The Purrfect Vet (The Crazy Cat Lady Club #3)

Ch. 1 – Layla

T oday is going to be a beautiful day because…

Layla Sandoval looked out at the sea of expectant faces and cleared her throat. Her fingers wrapped around the edges of an old wooden lectern. In the center of the lectern, her phone’s screen glowed, filled with the words she’d so painstakingly written and rewritten over the past week.

Today is going to be a beautiful day because…

Every morning, Layla thought these words out loud into the mirror before brushing her teeth. Always, it was easy to complete the sentence. No matter the day, no matter the circumstance, she could find a spot of sunshine, a silver lining, a small flicker of hope and wonderment in the shadows.

Until today.

Today, she hadn’t felt a flicker in her heart. Today, there was no beauty.

She began to speak. “Once upon a time, a teenage girl discovered a little brown bird in a high school parking lot after cheerleading practice. The bird had a broken wing and wasn’t able to fly. The girl couldn’t stand to see the bird suffer, so she wrapped it in a towel and drove it to the local vet clinic.”

Layla pulled her long braid over her shoulder, taking comfort in the familiar feel of the thick rope of hair.

“Even if the girl had money, which she didn’t, any other vet would have turned her and the bird away. But the girl just happened to find a special vet. He took one look at the small, utterly average bird and promised the girl he would do everything in his power to heal it.”

Hot tears pricked the corners of Layla’s eyes. “Obviously, that naive girl was me,” she confessed with a small, watery laugh. “And you all know the name of that veterinarian. Dr. Goldman not only set the bird’s wing, but he let me visit the clinic every day after school. A month later, we released the bird behind the clinic. I’ll never forget watching it fly away.”

Major snot bubbles threatened in Layla’s nostrils. She clung harder to her braid. “That was just the way Dr. Goldman was. Where anyone else would have seen something small, plain, and hopeless, he saw a beautiful life worthy of help. He never gave up on anyone.”

Layla glanced at the large picture of Dr. Goldman sitting on an easel next to the lectern. The ever-present twinkle in his eye practically leaped from the canvas. Clouds of white hair stood out on each side of his head, framing a bald dome spattered in pale liver spots. Dr. Goldman had always reminded Layla of a kindly gnome.

She closed her eyes and tried to imprint the photo on her mind. She wanted to remember Dr. Goldman like he was in the picture, cheerful and healthy; not like she’d found him two weeks ago crumpled in the back room of the clinic, his face ashen, eyes half-lidded.

Massive stroke, the coroner had determined. He’d died instantly. Hadn’t suffered. Layla was grateful for that, at least. But it didn’t take away the pain or fill the gaping hole in her heart.

The family had buried Dr. Goldman the next day according to Jewish tradition, and Layla had spent hours each day visiting his widow and sons as they sat Shiva over the next week. Now, it was time to say a final goodbye with all the people who had admired this kind, genial, loving man.

Someone in the audience cleared their throat. Layla blinked and realized she’d been standing in silence for too long. She looked down at her phone again and scrolled, trying to find her place. The words blurred.

It didn’t matter. She knew what she wanted to say.

“Dr. Goldman offered me a job at the vet clinic the same day we released the bird. I was 16, and that was 10 years ago. I didn’t know it at the time, but what Dr. Goldman gave me that day was so much more than a job. He gave me a second home.”

A tear splashed on the screen of Layla’s phone. Then another. Her fingers throbbed from gripping her braid as if it could somehow pull her through this nightmare. She looked out over the crowd, smiling and crying.

“Anyone who went to the All Paws and Claws vet clinic probably received a ‘friends and family’ discount.”

A soft laugh rose from the crowded benches of the Synagogue, and many heads nodded.

“That wasn’t an accident or a gimmick,” Layla said. “It was because every animal and pet guardian who walked through his doors was like family. My biological father has never been in my life.” Layla’s voice croaked. “According to my mother and sister, that’s a good thing. But I did have a father. And I’ll never forget him.”

More words filled her phone screen, but Layla’s throat closed, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She’d said enough, and Dr. Goldman, wherever he was, would know the rest.

She stepped from the dais on shaking legs. Applause rose from the crowd as more tears clouded her vision. She was going to lose it, dissolve into a puddle of hurt and pain right here in the middle of the Synagogue. Layla glanced desperately through the crowd. She couldn’t breathe.

Then, she found him.

