on sprouting grass. Years ago, they’d opened an ice cream shop in the front parking lot, and it had become quite popular during the summer months.
She pulled out her phone and called Katie. For the third time this morning, her daughter’s phone went directly to message. What’s wrong with that girl? She tried Ray. Nothing on his end, either. She couldn’t believe harvesting seaweed could occupy so much of his time. Another example of Ray being Ray. She’d never known him to be anything but irresponsible, even when she’d fallen head over heels for him after returning from college. Never a day went by when Ray, always looking to earn an easy buck, didn’t talk about one of his new business ventures. His faults had seemed lovable when she was first getting to know him. Now they were glaring.
“Mom?”
“Yes, Raisin?”
“Do I have to play today?”
“What’s up, kiddo? You not feeling well?”
“I feel fine. I just don’t feel like playing this morning.”
“Then what is it? Because you usually love to play soccer.”
“I don’t know. I get tired of it.”
“But you’re the best player on the team.”
“Sometimes the kids on the other team can be real jerks. They say a lot of mean stuff about Scout, ask if he’s my Seeing Eye dog or something.”
“I know it’s hard for you, buddy, but we talked about this. You can’t control what other kids say. Just ignore them and do your thing.”
“At least the kids on my team understand why Scout needs to be near me.”
“Those are your real friends, Raisin. And remember, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” she said, staring at him in the rearview mirror. “You made a commitment to your team, and so you’re going to honor that commitment. Understand?”
“Fine,” he said, looking out the window. “Is Katie or Dad going to be at my game?”
“Katie slept over a friend’s house last night, and your dad’s working.”
“Okay,” he said, disappointment in his voice.
Isla turned onto the road leading to the field. A lot of cars had already gathered in the lot. She parked and guided Scout out of the backseat, then made sure to grab his blanket—or place—off the van’s floor. Scout was at work now and understood never to leave his place once she spread it over the grass on the sidelines. He would sit perfectly still on his place throughout the game, ready to pounce if he alerted on his boy.
Members of both teams ran around the field and kicked the ball around. Scout gave Raisin a perfunctory sniff before the boy ran out to join them. Then the referee arrived and blew his whistle, signaling the start of the game.
Isla stood next to the other parents, making sure Scout had enough room to see the field. She spread the place out over the grass, and the dog went into a downstay position, understanding that he was never to move from that position unless he alerted. Over his body rested the medical vest. Every parent on the team understood and valued Scout as a service dog—and knew never to scratch his ears or treat him like a family pet.
Something passed over Isla as the game started. Fear? Worry? She glanced down and noticed that Scout was staring up at her, as if worried about something. Sometimes she believed that he could actually read her mind. Two years ago Scout had detected a low sugar level in one of Raisin’s teammates, and Isla had given the kid the candy bar she kept in her pocket.
She tried calling Katie and Ray again. Still no answer from either of them. Ray’s failure to reply didn’t concern her; he ignored her all the time. But Katie always called back in a timely manner. She glanced at her watch. Ten past noon. Could something have happened to her? Like it had to Dakota James? No, she told herself. Stop being such a worrywart.
She’d noticed a slight change in her daughter’s behavior since Katie had become friends with Willow. Katie seemed more detached and moody after meeting Willow, less exuberant than her usual self. Prior to that, Katie earned straight As, attended church with the family every Sunday, volunteered at the senior center, and never gave her any problems. She was not a star on the softball team or in the school’s musicals, like Willow was, but Katie was a consummate team player.
Raisin scored an easy goal two minutes into the game. Isla would have clapped had she not been calling the parents