Fatal Cure. Chapter 5, 6, 7
5
SATURDAY, MAY 22
David had set the alarm for five forty-five as if it were a normal workday. By six-fifteen he was on his way to the hospital. The temperature had already climbed into the low seventies and the skies were clear. Before nine he was finished with his rounds and on his way home.
“Okay, you guys,” he called as he entered the apartment. “I don’t want to spend this whole day waiting. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Nikki appeared in her doorway. “That’s not fair, Daddy. We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Just kidding,” David said with a laugh as he gave Nikki a playful tickle.
Soon they were off. Before long, urban sprawl gave way to tree-dotted suburbia followed by long stretches of forest. The farther north they went, the prettier the surroundings became, especially now that leaves were on the trees.
When they reached Bartlet, David slowed to a crawl. Like eager tourists they drank in the sights.
“This is even more picturesque than I remembered,” Angela said.
“There’s that same puppy!” Nikki cried. She pointed across the street. “Can we stop?”
David pulled into an empty diagonal parking slot. “You’re right,” he said. “I recognize the lady.”
“I recognize the dog,” Nikki said. She opened the car door and got out.
“Just a second,” Angela called. She jumped out of the car and took Nikki’s hand to cross the street. David followed.
“Hello again,” the woman said when Nikki approached. The puppy caught sight of Nikki and strained at its leash. As Nikki bent down, the dog licked her face. Nikki laughed with surprise.
“I don’t know if you’d be interested, but Mr. Staley’s retriever just had puppies a few weeks ago,” the woman said. “They’re right over in the hardware store across the street.”
“Can we go see them?” Nikki pleaded.
“Why not,” David said. He thanked the woman.
Recrossing the street the Wilsons entered the hardware store. Near the front in a makeshift playpen was Mr. Staley’s dog, Molly, suckling five floppy puppies.
“They’re adorable,” Nikki cried. “Can I pet them?”
“I don’t know,” David said. He turned to look for a store attendant and practically bumped into Mr. Staley, who was standing directly behind them.
“Sure, she can pet them,” Mr. Staley said after introducing himself. “In fact, they’re for sale. No way I need six golden retrievers.”
Nikki collapsed on her knees and, reaching into the pen, gently stroked one of the puppies. He responded by attaching himself to Nikki’s finger as if it were a teat. Nikki squealed with delight.
“Pick him up if you like,” Mr. Staley said. “He’s the brute of the litter.”
Nikki scooped the puppy up in her arms. The tiny dog snuggled against her cheek and licked her nose.
“I love him,” Nikki said. “I wish we could get him. Can we? I’ll take care of him.”
David felt an unexpected surge of tears that he had to forcibly suppress. He took his eyes off Nikki and looked at Angela. Angela dabbed a tissue into the corners of her eyes and glanced up at her husband. Their eyes met in a moment of complete understanding. Nikki’s modest request affected them even more than it had on their first visit to Bartlet. Considering all that she’d been through with her cystic fibrosis, it wasn’t much to ask for.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” David asked.
“I think so,” Angela said. Her tears gave way to a smile. “It would mean we could buy a house.”
“Goodbye, crime and pollution,” he said. He looked down at Nikki. “Okay,” he said. “You can have the dog. We’re moving to Bartlet!”
Nikki’s face lit up. She hugged the puppy to her chest as it licked her face.
David turned to Mr. Staley and settled on a price.
“I figure they will be ready to leave the mother in four weeks or so,” Mr. Staley said.
“That will be perfect,” David said. “We’ll be coming up here at the end of the month.”
With some difficulty, Nikki was separated from her puppy, and the Wilsons went back outside.
“What will we do now?” Angela asked with excitement.