Even through her tears, she could make out all the familiar features of his face, the square jaw, blunt nose, and thick thatch of dark hair combed back from his temples. His dark eyes were on her. His smile was a lasso thrown over a cliff, looping and tightening around her waist as she fell.

Layal’s feet moved. Down the stairs of the stage. Through the aisle. Closer and closer to him. Then his arm was around her shoulders, gently pulling her into his strong, warm body that always smelled faintly of leather and clove.

Cal.

He kissed her temple lightly.

“You did amazing, Rapunzel,” he whispered. The familiar nickname spread warmth through Layla’s soul like steaming hot chocolate. She closed her eyes and twisted the large, diamond engagement ring on her finger.

Her heart slowed. She could breathe again.

She was safe.

*

Dr. Goldman’s celebration of life ceremony flew by in a whirl of speeches, beautiful prayers, and songs. Before she knew it, Layla found herself squeezed next to Cal in her boss’s modest living room.

Around her, a stream of clients, old and new, shared their condolences with his widow, Hannah, and their two grown sons. Many stopped to give Layla a hug and tell their favorite Dr. Goldman stories. It was beautiful, wonderful… and completely overwhelming.

Cal held her hand firmly through it all. A masterful guardian of her heart, he seemed to instinctively sense the unsteady churn of her emotions. Just when Layla felt ready to break into a fresh storm of tears, he threw a light joke into a conversation to ease the tension. When she needed air, he guided her to an open corner of the room and put a glass of red wine in her hand.

“You’re my knight in shining armor,” she whispered to him, squeezing his hand.

Cal grinned, showcasing the dazzling smile that still made her heart flutter even after all these years. “I thought I was your Prince Charming.”

“You’re my knight in shining armor and my prince charming,” she declared.

“God, what did I do to deserve you?” He brushed his lips over hers. The gentle kiss filled her belly with butterflies, rainbows, and unicorn sparkles. All the unicorn sparkles.

Cal leaned in close, putting his mouth to her ear. “Here comes your posse,” he teased.

Layla turned to follow his gaze. Like a glorious, slightly terrifying bulldozer of love, the Crazy Cat Ladies plowed through the crowd and surrounded her.

“Oh, Layla, that speech!” hollered Everly. “I was bawling my eyes out like a kid who just learned Santa isn’t real!” She pulled Layla into her warm, curvy body. “I just can’t believe he’s gone. That man was the patron saint of kittens.”

She released Layla. “Look, I wore his favorite shirt.” She waved her hands up and down to show off a t-shirt that read. You’ve Got to Fluffin Be Kitten Me Right Now.

Layla nodded and hiccupped on a laugh.

Everly practically had a weekly standing appointment at the vet clinic. The litters of kittens she continually fostered always needed vaccinations, spays, neuters, and occasional special treatments, all of which Dr. Goldman provided at tremendously discounted costs.

“We’re so sorry for your loss,” said Tess, standing on her tiptoes to look over Everly’s shoulder. The unofficial leader of The Crazy Cat Ladies Club nervously tucked a lock of auburn hair behind her ear and clutched a glass of wine tightly in her hand.

The poor woman had lost her husband just a few months ago. A wake was probably the last place she wanted to be.

“Yeah, same,” added Jax. “Dr. Goldman was one-of-a-kind.”

The youngest member of The Crazy Cat Ladies glanced at Cal, frowned, then dropped her gaze to the heavy black boots she wore with a flattering purple dress.

“Well, I can see that you’re in good company,” Cal said smoothly, his arm tightening for a moment around Layla’s waist. “I’ll try to keep other well-wishers at bay so you have a little more time with your friends.”

“Thank you.” Layla touched her forehead to his shoulder as she took another long sip of wine. Cal melted away into the crowd, and Layla immediately felt a little less steady without him by her side. She swallowed and refocused on Jax.

“I’m really glad you got to meet Dr. Goldman,” she told Jax. The vet had neutered Jax’s Bengal kitten just a week before his death.

“He cut off my cat’s balls like the consummate pro he was,” Jax agreed. She didn’t look at Layla as she reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a lollipop.

Layla couldn’t be sure, but it felt as if something had changed between her and Jax over the past few weeks. Almost as if the younger woman was uncomfortable in her presence. Layla tried to shrug it off. Some people reacted strangely to grief.

