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“And the cat’s been eating and drinking normally?”

“Yes. She eats all her food, and we have to fill her water bowl frequently.”

“Give it a few more days, then. If she’s still eating and drinking and doesn’t appear to be in any discomfort, I would just peg it as her being temperamental and missing your mom.”

“Okay.”

Now that it didn’t appear there was anything wrong with Queenie, Rori just wanted to escape the awkwardness of the appointment. Embarrassing herself in front of a handsome man was just how she liked to start a Wednesday morning.

Not…

“Continue to offer her affection and as many pets as she’ll tolerate,” the vet continued. “If you have any more concerns, don’t hesitate to call us.”

Though she’d thought she’d seen twitches of humor from him, right then, his expression was professional. If he found her situation funny, he was hiding it well.

“Thank you.” Rori stepped closer to the exam table, trying not to think about how much this visit might end up costing her.

“Have a nice day,” the vet said with a final smile, then he left the room, though the woman stayed behind.

“Have you had a cat before?” the woman asked as she stroked Queenie’s fur.

“No. My mom couldn’t have a cat until recently, since a couple of us kids were allergic to them.”

“Well, I’ve grown up with cats my whole life and some of them are just aloof and very particular about who they choose to grace with their affection.” The woman helped her get Queenie into the carrier. “Just hang in there. As long as she’s acting normal in every other way, don’t worry about her.”

Leaving the exam room, Rori definitely felt reassured about the cat’s health. She just wished it hadn’t cost her her dignity. Oh… maybe more than just her dignity. A little bit of pride had been sacrificed as well.

At the front counter, the receptionist who’d greeted her earlier smiled at Rori. When she got up to retrieve a copy of the bill from the printer, Rori saw that the woman was noticeably pregnant.

Once she’d paid the bill—ouch!—a sudden inspiration struck Rori, and she decided to take a chance. “You don’t happen to have any job openings here, do you?”

The woman rubbed a hand over her swollen abdomen. “We did have one for my replacement, but we recently hired someone.”

Rori wasn’t sure why she felt disappointed. It had been a shot in the dark to begin with. She hadn’t even contemplated looking for a job while she was in Serenity Point until that moment.

“Well, if something comes up, keep me in mind. I’ve done receptionist and secretarial work and could even do janitorial if you needed it.”

The woman nodded. “Send me your resume at the clinic’s email address, and I’ll keep it on file in case something comes up.”

After thanking her, Rori picked up the cat and left the large building. She put the carrier on the back seat on the driver’s side, then she slipped behind the wheel. For a moment, Rori just sat there.

Did she really want a job in Serenity?

She was currently unemployed, which was why she’d been able to come to cat-sit for her mom. Her job as a receptionist at a dental office had ended when the owners had decided to close the practice and retire.

They’d given her a generous severance package, which was the only reason she wasn’t desperately searching for a new job just yet. As long as she was careful with her money, she should be okay for a bit.

Until she’d arrived in Serenity, Rori hadn’t really contemplated moving away from Denver. However, she was getting the chance to see a new place without it costing her anything. Her mom had paid for her plane ticket and was covering all her expenses while in Serenity, plus she’d mentioned paying her for her time there.

It was a bit insane that her mom had spent so much money to have someone watch her cat, especially when there were people at the property who could have taken care of Queenie.

Over a year ago, her mom had married for the third time. This husband was a wealthy retired real estate tycoon who had a large spread of land near Serenity. He had horses, but they weren’t Rori’s responsibility. Neither was the cooking or cleaning, since he had a housekeeper for that.

Though it was clear that Rori’s mom didn’t interact with the woman much, Essie had been friendly to Rori. The older woman probably had some questions about why Rori had been flown in to watch a cat, but she’d never voiced them.

With a sigh, Rori turned the key to start the engine of the only vehicle her mom had given her permission to drive. She glanced into the rearview mirror as she prepared to back out of the parking spot and winced at her reflection.

She’d rolled out of bed that morning and pulled on a pair of sweats and a sweatshirt. After doing her morning skin care routine, she’d forgone any makeup and twisted her hair up into a messy bun. She was a hot mess.

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