Page 99 of Forever Home

twenty-nine

“Alright,” Delaney said. “This is it. This is the test.” She unhooked Wyatt’s leash and pointed at the newly affixed sidecar attached to her Honda Rebel. “Place, Wyatt.”

The pittie bounded inside so fast he probably hadn’t even needed the command. He sat up tall in the seat, full of pride. Tabitha giggled and Sean burst into laugher. “Okay.” Delaney slipped the dog goggles from her pocket. “Here’s the real test.” She offered the doggles, letting Wyatt sniff all over them before she carefully slid them over his eyes and attached them at the back of his head and under his chin. Delaney waited to see if he would shake his head or paw at the goggles, but he sat proudly, waiting.

“Last piece. The harness.” Delaney strapped him in, and still Wyatt didn’t struggle.

“I think he’s ready,” Tabitha said. “Fire it up and see what he does.”

Sean slid onto his Willie G and gave a nod. “I’m all set. Ready whenever you are.”

“Sure you don’t want to get on the back?” Delaney looked at Tabitha and nodded at the seat behind her. “You can put Trinity in the shop and come along for the ride.”

Tabitha shook her head. “I promised I’d watch the shop while you’re gone and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Delaney smiled before she slipped on her helmet. “Good for you, Steele. I’m glad to hear that. Keep it up on re-becoming. You’re doing a great job.”

“You know what, Sergeant? So are you.”

“Ha. Cheeky. I like it.” Delaney gave the thumbs-up, then turned to Wyatt and said, “Wyatt, I want you to listen carefully. There’s only one thing you have to do while on this ride.” She held up a finger.“Stay.”

Wyatt woofed.

“Alright, then. Let’s go.”

Sean called out, “I’ll be right behind you, in case something happens!”

Delaney blew him a kiss, then fired up the Rebel. Wyatt didn’t budge. She rolled out, and Wyatt smiled. The wind ruffled his ears back and danced through his fur. A mile down the road, and he was still smiling. “That’s it, boy!” Delaney called out. “I knew you could do it!”

Once she was confident Wyatt was going to be okay, she clicked on her music and hit Shuffle. The song that poured through her earbuds made her laugh out loud. “Oh, Dad.” She laughed and shook a fist at the sky. “How’d you get ‘Bron-Y-Aur Stomp’ on my ride playlist?”

Sean rode up next to her at a stoplight and shouted something. Delaney couldn’t hear him but could read his lips.How is he?

“He’s fine!” Delaney called back. “He’s the finest dog I knew, so fine!” Sean’s confused expression told her he wasn’t privy to the inside joke between her and Dad and Led Zeppelin. Didn’t matter. Just as the light turned green Delaney shouted, “Guess what?” The next three words she just mouthed, deliberately slow, no sound at all.I...love...you!

And then she took off, the stun on Sean’s face the perfect match to Wyatt’s big motorcycle grin. Delaney saw in her mirror that Sean idled there a few seconds, apparently unsure what to do with that information as people started to honk at him.

Then he popped the clutch, restarted and came roaring after her.

“What do you think, boy?” Delaney called down to Wyatt. “Should I let him catch me?”

Wyatt’s ears blew in the wind.

“Yeah. I thought so.”

Then she gunned it.