Chapter 2 #2
The vet left the room, presumably to prepare for surgery.
Another tech entered to take the dog while Vishai had Laurel sign some paperwork assuming responsibility for the dog’s care.
Then he took her to reception, where she provided her credit card to pay the necessary deposit.
She would never have imagined herself in this situation, paying for a homeless dog’s surgery, but she couldn’t bear to think of the animal not receiving a fighting chance after everything Laurel had done to save her.
And then, just as suddenly as her evening took this unexpected U-turn, she found herself back outside, free of both the unwanted dog and the unwanted husband.
Laurel stood there for a moment, just watching the flow of people and cars as they passed her.
The warm summer evening was surprisingly pleasant, and Laurel was restless.
She glanced at her phone to find that it was nearly eight o’clock.
Long past dinnertime, which explained the hungry ache in her belly.
She was exhausted, had been exhausted since before her meeting with the lawyers, but she had no desire to go home.
If anything, the urge to go into a random bar and lose a few hours was even stronger now than it had been earlier.
Yes, it was time for that celebratory drink.
Laurel had enjoyed the way it felt when Dr. Roth admired her in this dress.
Perhaps she’d sit at a table for one in the middle of a crowded bar and enjoy admiring looks from others.
She wasn’t entirely sure she was ready to do more than look, but hell, the ring was off her finger and the papers were signed.
She was free to do whatever she wanted tonight.
And the first thing she wanted was to enjoy an overpriced meal and a cocktail somewhere elegant and expensive. Given her sore feet, someplace nearby would be ideal. A quick search on her phone showed a well-reviewed tapas place one block over.
Laurel walked there, relieved when they had a table available for her without a reservation. She was seated—just as she’d envisioned—at a small table in the middle of the crowded dining room. That was where the similarity to her romanticized version of the evening ended, though.
The restaurant was so loud, she could hardly hear herself think, and no one was admiring her in her red dress. On the contrary, everyone was caught up in their own worlds, talking to the people at their table. Laurel sat alone and ordered several small plates, plus a blackberry martini.
Once it arrived, she savored its tangy flavor and the warmth of alcohol in her system.
She turned her focus inward as she sat, sipping her drink and letting the stress of the day melt from her muscles.
She did her best to tune out the noise. She’d chosen this restaurant, and she was going to enjoy herself, dammit.
Her mind replayed the pain and panic in the little dog’s eyes and the intriguing interest she’d glimpsed in Dr. Roth’s. Was the veterinarian single? Was she even queer? Did it matter? Laurel would likely never see her again. She’d probably never see the dog again either.
Luckily, the food was excellent, making up for the noise assaulting her eardrums as she ate. She had several small plates, but for whatever reason, she limited herself to one cocktail. She had the sense she was waiting, although she didn’t know what for.
She wasn’t enjoying her evening as much as she’d hoped. Laurel craved conversation. She’d had an active social life once. When had she let that slip? Why had she let her life become so empty outside work? That had been a mistake, and now that she was divorced, it was time to change.
How did a career woman in her forties make new friends? Or get back into the dating game? She had a lot to learn, perhaps new hobbies to choose and pursue.
Only because she’d left her phone on the table in front of her did she see it ring. She never would have heard it otherwise. The caller was Fourth Avenue Veterinary Hospital, and Laurel grabbed her phone, retreating to the hall that led to the restrooms before she answered. “Hello?”
“Laurel Adler?” a familiar voice said.
Laurel felt an enjoyable burst of warmth in her stomach. “Yes. Hi, Dr. Roth. How’s our little patient?”
“She made it through surgery remarkably well,” Dr. Roth responded.
“She had a pneumothorax and several fractured ribs, as well as the fracture to her right front leg, all of which I repaired. Obviously, her injuries are severe and she’s not out of the woods yet, but I’m cautiously hopeful she’ll pull through. ”
“That’s great news,” Laurel responded. “Is your facility equipped to see her through her hospitalization?” She had no idea how animal hospitals worked, if they were staffed overnight for animals who required an extended stay.
“Yes, we are, although I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that the cost will be high. She’ll require what we call a level four hospitalization tonight, which means she’ll need to be under constant monitoring. It’s likely that she’ll be more stable tomorrow.”
“Got it, and again, I’ll pay for what she needs.”
“I appreciate that,” the vet said.
“What will happen to her once she’s ready to be released?”
“We’ve contacted the local shelter, so they’ve got her information in case an owner comes looking for her. Assuming that doesn’t happen, she’ll go to the shelter once she’s released from our care.”
“Damn.” That sounded less than ideal. A person—or in this case, a dog—needed comfort and care after being released from the hospital.
Sutures needed to be kept clean, and adequate sleep was important.
Laurel imagined that would be difficult to achieve at a shelter, not to mention, it was just plain sad to think of that sweet little dog sitting alone in a cage after surviving what she had today.
“I don’t like it either,” Dr. Roth said. “Hopefully, an owner will come forward. It’s also possible that the shelter will be able to arrange a foster home for her while she recuperates.”
“Let’s hope.”
“It sounds like you’re out somewhere,” Dr. Roth observed, “so I won’t keep you. Would you like me to update you on her progress while she’s still in our care?”
“Yes, I would,” Laurel said. “And I am out, but I’m alone, so the only thing you’re keeping me from is a dinner that was meant to be celebratory but feels kind of lonely instead.”
“Oh?”
“My divorce was finalized earlier today.” Laurel had no idea why she was sharing this with a woman she barely knew, but maybe this was her first step toward establishing herself in a post-divorce world. Dr. Roth had caught her eye, and Laurel wanted her to know that.
“Congratulations, I think.” There was humor in Dr. Roth’s voice now.
“Oh, congratulations are definitely in order. It was long overdue, and I’m very ready to move on and meet someone new.”
“Good for you,” Dr. Roth said, and if Laurel wasn’t mistaken, she sounded interested. Perhaps Laurel hadn’t misread that moment in the exam room after all. Did she dare ask the vet out? “Hard to meet someone while you’re having dinner alone, though, I imagine.”
“Indeed,” Laurel agreed.
“I’m off at eleven, if you’d like to get a drink?”
Hell yes. This was what she’d been waiting for, what she needed. Finally, her evening was looking up. “I’d love that.”
“Great. I need to run home and change, so it’ll be late. Could you meet me at midnight?”
“I’m off tomorrow, so yes, I can.”
“Perfect.” Dr. Roth’s entire demeanor had changed now. She sounded less formal, more relaxed…flirty, even. “Oh, and Laurel? You should probably call me Dana.”