“Well, now you’ll have time to do all that shopping you procrastinated.”
I wrinkled my nose. “What is this work-life balance you speak of?”
“And…” she emphasized, batting her long lashes. “You can come to the mistletoe raising tomorrow night!”
“There is not enough peppermint mocha or oat milk in all of Vermont for that to happen,” I deadpanned. Just thinking of that stupid festival made me want to get in my car and speed back to my apartment.
“Oh, come on, Tobes. It’ll be fun.”
“Yes, because nothing says fun like the vibrant memory of being humiliated and rejected.”
“But that was one time. Does that really overshadow all the other great memories you have?” she asked.
Considering all of my other great memories were focused around the person who also createdthatone,yes.
When I said nothing, Brandy sighed. “Have you seen him yet?”
I focused on the patient list but didn’t actually see the words. “No, and I plan to keep it that way.”
“It’s been a long time. Maybe if?—”
I cut her off. “We should probably get to work. I need to look over the patient files before they arrive. I’d like to be at least a little familiar with each one.”
“I’ll go get that latte for you.”
I pulled a twenty out of my scrub pocket and held it out. “Get one for yourself too. And maybe an eggnog cream puff?”
She took the offered cash but then grabbed my hand. “I really am glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” I said, giving hers a squeeze. “It’s been too long since we’ve seen each other.”
On her way to the door, she called over her shoulder, “All the files are in the cabinet. Organized alphabetically.”
“No iPad?” I asked.
“Yeah, right!”
Shaking my head, I went into the back toward the wall of file cabinets—yes, an entire wall. Probably had over thirty years of records in them too. On the way, I noted the old radio on the counter and paused to switch it on. Surprisingly, the local station came through clearly, and “Frosty the Snowman” filled the air.
A blast of nostalgia hit me hard, and I was seven years old again, the same radio playing the same song as I stole Christmas cookies out of the tin on the counter while wearing a stethoscope around my neck.
“Tobias, come in here, son.Let me show you how to listen to a cat’s heart.”
I’d always loved animals, but my passion for caring for them all started here.
Tucking the memory back inside my heart, I moved to the cabinet, coughing from the dust flying up from the rows of paperwork.
“If Babs can upgrade the bistro, then there’s hope for you yet,” I murmured and got to work pulling the five files I would need for the day.
4
Archer
By the timeI pulled up to the curb at the vet clinic, occasional light whimpers interrupted Marlowe’s panting. It was still early in the morning, so I hoped the place wouldn’t be too busy yet and they could see him right away. Knowing he was in pain made me feel helpless—a feeling I did not enjoy.
After quickly turning off the engine, I pocketed the keys and pulled Marlowe into my arms to start up the sidewalk. As I did, Ms. Keystone turned into the parking lot, her old Buick squealing. I’d barely looked away when there was a loudthunkfollowed by a rubbing sound.
I turned back just in time to see the back tire drop off the curb she’d clearly driven over. Unfazed, the woman drove on, swinging wide into a parking spot and ending slightly off-kilter between the white lines.
