Chapter 4
Chapter Four
On a whim the next morning, I swing by Norma’s Cafe on my drive into Sequoia Valley and pick up few boxes of bagels, some cream cheese, and two large thermoses of coffee for our clients, Fernando, Vicki, and me to enjoy.
Between the blueberry, cinnamon raisin, cranberry orange, everything, and plain options, there should be something for everyone. Hopefully Fernando likes one of them. At least I know Vicki will eat anything.
I pull into the parking lot and climb out of the car around six-thirty.
The clinic won’t start until eight, but it takes about an hour to get everything set up.
I rub my hands over my forearms. It’s about fifty degrees.
Many of the leaves have fallen from the trees around me.
There’s a thin layer of tule fog in the air that’ll burn off by the afternoon.
I have a zip-up fleece jacket over my scrubs and could still use another layer.
Walking around to the other side of my truck, I pull open the door and shuffle the boxes around as a blue sedan pulls up alongside me.
Fernando is in the front seat. He removes his sunglasses and rolls down the driver’s side window.
His eyes are lit up with excitement. “Good morning, Ava! Or should I say Dr. Brown?”
His hair is slightly damp from the shower. A few notes of his aftershave hit my nose. It’s a clean scent—cardamom or amber, I think. “Hi, Fernando. Ava is fine. You’re here early.”
“I was up at my usual time. I can’t ever sleep in. I hit the gym, then figured I’d play some games on my phone until you got here. But since you’re early too, you might as well put me to work.”
Ah-ha. That’s one reason he gets up early. He must be a gym rat. Unless he works there. I can picture him being a personal trainer. Heck, working with him would inspire me, and I haven’t even set foot in a gym since high school.
He rolls up his window and exits the car. He’s dressed casually in jeans and a short-sleeve black T-shirt, fitted just as snugly as the one he wore yesterday. “Can I help you carry anything in?”
I redirect my attention to my passenger seat. “Please, I have some coffee that’s a little heavy. If you could get one of the jugs, I’ll come back for the other after I take the bagels in.”
Picking up the pink bakery boxes in one hand, I fish the keys to the clinic out of my pocket with the other and unlock the front door.
The lights hum to life. I place my load on the receptionist counter, rubbing my hands together.
“I should turn the heat on for a bit.” Fernando, a step behind me, places the two jugs of coffee next to the boxes.
My gaze travels to his bare arms. “Do you want to borrow a jacket? I think there’s one in your size in the back. ”
“No, I’m fine.” He waves me off. “It’s a lot warmer than we keep it at work.” He chuckles.
I place a hand on my hip. “Is that the gym?”
“No. The mafia,” he deadpans.
He’s thrown me for a loop. I have no idea how to respond to that. I haven’t had my coffee yet, and my brain is moving at the speed of a sloth. “Uh . . .”
“I’m only joking. I work in downtown Sequoia Valley.”
There goes my personal-trainer theory. I wish he’d stop playing games with me. “No, what I meant was—”
“Hey, Dr. B.” Vicki enters the building, interrupting us. “Oh, you brought bagels! You rock!” She crosses the room and immediately makes a beeline for the breakfast food. “Have I ever told you you’re my favorite boss—oh hi!”
She notices Fernando and stares for several seconds, a hand hovering over the bagel box.
“Good morning.” He grins, flashing a cheeky smile and rolling his Rs as usual.
“Vicki, this is Fernando. He’s going to be helping us out this morning,” I interject.
“Fantastic.” She smacks her lips together.
I feel a twinge of jealousy. “Fernando, if you don’t mind, can I have you grab our refreshment table? It’s in the closet of the exam room we gave Robin the bath in.”
“Si, anything you want, Ava.”
Vicki’s eyes continue to follow him until he’s out of sight and earshot, and then she lets out a low whistle.
“Is that the guy from the other day? I recognize his voice! I didn’t think he’d be so handsome in person.
” She fans herself. “I can’t believe you scored a date with him! Does he have a brother? Or a friend?”
I furrow my brow and glance toward the back door. “Vicki!” I admonish, lowering my voice. “It’s not like that. Our relationship is strictly professional. He’s volunteering here today as a way of paying me back for all the help I gave him over the phone. That’s all.”
“So you’re not dating him?” she says slowly.
“No,” I answer quickly.
“Would you mind if I asked him out on a date, then?”
I don’t know why, but I feel possessive of Fernando. It’s not like I’m looking to date anyone. After the Dylan fiasco, it’s the last thing I want. “Be my guest,” I murmur, forcing a smile onto my face. “But I have no idea if he’s single.”
