Dog Day Afternoon
Stephanie volunteers to walk the dog. She feels thrilled and privileged that she has now been let in on a well-kept secret. She doesn't know Zero quite well. She never imagined he has a dog the size of a horse. Truth is, she is often intimidated by the Merry Men. They are well-trained professionals. She's at best a lucky amateur. They have come to her rescue and helped her out of tight spots countless times; she knows their first names and nicknames. But they are not exactly friends. She doesn't even know Hal's last name. She tries hard to disguise her incompetence and awkwardness. She tries hard to act normal. Even though Ranger once told her they all like her, she can't help feeling uncertain around them. Like a burden, a liability. The cause of hazard pay. Ranger's woman.
Well, maybe not exactly Ranger's woman.
Stephanie parks the RangeMan SUV and lets Sweet Pea out. The vet has yet to take out the stitches. The great Dane is still wearing the cone of shame. Jalapeño has gone home with his Papi. Today, Stephanie decides, they will take a little walk in the park, sniffing at flowers, watching birds and squirrels. And then they will head home and enjoy the rest of the sunny Sunday inside the 4th-floor apartment in front of the TV. Stephanie still finds it hard to believe that the Merry Men actually have a life outside of the RangeMan office. And how long can she stay with Ranger? How long can she share a bed with him before anything happens? Tonight, there won't be a snoring cat between them...
"Cupcake?"
Stephanie looks up and sees Joe Morelli's frown. Damn. She totally forgot he always brings Bob here on the last Sunday of the month. They are currently off. They had another fight. She hasn't returned his calls. Bob barks and keeps on panting. Sweet Pea looks a bit worried at the orange drooling machine. Stephanie pats great Dane on the neck but remains silent. She doesn't want to send the wrong message. Or maybe she already did.
"Where did you get that horse?"
Bob abruptly jumps at Sweet Pea. The larger dog stands her ground and fiercely growls. Stephanie stares at Morelli's faded jeans and worn sneakers. Suddenly she resents everything he stands for. She doesn't like his smile. She doesn't like his tone. She doesn't like the 5 o'clock shadow on his jaw. She doesn't like his joke. Stability. Normalcy. Growing up. Settling down. The usual path. The popular road. The only choice. She thinks of the everyday life of Val and Albert, of Mary Lou, and of her parents. Bob's whining grows louder. She thinks of Tank's smile as Jalapeño snuggled into Lester's arms and meowed like a little princess. She thinks of Ranger's voice when he got out of the bed and told her to go back to sleep at the break of dawn. She looks straight into Joe's warm chocolate eyes and realizing what he's thinking. She wonders why it was so hard to let go.
"Joe," Stephanie's hand stays on Sweet Pea and she feels the great Dane's strength and warmth. Everything becomes clearer and simpler, on the last Sunday of the summer. She's going to buy herself an ice cream on the way home. "It's time to give the Dog Whisperer a call."
Sweet Pea bares her fangs at the rude beast before trotting away triumphantly. Joe Morelli stands where he is for a long time without saying a word. The laughter and noises of the park swallow the deafening silence. Bob keeps pulling at the leash.
Too bad ice cream is bad for dogs.