\n
He glanced at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Of course.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the call ended, Greg remained still.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHarold wants to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat seems good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy do you look terrified?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg turned toward the guest room.<\/p>\n
Walter was asleep near the chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe might think we\u2019re taking him home.\u201d<\/p>\n
I understood.<\/p>\n
The hospital allowed therapy-animal visits only under specific conditions.<\/p>\n
Denise had arranged one.<\/p>\n
Harold\u2019s family wanted Walter brought in that afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll smell Harold.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then we take him away again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg rubbed both hands over his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat feels cruel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
He glared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hate that word.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk Denise what the medical team thinks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey think it could help Harold.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen it might be worth the confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked toward Walter again.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s already confused.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the rest of the morning, Greg was quieter than usual.<\/p>\n
He brushed Walter.<\/p>\n
Packed a small bag.<\/p>\n
Then unpacked half of it because apparently dogs did not need three towels for a forty-minute hospital visit.<\/p>\n
At noon, we drove together.<\/p>\n
Walter sat secured in the back seat.<\/p>\n
He hated the harness.<\/p>\n
Greg apologized to him twice.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou realize he doesn\u2019t understand the apology.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe understands tone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFair.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the hospital, Denise met us in the lobby.<\/p>\n
She looked tired.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow is Harold?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter than yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeech is improving. Right side is still weak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes he understand what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMostly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked toward the elevator.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Walter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHarold understands he\u2019s with a foster family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe remembers?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Relief crossed Greg\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
Then Denise added, \u201cBut he keeps asking when he can go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
That relief disappeared.<\/p>\n
We took the elevator to the rehabilitation floor.<\/p>\n
Walter became alert before the doors opened.<\/p>\n
His nose lifted.<\/p>\n
His entire body changed.<\/p>\n
Greg noticed immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Probably.<\/p>\n
When the doors opened, Walter pulled.<\/p>\n
Hard.<\/p>\n
Greg nearly lost his grip.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The dog ignored him.<\/p>\n
We followed Denise down the hallway.<\/p>\n
Walter moved faster.<\/p>\n
At room 312, he began whining.<\/p>\n
A sound I had never heard from him.<\/p>\n
High.<\/p>\n
Urgent.<\/p>\n
Greg\u2019s face crumpled.<\/p>\n
Inside, Harold sat propped in a chair near the window.<\/p>\n
He looked smaller than I expected.<\/p>\n
Thin.<\/p>\n
Gray-haired.<\/p>\n
One hand rested uselessly in his lap.<\/p>\n
The other gripped the chair arm.<\/p>\n
When Walter saw him, everything happened at once.<\/p>\n
The dog lunged forward.<\/p>\n
Greg released enough leash for him to reach the chair.<\/p>\n
Walter pressed against Harold\u2019s knees.<\/p>\n
Harold bent awkwardly.<\/p>\n
His good hand found the dog\u2019s head.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sound was barely a word.<\/p>\n
Walter whined louder.<\/p>\n
Harold\u2019s face collapsed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy boy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg turned away.<\/p>\n
I touched his back.<\/p>\n
Harold buried his fingers in Walter\u2019s fur.<\/p>\n
The dog\u2019s entire body shook.<\/p>\n
Nobody spoke for a long time.<\/p>\n
Then Harold looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re Greg?\u201d<\/p>\n
His speech was slow.<\/p>\n
Careful.<\/p>\n
Greg turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg nodded.<\/p>\n
Harold looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLaura.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter tried to climb partly into Harold\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n
A nurse helped steady him.<\/p>\n
Harold laughed weakly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter licked his chin.<\/p>\n
The old man closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
I looked at Greg.<\/p>\n
He was crying silently.<\/p>\n
Not because Walter loved Harold more.<\/p>\n
Because he should.<\/p>\n
That distinction mattered.<\/p>\n
After several minutes, Harold asked questions.<\/p>\n
Was Walter eating?<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
Sleeping?<\/p>\n
Yes.<\/p>\n
Still refusing rain?<\/p>\n
Greg smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompletely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways hated rain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso pills.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCheese.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHide pills in cheese.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been using peanut butter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe hates peanut butter.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Greg.<\/p>\n
Walter had eaten every medicated spoonful with the expression of a man enduring taxation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat explains a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold smiled.<\/p>\n
For forty minutes, the two men talked about Walter.<\/p>\n
Not stroke recovery.<\/p>\n
Not prognosis.<\/p>\n
Not whether Harold would ever go home.<\/p>\n
Just the dog.<\/p>\n
His habits.<\/p>\n
His fears.<\/p>\n
His favorite park.<\/p>\n
The fact that he barked at vacuum cleaners but feared cardboard boxes.<\/p>\n
Greg listened like a student.<\/p>\n
He wrote nothing down.<\/p>\n
I noticed.<\/p>\n
When the visit ended, the nurse gave us a warning.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep the goodbye calm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold looked at Walter.<\/p>\n
His face changed.<\/p>\n
Greg tightened his grip on the leash.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can bring him again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever they let me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I saw it happen.<\/p>\n
The promise left Greg\u2019s mouth before he checked whether it was his to make.<\/p>\n
He realized immediately.<\/p>\n
He looked at Denise.<\/p>\n
She nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeekly visits should be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg exhaled.<\/p>\n
Harold\u2019s good hand rested on Walter\u2019s head.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou be good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter leaned harder into him.<\/p>\n
Harold swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The dog did not move.<\/p>\n
Greg crouched.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n
He took out a piece of cheese Denise had brought.<\/p>\n
Walter looked.<\/p>\n