The words come out more bitter than I intended.
It’s not like I have a claim on him. But some irrational part of me wants to pull him aside and say, Actually, he’s helping me today.
Maybe he’s here for me. Ridiculous, I know.
I don’t do spontaneous or bold. “Don’t worry. I’ll find out,” I tell her instead.
“Where would you like this?” Fernando reenters the room.
I point to a spot opposite the door, near the wall overfilled with bags of dry cat and dog food. “Right there would be great.”
I watch as Vicki confidently strides up to Fernando, breakfast in hand, and initiates a conversation about his favorite types of animals and whether he has any pets. It’s like watching a Hallmark movie meet-cute play out.
My mouth suddenly feels like I’ve stuffed a bag of sour Warheads into it. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. This isn’t supposed to matter. I can’t watch. I need to get away. “I’m gonna go and look for the tablecloth, cups, and other stuff,” I announce.
Vicki shoots me a silent “I owe you one for letting us be alone” look, and as quickly as my feet can carry me, I flee to the safety of the back.
Inside the break room, I whip out my phone and decide to spend a few minutes scrolling through Photogram.
I pulled out all the supplies we need last night.
They’re in a box on the counter behind me.
The app loads and greets me with some adorable puppy photos, my niece and nephew, Mom’s dinner, then finally, Dylan.
I freeze and stare blankly at the snapshot of him standing in front of a white door, dangling a set of keys. The caption reads: “The next adventure begins now. Couldn’t be more excited to be back home again.”
I frown. He arrived in Fort Collins already?
And he didn’t text me to let me know? I back out of Photogram and pull up my texts.
Nope, he didn’t. It’s not like him. I know things might be a little weird between us after I confessed my feelings for him, but I didn’t think the dynamic would change so quickly.
Leaning against the door, I take a few slow, deep, steadying breaths.
I fight the urge to send him a text. I can’t get worked up about this.
Maybe he was just busy or too tired. He’s had to drive for three days straight, after all.
Yeah, that has to be it. I’m still hurting deeply, but I do want us to continue being friends.
A couple minutes later, in a slightly better headspace after my second cup of coffee and a few Reese’s Pieces from my secret candy stash, I reenter the lobby.
Vicki is sitting behind the computer, while Fernando is laying out some clipboards and pens on another folding table that’s been set up opposite the door.
“Did you find everything?” Vicki asks without looking up.
“I did. Took a little while though.” I set the box of supplies on top of the table. “We’ll need to pick up more utensils before next month. I raided the break room to make sure we had enough.”
“I’ll add it to the Costco list.”
As I begin to open the tablecloth, Fernando slides up next to me. There’s some heat rolling off his body. No wonder he prefers short sleeves. “What’s next, Dr. B?”
“The plan is to cover this.” I gesture to the table. “Then set up the food and have Vicki give you a brief crash course on how to sign people in.”
Hearing this, my receptionist looks up, cocking her head to the side. “And what am I going to be doing?”
“You’ll be my tech.”
“Yes! Finally!” She fist-pumps. “Dr. Conti never let me do anything, but you can count on me, boss! I’m ready.”
“I won’t have to use a computer, will I?” Fernando’s large eyes widen with concern.
“No.” I shake my head. “Clinics are usually just good ol’ fashion paper and pens.
A lot of the people today we’ll only see as a one-off.
Your job will be to make sure all the paperwork is filled out to make it easy for Vicki.
She’ll be the one ringing the clients up, processing payments, and recording the vaccine info.
The next time you’re here though, we’ll add in the computer,” I joke, fully expecting this to be his one and only time he volunteers.
He wipes his brow with mock relief. “Sí, next time. I’ll be ready.”
“Come on, Nando, we only have about fifteen minutes ’til the doors open.” Vicki gently pushes him toward the reception area.
I can’t believe Vicki’s already given him a nickname. I shake my head and wander back into exam room one.
“I’d count today as a major win, Dr. B,” Vicki exclaims as we sit in the lobby munching on some of the leftover bagels.
“What was the final count?” I ask.
“Thirty-four. We had twenty-six dogs and eight cats.”
“That is a good turnout,” I agree, happy to finally sit after being on my feet for most of the morning and afternoon. I’ve definitely got all my steps in for the day. Another reason I don’t need a gym membership.
“It felt a lot busier than that.” Fernando sips on his coffee. “I could’ve sworn you helped a hundred patients.”