“Well, my invitation to get shitfaced drunk still stands,” Alanna spoke up. Tall, slender, and always elegant, Layla’s older sister had taken the request to dress in what makes you most comfortable seriously. What made Alanna most comfortable was a filmy navy blouse tucked into a white pencil skirt with a matching navy handbag and stilettos. She looked exactly like the high-powered, no-nonsense public relations agency owner she was.

“I appreciate the offer,” Layla told her sister. “Maybe some other time.”

“Come on, drink away your feelings like the rest of us broken people do,” Alanna teased. “I’ll even hold back all 50 pounds of your hair if you need to vomit out your liver.”

Layla smiled and pulled her sister into a long hug. Alanna stiffened for a moment. Hugs were not her thing, but they were Layla’s thing, and she needed a hug from her big sister right now. Alanna relaxed into the embrace and wrapped her arms around Layla’s shoulders.

“I’m here for you,” she whispered. “Whatever you need.” She paused, then sighed. “Damn, I’m going so soft.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” Layla promised her before letting go. She noticed one more figure lingering at the back of the group.

“Thanks for coming, Willow,” Layla said. The final member of The Crazy Cat Lady Club glanced furtively around the room, her eyes wide. She gave off the air of a baby bunny in a cobra pit.

Layla stepped up to Willow and took her thin, delicate hands. “It means so much to me that you’re here.” As the only member of The Crazy Cat Lady Club without a cat, Willow had never met Dr. Goldman. But what Layla had learned over the short time since the group had been formed is that The Crazy Cat Ladies stuck together.

“You’re welcome,” Willow said softly, ducking behind her curtain of ebony hair.

“There you are.” Sully stepped up next to Alanna, looking trim and handsome in his dark slacks and gray button-up. “For mi’lady.” He held out a glass of wine for Alanna.

“Good man.” Alanna tipped her face to brush a kiss across Sully’s jaw.

Sully looked at Layla. “Your speech was really moving.” He adjusted his glasses, then noticed that her wine glass was empty. “Would you like another glass? You like white, right? They have a pinot grigio.”

“Yes,” Layla said, surprised Sully knew her preference.

“I’ll be right back.” Sully nodded to the ladies. “Don’t get into too much trouble while I’m gone.”

“No promises,” Everly answered. As soon as Sully turned his back, she gave a chef’s kiss to Alanna. “That ass never gets old. And he delivers wine without asking? You’ve got a keeper there.”

“Don’t look at my boyfriend’s ass,” Alanna chided. She followed Everly’s gaze as Sully disappeared into the crowd. “It’s all mine.”

“So, what’s going to happen to the clinic now?” Tess asked, clearly eager to change the subject.

“I’m not sure.” Layla brushed invisible crumbs off her shimmering pink dress. It wasn’t something she’d wanted to think about over the past three weeks. “Dr. Goldman never talked about—”

“Layla. Oh, my darling,” a voice called. The crowd parted like the Red Sea, revealing a

tall, round woman in a pink pantsuit with waves of copper hair. Hannah clapped a hand over her large bosom. “I know Stuart would have appreciated your speech so much.”

The two women embraced, and Layla felt like she could melt into Hannah’s arms. How many times in those early years had Hannah asked…or, more correctly, insisted that Layla come over for dinner after the clinic closed when Layla’s own mother was working late?

“I’ve been trying to get to you for the past hour,” Hannah said as she released Layla. “I was hoping I could speak to you in private, just for a moment.”

“Of course,” Layla answered. She said a quick goodbye to The Crazy Cat Ladies and followed Hannah down a narrow hallway and into the master bedroom. The room was small, neat, and modest, just like Dr. Goldman. A few of the framed photos on the walls showcased the couple’s two adult sons, but most featured Dr. Goldman and Hannah’s three cherub-like grandchildren who had been filling the otherwise somber gathering with their giggles and the patter of racing feet.

Hannah closed the bedroom door, then took Layla’s hands in her own. “Your speech was lovely, dear. Truly. My mascara's a wreck because of it.” The older woman laughed. “You weren’t wrong. Stuart gave the friends and family discount to everyone. He never cared about money, especially when it came to helping animals in need.”

Layla nodded. It was one of the many reasons her boss had been so beloved in the community.

“Stuart filled my life with so much love,” Hannah continued. “We were rich in that way, but as far as financially…” she sighed. “We got by, but we didn’t have much saved up. We haven’t even paid off the house, you see.”

Layla nodded again, though she wasn’t sure where the conversation was going. Was Hannah trying to tell her that she wouldn’t be getting any money from Dr. Goldman’s estate? Layla had never expected to, nor, honestly, did she need it. Cal’s income and lucrative bonuses more than took care of her.