Then looked back at Harold.<\/p>\n
Greg\u2019s eyes filled again.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eventually Walter moved.<\/p>\n
One step.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
At the door, he turned.<\/p>\n
Harold raised his hand.<\/p>\n
Walter whined.<\/p>\n
Greg walked him into the hallway.<\/p>\n
The door closed.<\/p>\n
Walter immediately pulled back.<\/p>\n
Greg crouched.<\/p>\n
The dog shook.<\/p>\n
Greg put one hand against his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice broke.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ride home was terrible.<\/p>\n
Walter stood at the window.<\/p>\n
Every turn seemed to disappoint him.<\/p>\n
Greg sat in the back beside him.<\/p>\n
He did not pretend everything was fine.<\/p>\n
He simply kept one hand on Walter\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n
At home, the dog refused dinner.<\/p>\n
Greg tried cheese.<\/p>\n
Walter turned away.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive him time,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe needs to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a hard day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has medication.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can take it later.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked frustrated.<\/p>\n
Then stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sat on the floor.<\/p>\n
Walter lay several feet away.<\/p>\n
Neither moved.<\/p>\n
After half an hour, Walter came over.<\/p>\n
He rested his head on Greg\u2019s thigh.<\/p>\n
Greg did not smile.<\/p>\n
He just stayed still.<\/p>\n
That night, Harold\u2019s daughter called.<\/p>\n
Her name was Karen.<\/p>\n
She thanked us.<\/p>\n
Then she apologized.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d Greg asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor putting this on you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father planned everything except getting old.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked at me.<\/p>\n
Karen gave a tired laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe thought he\u2019d die in his house with Walter beside him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are the doctors saying?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
That answer again.<\/p>\n
\u201cRehab could help a lot. Or not enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if he can\u2019t live alone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking at assisted living.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan Walter go?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSome places allow dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hope flashed across Greg\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
Karen heard it.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut not all.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd even if they do, Dad has to be able to manage him or pay for help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter was sleeping at Greg\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n
Karen lowered her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreg, I need to ask something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he can\u2019t take Walter back\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg\u2019s hand stopped moving.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWould you consider keeping him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
I watched Greg.<\/p>\n
Two weeks earlier, that question would have become destiny the moment he heard it.<\/p>\n
Now he took a breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d consider it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen sounded relieved.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we don\u2019t need to decide tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Harold should decide too, if he can.\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked at Walter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want him thinking we\u2019ve taken his dog.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTell him Walter is still his.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen\u2019s voice shook.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the call, Greg remained on the sofa.<\/p>\n
Walter slept beside him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat part?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat.<\/p>\n
Greg stroked Walter\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought giving Susan and Steve away hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Walter isn\u2019t mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I love him anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg stared at the dog.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Harold gets him back, I lose him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Harold doesn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
He stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen Harold loses him.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
Greg laughed without humor.<\/p>\n
\u201cTerrible options.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes there isn\u2019t a clean one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
He leaned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to think the hard part was not being needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
I waited.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing needed temporarily.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter opened one eye.<\/p>\n
Greg smiled sadly.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing the best thing might be becoming unnecessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
That sentence settled between us.<\/p>\n
Three weeks passed.<\/p>\n
Every Sunday, Greg took Walter to see Harold.<\/p>\n
Sometimes I went.<\/p>\n
Sometimes Denise did.<\/p>\n
Harold improved slowly.<\/p>\n
He could stand with help.<\/p>\n
Then take several steps.<\/p>\n
Then more.<\/p>\n
His speech strengthened.<\/p>\n
His right hand began to move.<\/p>\n
Each improvement made Greg happy.<\/p>\n
And afraid.<\/p>\n
One afternoon, Harold walked twelve feet with a cane.<\/p>\n
Greg clapped.<\/p>\n
Walter barked.<\/p>\n
Harold laughed.<\/p>\n
Then the physical therapist said, \u201cAt this rate, we may be talking about discharge options next month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg\u2019s smile froze.<\/p>\n
I saw it.<\/p>\n
So did Harold.<\/p>\n
Later, while Walter slept at Harold\u2019s feet, the old man looked at Greg.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want him.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was not a question.<\/p>\n
Greg looked embarrassed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo do I.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want me to take him back?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold studied him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The old man laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg smiled.<\/p>\n
Harold looked down at Walter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold\u2019s hand trembled as he stroked the dog.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if I can\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greg looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen he has a home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harold closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was the first time Greg had promised permanence without trying to create dependence.<\/p>\n
And the difference changed everything.<\/p>\n
Harold asked for Walter before he asked about his house. Denise told us the next morning. Greg was standing at the stove making eggs when his phone rang. He listened. … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13482"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13506,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13482\/revisions\/13506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}