“I’m beat. Let’s take the dog for a walk and stretch his legs.” Ed snaps his seat belt into place. “I don’t think I like any of them any better than this old heap.”

“I know. They all look like oversized athletic shoes to me. I just can’t picture myself going to Potter’s in any one of them. But I think we still need to do it.” Alice kisses Buddy’s muzzle and points him back into the middle seat. “If we want to go any distance, we need a car.”

So the vacation is still on the table. Ed grins and points the minivan in the direction of a state park.

The day is fading into dusk as they get out of the car, but the air is slightly warmer, as if summer isn’t quite done. Alice has the bag of bacon crumbles in one hand. Buddy is more interested in those than in stretching his legs, so Alice puts him through his paces, treating him after every command. Sit, stay, heel. “You should work with him, too, so that he knows you give commands, as well.” Alice hands the leash and the bag of bacon to Ed.

“Okay, Bud, heel!” Ed trots around with the dog’s nose clamped to the side of his knee. He stops. “Down. Stay.” Ed lays the leash on the ground and steps backward about four feet. “I bet he can do this without the leash. He knows he’s not tied.”

“We haven’t worked off-leash yet. We’re not ready.” Alice folds her arms across her middle.

“I think he’s ready. Watch this.” Ed calls the dog to him, unsnaps the clip, and tosses the leash to Alice. “Buddy, heel!”

Alice covers her mouth with one hand, as if she expects the dog to run off. When he doesn’t, when Buddy simply tags along beside Ed, jogging around the pine needle–strewn area, her hand drops as she begins to believe. Ed knows that look, a bird watching her fledgling, a mother watching her child ride without training wheels. It’s that good-bye to old concerns, hello to new ones.

Ed stops; the dog stops. Buddy’s eyes are riveted on Ed’s. He’s loving this exercise. Ed fishes another crumble of bacon out of the bag and treats the dog. “Good boy.”

Ed tosses the bag of treats to Alice. “Go to Mommy.”