“Oh my God! I’m on my way!” Ashanti started running back to her car before Thad could question her.
“Ashanti,” he called, catching up to her in just a couple of strides. “What’s going on?”
She was shaking so badly that her hand slipped as she tried to open the SUV’s door.
“Ashanti!” Thad said.
“It’s Duchess,” she said. “She was attacked by another dog.”
Thad jutted his chin toward the passenger side. “Get in. I’ll drive.”
36
Ashanti couldn’t stop shivering.
In the five minutes since they’d left the commissary kitchen on their way to the daycare, five million scenarios had played out in her head, all ending with her sweet baby bloody and in pain.
Thad tried to calm her, rubbing his thumb across her hand as he held it and telling her that everything would be okay, but the awfulness crowding her brain wouldn’t allow his words to seep in. She needed to see her Duchess for herself.
“Let me out right here,” Ashanti said the moment they arrived at the daycare.
He didn’t even make a case for parking; just stopped the car in the middle of the street so she could exit.
Ashanti shot up the stairs and into the lobby. Once inside, she shouted, “Where is she? Where’s Duchess?”
Leslie was standing just off to the right of the door, as if she had been waiting for her.
“In back. Evie’s with her,” she said.
Ashanti took off for the intake room, her heart slamming into her chest when she got there.
“We’re okay, Mama,” Evie said, not looking up from where Duchess was stretched out on the table. “No need to panic. She’s going to be fine.”
“Oh, baby,” Ashanti said. Duchess’s stubby tail started wagging and Ashanti burst into tears.
“You’re going to upset her,” Evie said. “Either stop the crying or get out of here.”
She was right. Ashanti sucked in a breath and pulled herself together. She walked up to the table and gently rubbed Duchess’s head while Evie tended to her wounds.
“I’m going to bring her to the clinic for X-rays and stitches, but it isn’t as bad as it could have been,” Evie said. She looked up at Ashanti. “I am saying this with all the love in the world, please stay your ass here until I call for you.”
“No way.” Ashanti shook her head.
“I mean it, Shanti. I don’t need you losing your shit all over my waiting room. She’ll be sedated and won’t be ready to come home for at least four hours. There’s no reason for you to be there. I’ll call when I’m done.” She hitched her chin toward the door. “Now, go get her travel crate so we can get to the clinic.”
“It’s right here,” Colleen said, coming into the room. “I’m going to take Mark to urgent care. He’ll probably need a few stitches.”
“Mark’s hurt too?” Ashanti asked.
It hadn’t even crossed her mind to inquire about anyone else. What had happened here?
“Yeah, he wrestled Duchess away from Sano,” Colleen said, answering her unvoiced question.
Sano.
Ashanti’s stomach dropped.
“Duchess shouldn’t have been near Sano,” she said. “No dog should have. Sano is supposed to be kept separate. I made—”