“Stuart and I always considered you the daughter we never had, Layla,” Hannah continued. “So, I wanted you to be the first outside the family to know.” The older woman looked down at their clasped hands. “Last week, someone reached out about buying the clinic.”

“Oh!” Layla shouldn’t have been surprised. Neither of Dr. Goldman’s sons had followed him into veterinary practice, so he couldn’t pass down the clinic. Still, the news still felt like a gut punch.

“The buyer drove a hard bargain, but I needed the money.” Hannah’s eyes watered behind her glasses. “I’ll be able to pay off the house, and I can set up college funds for our grandchildren.”

“Of course, of course,” Layla answered automatically, even as the reality settled over her like a ton of wet concrete. “You sold the clinic,” she said, mostly to herself.

Hannah nodded. “I tried to explain how much All Paws and Claws means to the community. I think he understood. Though, he does seem to have some, um, different ideas about how to run things.”

“Who is he?” Layla asked, her mind spinning with a million questions. “What is he like?”

The bedroom door swung open, revealing an elderly woman holding an ancient chihuahua swaddled in a canary-yellow knitted sweater.

“Hannah, there you are!” Mrs. Moffat exclaimed. “Everyone’s been looking for you. I just have to tell you how much Princess and I loved Stuart. He’s known her since she was a puppy.”

“I’ll be right out,” Hannah called and gently slipped her hands from Layla’s grip. She hugged Layla again. “We’ll talk more later,” she promised.

As Layla watched Hannah leave the room, dread sank through her like a barbed anchor.

*

The sun sat low on the horizon by the time Cal pulled into the driveway of their home. Layla felt as if her soul had been wrung like a washcloth.

Numbly, she followed Cal through the garage and into their large, airy living room and all but collapsed onto the expensive leather sofa. Immediately, Garbo leaped on the couch and marched onto Layla’s lap. The small brown tabby preened, stretching her head into Layla’s palm, demanding scritches.

The constriction in Layla’s heart eased as she stroked Garbo’s cheek. Playful, curious, and completely unaware of her pipsqueak size, Garbo was a daily delight. She’d been born the sickly runt of the litter but was now a bolt of pure energy in cat form.

Layla turned and spotted Garland sitting on the windowsill.

“You want any pets, Garland?” she asked.

The gorgeous calico licked delicately at her paw.

“Suit yourself,” Layla said with a sigh. Garland was shy, aloof, and seemingly allergic to any human lap. Since she’d adopted both kittens several months ago, Layla had tried to give Garland space and patience, but her heart longed for a better bond with the calico.

“Long day,” Cal grunted as he walked to the wet bar and poured himself a scotch. “You doing okay, babe?”

“It was hard,” Layla admitted. “It just doesn’t feel real sometimes. Every morning when I wake up, it takes a moment for me to realize that I won’t see his face or hear his laugh again.”

“Yeah, that’s tough.” Cal dropped heavily onto the couch next to Layla. “Well, here’s something to cheer you up. I spotted a guy at the funeral…er, celebration of life ceremony who’d been in the dealership last week. I’d almost sold him on a new truck, but his wife said no. Poor guy is practically castrated. What a sad fuck.”

Layla bit her lip. She didn’t always like the language Cal used, but she knew that type of talk was normal in the high-octane environment of the dealership where he managed the sales team.

“So, anyway, I flagged him down at the wake.” Cal kicked off his Oxfords. “Mrs. Cockblocker was nowhere in sight, so I got him to agree to come back into the dealership. He says he only wants the basic package, but I bet I can upgrade him.”

Layla turned to Cal with a frown. “You were selling a car… at Dr. Goldman’s celebration of life ceremony?”

Cal took a slow sip of his drink. “Not a car. A truck. Much higher profit margin for the dealership. Plus, I’m six sales behind, and the month closes next week. My team’s gotta haul ass.”

Layla looked down at her lap.

“You’re not mad, are you?” Cal wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You know how important it is to hit my numbers. We need that bonus if we’re going to get that jet ski.” His arm tightened around her. “I’m going to take you out, and we’ll fly across the water. It’s going to be magical.”

Layla forced a smile. “It’s okay. I’m not mad.”

“Good.” Cal blew out a breath.

Garbo flopped onto Layla’s lap, her purr loud.

