He was back shortly with a bag and a cup carrier. He put them in her lap. “Two hamburgers and fries and two chocolate shakes.”
“How…?”
“Well, it’s easier to tell when you’re wearing parts of them,” he pointed out, indicating chocolate milk stains and mustard and catsup and pieces of food all over her clothes. “Fasten your seat belt.”
She did. “I’ll pay you back,” she said firmly.
He grinned. “Whatever.”
He started the engine and drove her out of town. “You’ll have to direct me. I don’t know where you live.”
She named the road, and then the street. They didn’t talk. He pulled up in the front yard of the dinky little house, with its peeling paint and rickety steps and sagging eaves.
He grimaced.
“Hey, don’t knock it,” she said. “It’s got a pretty good roof and big rooms and it’s paid for. A distant cousin willed it to us.”
“Nice of him. Do you have any other cousins?”
“No. It’s just me and Kell.”
“No other siblings?”
She shook her head. “We don’t have any family left.”
He gave the house a speaking look.
“If we had the money to fix it up, it would look terrific,” she said.
He helped her out of the car and onto the porch. He hesitated about handing her the bag with the food and the carrier of milkshakes.
“Would you like to come in and meet Kell?” she ventured. “Only if you want to,” she added quickly.
“Yes, I would.”
She unlocked the door and motioned him in. “Kell, I’m home!” she called. “I brought company.”
“If it’s wearing lipstick and has a good sense of humor, bring it in here quick!” he quipped.
Dr. Rydel burst out laughing. “Sorry, I don’t wear lipstick,” he called back.
“Oops.”
Cappie laughed and walked toward the room a little unsteadily, motioning the vet to follow her.
Kell was propped up in bed with the old laptop. He paused, eyebrows arched, as they walked in. “We should have ordered more food,” he said with a grin.
Cappie winced. “Well, see, the food is the problem. I was pulling out of the parking lot and the engine died. A drunk man ran into the car and pretty much killed it.”
“Luckily he didn’t kill you,” Kell said, frowning. “Are you all right?”
“Just bruised a little. Dr. Rydel was kind enough to bring me home. Dr. Rydel, this is my brother, Kell,” she began.
“You’re the veterinarian?” Kell asked, and his silvery-gray eyes twinkled. “I thought you had fangs and a pointed tail…”
“Kell!” she burst out, horrified.
Dr. Rydel chuckled. “Only during office hours,” he returned.
