She put Mabel’s chart back into place and then reached out to the calf. “Good morning, beautiful girl.”
“Oh, no, you don’t.” Jojo dragged Kat out and into the clinic. “Get your stuff and go. The clock is ticking.”
Jojo was right, but leaving was never easy for Kat. This morning was no different. Dogs barked from the treatment room. A cat yowled, not a patient, but a border in the kennel. Sasha, part Siamese, did not like being away from home.
The sounds weren’t unusual for the small animal section of the clinic, but Kat’s chest tightened. Fighting the urge to take one last look at their patients, she touched Jojo’s arm. “Promise me—”
“I’ll check on Sasha as soon as you leave.” Jojo placed her hand over heart. Amusement twinkled in her eyes, but her voice was sincere. “I’ll take good care of Mabel and the rest who are here, too. We all will. Promise.”
Everything would be fine while Kat was away. She knew that. Jojo and the staff had been caring for animals long before Kat had started veterinary school, and they’d be here long after she left.
“Thanks.” She grabbed her tote bag. “Merry Christmas.”
“You, too.” Jojo hugged her. “Take advantage of any mistletoe you see.”
Kat grinned at the thought. She hadn’t kissed a guy in way too long. “Definitely.”
“And I hope Santa leaves you a hot European under the tree.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice? I have been extra good this year.”
Boringly so.
She almost laughed at how her life consisted of two things—work and sleep. Her biggest social interactions were an occasional happy hour with coworkers and video chats with Sophie, but Kat had plenty of time for romance in the future.
Jojo gave Kat a slight push toward the exit. “Take lots of pictures. I’ll want a full report when you get back.”
“Will do, but I hope you’re not too disappointed. Nothing exciting ever happens to me.”
“Being in a royal wedding and going to Europe is the definition of exciting. Enjoy yourself.” Jojo pulled another piece of hay from Kat’s hair. “And remember, Christmas is a time of magic and miracles.”
“I hope so.” Kat glanced at the clock on the wall and then reached for the door. “I may need a Christmas miracle to make my flight.”
*
Eighteen hours, threeflights, and too many time changes to count later, Kat arrived in Alistonia, a small country located on the eastern side of the Alps. The view of the snow-covered mountains and lakes, some blue and others frozen white, during her flight’s approach had been picturesque, and the decorated-for-the-holidays airport with Christmas carols playing from overhead speakers and twinkling lights hanging everywhere only added to the postcard-perfect charm. Cedar Village was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it small town, but something about this place felt downright cozy.
She adjusted the strap of her tote on her shoulder.
An airport valet placed her luggage on a wheeled cart and rolled that outside to a black limousine. Two tiny blue, yellow, and red striped flags on the hood fluttered in the breeze.
A uniformed driver, an older man with gray hair, greeted her by bowing. “Welcome, Dr. Parsons.”
He must have been told what she looked like.
“Hello.” She stifled a yawn. Traveling had sapped her energy, but the cold air might give her the boost she needed. She hoped so. The cup of coffee on her last flight hadn’t done anything but make her sleepy. She wanted to wake up. “Please, call me Kat.”
The chauffer bowed. “I am Claude. If there’s anything I can do for you while you’re in town, please let me know.”
“Thank you.”
Sophie had said she would take care of all the details once Kat arrived, but she hadn’t expected this kind of service—even though Sophie was royalty.
Kat rubbed her tired eyes. She still had a hard time reconciling her friend’s title with the woman who seemed so grounded and had gone into social work as a profession.
Claude opened the limo passenger door. “Make yourself comfortable.”
If Kat did that, she would fall asleep. The car ride might do the same thing. “Is the drive far?”
