Chapter 4 #2
“Doctor Holly! Can you help us? I found Dexter under the bed this morning,” the woman starts to cry.
“This way,” Holly says, calling them forward into the back rooms.
I see her put an arm around the child and comfort him. Then they are gone.
Carol and I get to work, trying to control our own emotions. There is no more talk of Landon.
“Rest in peace, baby.” She says it softly and it requires no reply.
For the remainder of the day, work takes its rightful place.
My attention is on the animals and their humans.
Thankfully we have been busy, so I have not dwelled on the crying boy or his deceased best friend.
There is just enough time before the five o’clock closing to see what Holly was talking about.
“I’ll be in the back,” I say to Carol who has her eyes on the screen in front of her.
“K. Don’t forget the story you want to tell me.”
The phone sounds and Carol turns her attention away from me. Heading for Holly’s office, I take two of the hard candies meant for customers. More often they are in one of the staff’s mouths. The door is open, but I knock anyway.
“Is this a good time?”
Holly looks up from her writing and smiles. “Can I have one of those?” she says, motioning for a candy.
I toss her the butterscotch and take a seat.
“So what’s the latest about finding a full-time job? Any luck?”
“Not yet. I’m waiting for the right fit. If needed, I could get along without working for awhile.”
“Good. You have a cushion then?”
“Thankfully. But I like working.”
“You’d be a great addition to anything you pursue.”
“My problem is I want something that feeds my soul. Like this has. It’s my thing. I need purpose.”
“I’m sorry we can’t keep you full-time. You have been a godsend these last six months. Thank you so much for helping us out. But I promised Judi she’d have her job back after maternity leave.”
“Believe me I get it. You were clear from day one, boss.”
Her hand reaches across the desk for mine.
“I hate that we are not going to see you every day.”
“It’s been so much fun working here. But there’s a silver lining. Now, I will have more time for play. At least temporarily.”
Her face lights. “Speaking of. How did it go last night? I mean other than the creep following you into the bathroom. Geez.”
I am surrounded with people who want to dish. About me. In this case I’m willing to share.
“Yeah, that was freaky. But it’s over now. Landon and your husband took care of it.”
“I’ve never seen Landon watching a woman like he was watching you.”
“He’s interesting. I don’t know anything more than that.”
“He’s into you. Lex and I agree. And besides, he is hot as hell. If you like the brooding type.”
“I know! You’re right on both counts.” I add another tidbit. “He brought me home on the Fat Boy this morning.”
“Is that a euphemism?” She giggles.
Our laughter is interrupted by serious faced Carol, who leans in the doorway.
“Landon’s on the phone. He wants to talk to you.”
She acts like she has just delivered the nation’s breaking news. For emphasis, two lifted palms and a head nod follow the report.
“See!” Holly says, shooing me out.
I try walking at the normal pace, to prove coolness. But I want to run.
“Hello?” I say, picking up the receiver and taking a seat. Did my voice sound normal? I turn my back to Carol, who isn’t more than a foot away.
“Hi. Did I wait long enough?”
“You didn’t have to wait at all.” Oh that was a good one, Kim.
I may have surprised him because there is a slight pause.
“Um, so dinner.” Nothing follows the two words.
“What about it?”
“I was thinking we could go tomorrow night. You up for Thai food? If you aren’t a fan, we could go somewhere else.”
“That sounds nice. I love Thai.”
“Okay. I’ll pick you up at seven then.”
“Perfect.”
There’s silence, like he has run out of conversation. Is he nervous or just a man of few words?
“It will be fun. Thanks for the invite,” I say, filling in the gap.
He grumbles as if being required to add words is too painful.
“I’ll see you at seven tomorrow night,” I add.
“Okay. Have a good day. Night, I mean. It’s five already.”
His discomfort is kind of adorable.
“Bye.”
“Bye,” he says obviously ready to end the stimulating conversation.
He disconnects before I do. I turn toward Carol, whose eyes are burning a hole in my back.
“That was quick,” she says.
“He said everything he needed to. We are going to dinner tomorrow.”
I rise and grab the keys. Time to lock up. Just as I reach the door, the little scruffy mama dog shows up in front of the clinic. She takes a seat on the sidewalk, just staring at me. Oh, damn. Thinking fast, I grab a couple of doggie bones from the lobby table.
“Here’s that dog!”
“Open the door! Put the treats down and see if she wants it bad enough to overcome her fear,” Carol says.
The bones get deposited about four feet inside.
Very slowly, I open the door, all the while trying to make myself as invisible as possible.
She doesn’t take off. We hold our breaths.
Slowly the tired dog creeps forward. Her skin must be itchy poor little baby.
She’s filthy and feces is matted against her backside.
Holly stays against the doorway to the offices. The hungry pup smells a bone. Hesitantly at first. But when she decides it is safe, quickly goes for the next two. I gently push the door shut.