“I also got some face time with two city council members,” Cal added. “Gotta show ‘em we’re not cowed after that little misunderstanding.”

Layla winced. She hated thinking about the misunderstanding. Just a few weeks ago, Jax had published a local news story revealing that the mayor had tried to underhandedly put the town’s favorite winery out of business. Turns out, Mayor Bishop was doing a favor for a property developer who’d been eyeing the winery’s location. Most damaging of all, Jax had shown that the property developer was a huge corporate donor to the mayor’s election campaign.

The story had ripped through the town of Yucca Hills like wildfire and stained Mayor Bishop’s reputation. The city council had formally censured him and there was even talk he might not win re-election next year if he faced a strong opponent.

All of that would have just been town gossip, except that Mayor Calvin Bishop was set to become Layla’s father-in-law in just a little over two months.

The only saving grace of the entire unpleasant situation is that Jax’s story hadn’t mentioned Calvin Jr. at all. Cal had sworn to Layla that even though he managed his father’s campaign, he’d known nothing about a possible quid pro quo with the property developer. Layla believed her fiancé. Cal had his faults, just like any man, but he couldn’t have had anything to do with trying to destroy The Rose and Thorn. Cal knew how much she and her friends loved the winery. Also, both Jax and Tess worked there.

“You did such a great job on your speech, Rapunzel,” Cal said now. The ice clinked in his glass as he set it on the coffee table. His chilled hand found her thigh, raising goosebumps on her flesh. “And I probably shouldn’t say this, given the situation, but you looked hot, too.”

“Cal!” Layla gasped even as she smiled at him.

He moved his face closer to hers. “You would’ve looked even hotter if you’d worn that diamond necklace I got you for our anniversary and that silky black dress you know I like.”

Layla glanced down at her sparkly pink dress. She wore a matching headband and sandals with pink roses across the toes. Cal often rolled his eyes good-naturedly at her outfit choices. While he preferred his clothes dark, elegant, and shockingly expensive, Layla wrapped herself in all things colorful, sparkly, and sequined.

Whenever she’d worn this particular outfit, Dr. Goldman would often say it made her look like a living rose garden. Wearing it today made her think of him.

“That black dress really shows off your boobs,” Cal murmured. He kissed the side of her neck and nudged Garbo off her lap. The cat made an unhappy sound and stalked to the other side of the couch. Cal’s hand returned to Layla’s thigh and inched up beneath the hem of her dress.

“Cal, I…” Layla placed her hand over his. “It’s been a long day.”

“All the more reason to let off some steam.” He kissed the underside of her jaw.

A familiar pit of guilt formed in Layla’s stomach. “Cal, please,” she said. “Today was Dr. Goldman’s celebration of life ceremony.”

Surely, she was justified in not being in the mood this time.

Cal cupped her breast through her dress with his strong, blunt fingers. “Actually, if anything, I think today taught us how fleeting life can be. How important it is to live in every moment.” His thumb stroked across her nipple through the fabric.

“I… I can’t.” Layla pushed his hand from her breast and scooted away from him on the couch.

Cal sat back, anger rippling across his face. “God, Layla.” He snatched his glass and crossed to the wet bar, where he gave himself another pour.

“I’m sorry.” Layla pulled her braid over her shoulder as waves of guilt washed through her. She had always struggled to keep up with Cal’s need. As much as she tried, she simply couldn’t turn on her desire like a light switch. Often, when she felt stressed, tired, or overwhelmed, sex was the last thing she wanted.

“I give you everything. All this.” Cal swung his glass around the spacious, professionally designed room with its blobby abstract artwork on the walls and floor-to-window ceilings.

“I know,” Layla whispered. Her receptionist job at All Paws and Claws would barely cover the rent of a one-bedroom apartment. It was Cal who had bought this new-build house two years ago. It was Cal who paid for her Audi SUV and who took her on yearly vacations around the world.

“I don’t think I ask for that much in return.” Cal took a heavy slug of his drink.

“Just… just not today, please.” Tears swam in Layla’s eyes. She could have sworn she was out of tears today. Apparently not.

“You’re just so selfish sometimes,” Cal boomed. With quick strides, he crossed the room and disappeared into his large office, slamming the door after him.

Layla sagged on the couch.

A small figure scampered into her lap. Shuddering, Layla pulled Garbo into her chest, inhaling the tabby’s fresh, light smell. She hugged Garbo gently as fresh tears rolled down her face.

Why couldn’t she be the woman her prince charming deserved?