The scent of bacon clings to the people as they get into the car. Buddy licks his lips, but tries hard not to look like he’s begging. Alice holds out a crumb and he takes it with proper canine etiquette, then finds himself whining for more. Ed usually gives him a whole piece, but Alice wants to parcel it out in bits. After two, she puts the bag away.

Buddy settles into the backseat and begins to enjoy the ride.

The not talking is a good thing. The people in the front seat of the car are gently not talking, but the silence is that of a contented nature. Buddy watches the scenery go by, alert for squirrels, but no longer alert for discord between these people. Not that they have ever raised their voices, or used hard-sounding words, but he knows the difference between tension and relaxation. This is the first time he can recall since his arrival that he hasn’t felt the barrier between the two people who take care of him. Buddy is as sensitive a dog as any, and he is familiar with barriers. Justine has no barriers between herself and Candy, or Saundra. But she has barriers between herself and the males who occasionally take up her time. This barrier always made him keep his guard-dog focus on whatever male came to take Justine out of the house, leaving him behind. Or came back into the house. One or two got enough past the barrier that Mack was left on the outside of the bedroom door—but not often. The barrier smelled like distrust; the kind of fear smell a dog that never attaches gives off. That was why he kept himself between Justine and Artie. Justine’s distrust was emanating from her skin. He could taste it when he pressed his tongue against the back of her hand.

The barrier he has sensed between Ed and Alice is not distrust. The barrier, diminished today, is fear-aggression. They seem to him to be like those dogs who snap and snarl at everyone because they are confused and uncertain and the only safe thing to do is growl. Even though Ed and Alice don’t snap or snarl, or even raise their voices, this underlying current of snappishness is there, and a sensitive dog knows it. They are a little afraid of each other. But not today.

Today, all three of them glide through the scenery, unafraid.

Chapter 46

46

The car shopping has been fun, but exhausting. Too many choices and too many hungry car salesmen. They’ve looked at Toyotas and Fords, Kias and Subarus. At each dealership, Buddy hopped out with them, heeling prettily and sitting like a good boy as the salesman patiently explained the merits of this car or that, this deal or that. With down payment or not. Trade-in or not.