Her head swung around.“Oh.Yeah.”
He walked over and opened the passenger side door for her.Once she got in, he handed her the dog.After closing the door, he strode around the front of the pickup and got in the driver’s side.
He started the engine and cranked up the heat.When he glanced over at Holly, she was staring straight ahead.“Holly, you forgot your seatbelt.”
“Oh, yeah.”
After she clicked her seatbelt into place, he put the pickup in gear and pulled out.They didn’t have far to go.Kringle Falls wasn’t that big.But they did have to go to the other side of town.
It was okay.They didn’t have to talk.He could do silence.Wait.No, he couldn’t.He enjoyed their conversations.
“So, the dogs are missing Tater Tot.They were wondering if he could come over for a play date.”
She didn’t say anything.
“I, uh, meant to stop by yesterday, but things were busy at the clinic.It’s like the Kringle Falls furry population all had accidents.Let’s see, there was a dog that ate two Christmas ornaments.Luckily, they weren’t glass.Can you believe that?He’s still under observation.We’re hoping it’ll pass, but we don’t know.”
“We had a cat that thinks it is Houdini.One moment the cat was on the exam table.The next moment, the cat had disappeared.We had to chase him throughout the office.At one point, we lost sight of him.The next thing you know, we find him sleeping on my desk chair.”He chanced a quick glance at Holly, who was staring down at Tater Tot and petting him.“And then we found three newborn kittens abandoned by the door.Luckily a patient’s parent stumbled upon them before they froze.They are now fed and warm.”
“How do you do that?”she asked.
“Do what?”He put on the turn signal.
“Take care of animals that other people are willing to discard?Not exactly the kittens but the other animals that are injured and stuff.”
He shrugged.“I guess I see what other people can’t or aren’t willing to see.”
“And what’s that?”
“That behind their growls and cowering is fear.I know that in their flaws, their strength and beauty shines through.”
When he glanced over at Holly, her mouth gaped.It took her a moment to find her voice.“You are very special.All of the animals that pass through your life are very lucky to have known you.”
He shook his head.“I don’t deserve your kind words.I don’t do anything special.”
“But you do.”She was quiet for a moment, as though searching for the right words.“You do more for them than some parents do for their own children.”
Ouch.He didn’t see that coming.Even when they were kids, she rarely mentioned her parents.He had no idea what he was supposed to say in response.And so, he chose not to say anything at all.
A couple minutes later, they’d arrived at their destination.He hoped this outing would lift Holly’s spirits.
Holly looked around.“The Wagner Tree lot.Why did you bring us here?”
He turned off the engine before turning to her.“I thought that would be obvious.To get a Christmas tree.”
She looked puzzled.“You already have a tree.”
“Not for me.It’s for you.”
Her eyes lit up.Then she shook her head.“I don’t think so.You’ve seen my place.It’s not exactly ready for Christmas decorations.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your place.”
She rolled her eyes.“You’re just being kind.”
“Don’t worry about it.We’ll find a tree to fit in the corner of the living room.”
She shook her head.“No.”
