“It shouldn’t take longer than an hour to get there and back, but if you need me, call my cell.” He unhooked the c-clip from his buckle, ready to leave.
He was out the door when he realized he should clue Luna into the plan. With a hesitant glance behind him at the falling snow, he returned inside and went directly to the kitchen.
He didn’t see her, but Aloni stirred soup in a large dutch oven. “Have you seen Luna?”
“Mercy tripped and skinned her knee.” Aloni set the long-handled spoon aside. “Luna went to help calm her down.”
“Are they in the daycare center?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks.” He jogged down the hall and saw Luna cuddling Mercy. “Can I talk to you a minute?”
“Sure.” She whispered something in Mercy’s ear and the young girl toddled away toward a toy piano. “What’s going on?”
“Have you heard from the vet again? The snow’s coming down hard and they upped the forecasted accumulation. My gut tells me they’ll close early.”
“No, but I 1haven’t checked my phone. I’m low on minutes and turned it off.”
He forgot she had a pay-as-you-go phone that she only used as necessary. “I’ll call, or you can use my phone and give them a call if you don’t mind. Rachel might need me to pick up the ladies at work, and I don’t want to miss out on getting Hope today.”
“Where will she stay?” A disapproving expression swept over Luna’s face. “You can’t just drop her off at your house and leave her.”
Her lack of faith in him hurt, more than he cared to admit. “I’ve already cleared it with Rachel to bring her here.”
“Oh.” She ducked her head. “I’m sorry.”
“No problem.” He pulled out his phone. “Do you want to call?”
“Yes, please.” Taking the phone from him, she stared at the screen. “Your phone is different than mine. How do I unlock it?”
He took the phone back, pressed his finger against the sensor, then gave it to her again. “It needs my fingerprint. I keep meaning to change my settings, but you’re good to go now.”
Luna put the phone to her ear after dialing the number, and her head bobbed as she carried a brief conversation, to which Carl could only hear her side. “Thank you. I’ll make sure she’s picked up by two.”
The phone call ended, and he took back his phone. “Let me guess, they are closing at two?”
“Two-thirty, but they want all animals picked up by two to allow time for the paperwork.”
“I’ll head that way now. Can you come with?”
Regret flickered in her doe-like eyes. “I wish I could, but I have duties here.”
“Rachel’s only request is that we keep her away from the kids until we know how she’ll act.” He pointed across the way, in the general direction of his office. “I thought we could keep her in my office for now. It stays warm and mostly quiet.”
“Fine with me.”
“I’ll be back with her soon. Have you told the girls?”
“No. I didn’t want them upset if Hope doesn’t pull through.”
“Gotcha.” A forceful wind rattled the windows. “I better go before it gets worse.”
“Be careful,” she called after him.
He glanced back, saw her watching him leave. The scene twisted his insides, felt more intimate than it should. For the countless time that month he reminded himself they were only friends, and that’s all they could be.
Chapter Five
