It was three days after Susannah had been released from the hospital and was settled at home, and I got to Oceanfront before sunrise. Orion’s head hung over the stall door as if he’d been expecting me. Down the dimly lit corridor, my footsteps seemed to beat out: last, last, last. But to Orion, it was like any other day, and he wanted his morning treat. There weren’t many sugar cubes left in the box. Not that I’d need to buy more. I dug in for one and held my palm flat out to him. His lips made their wonderful smacking sound. “I’m sorry for what’s going to happen today, boy,” I told him. “I’m sorry for so many things—for you having to stay behind at Woodscape when I came home, and then for you to have to come back here, just to be shipped out again.” My voice cracked. For better or worse, for richer or poorer. But people don’t always keep their vows. Orion pawed the floor of his stall, hoping for another cube. I obliged, and then I opened his stall door and stepped inside to be with him.
