Laughing, I ask, “Why are you terrible?”
“Ugh, don’t even get me started.” Hannah leans closer like she wants to tell me a secret. “This lady, Mrs. Hale, brings an animal psychic to every appointment so that her cat’s ‘needs are vocalized.’ But the ‘needs’ are always just billing complaints. She’s back there now,” she warns, shuddering.
“Yikes. You want me to talk some sense into her? Anything I can do?” I ask jokingly.
Hannah laughs. “No, you’ll only make it worse.”
“That is absolutely accurate. And, unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of time. Do you mind paging my girlfriend to let her know I’m here?”
“Sure thing. It shouldn’t be too long.” She presses a few buttons on the intercom system.
“Great, thanks.” I plop down on the nearest waiting room couch and pull out my phone from my pocket. I’m scrolling through sports news headlines when Hannah says, “Daisy, right?”
A golden retriever barks as an older woman with graying brown hair walks out from the back area to the front desk. “Oh, I see here you’re a member of the Charger Program, so you’re all set!” Hannah says cheerfully.
I lock my phone and sit up straighter.Did she just say what I think she said?
“Thank you so much; have a great day.” Hannah waves goodbye as the woman and her golden leave the clinic.
I take a moment to gather my thoughts before heading back up to reception. Hannah glances up from her computer. “I think Dr. Sinclair is on her last patient before lunch. Do you need something?”
“No, no. I just had a question for you.”
“For me? Sure.”
I drum my fingers on the desk. “I might’ve misheard something while I was camped out over there. Did you mention a program named ‘Charger?’”
Hannah nods and pulls out a brochure from the wall rack. Handing me the pamphlet, she explains, “It’s been around since we first opened. Pet owners who need financial assistance can apply for the program. If they’re accepted, Dr. Sinclair does preventative care and in-office procedures pro bono. Honestly, she never declines an applicant.”
She continues talking, but all I can focus on is the brochure in my hands, or more specifically, the logo on the front—an outline of a chocolate labrador. The lab has a collar that says “Charger Program” on it.
I interrupt Hannah as gently as possible. “You’ve been incredibly helpful. I’m actually going to wait in her office to read this, if that’s okay.”
She gives me a questioning look but buzzes me through. I glance out the window to make sure the rideshare driver is still waiting before hustling down the hallway for some privacy. Gracie’s office smells like her, but not even that can distract me from this news. I sit on the squeaky office chair behind her desk to process everything. If she created this program when her clinic opened, it’s been a few years now.
All this time, she was thinking of me, just like I was thinking of her, both of us weaving little pieces of each other into the fabric of our lives. I gently unfold the brochure Hannah gave me.Happy, drooly dogs are on every page, alongside the chocolate lab logo.
“Fucking Mrs. Hale,” Gracie mutters, walking into her office. “Agh! What are you doing in here?”
“I’m sorry for startling you.”
Gracie studies me as a tiny pinch forms between her brows, visibly confused. “What’s wrong?”
I slowly lift my hand, facing the brochure out.
Her eyes widen. “Where did you…?”
“Hannah.” I shrug, ducking my chin to better view her expression. “Is it… It’s forourCharger, right?”
Gracie slowly nods, taking the brochure from me and setting it on her desk. We both move to hug each other at the same time and collide in a hard embrace. We softly sway together for a few moments.
Holding her tightly, I admit, “Sometimes, when I used to dream about us getting back together, just like this, I’d think,maybe she’s thinking of me, too. But I’d dismiss it, Gracie. I never thought you…”
“I wasalwaysthinking of you,” she whispers.
Breathing in her coconut and vanilla scent, I find myself transported back to high school. I lean away slightly to kiss the side of her nose. I knew that Gracie cared for me, but to have proof that she loved me—as more than just a memory—even when I wasn’t with her nearly brings me to my knees.
Our fingers intertwine as we walk to the car waiting in front of her clinic. Stopping just outside the door, we turn to face each other. She tilts her chin up in question, and I answer with my lips, pressing mine to hers in a quick kiss.
