Page 15 of Daycare Santa

Chapter 6

“We’re here to registerLuca Wright.” Seya glanced sideways at Gina, as if to keep her quiet.

Gina tipped her head sideways and cleared her throat because Seya was doing things outside of the agreed order. On the way over, they decided their first move would be to find out about the dog. Standing at the counter, Gina asked herself why she let Seya talk her into another visit.

We could have tried somewhere else, instead of coming back here.She didn’t say the words, but Seya stared hard at her as if she’d heard that thought.

“Luca will love it here,” she offered, squeezing Gina’s arm. “He told me so.”

“Right,” Gina grumbled. “Maybe we should get him some rabies shots first.”

“He’ll be fine.” Seya lowered her voice. “I haven’t forgotten about the dog. Stay positive.”

Gina would have asked about the bright side of this situation, which she couldn’t see, but Seya turned away to speak with the attendant. Friday’s incident brought back terrible memories she’d rather forget.

A stray dog bit Gina when she was ten, and she’d had a tetanus shot. She hated needles, so having her parents hold her still while the doctor administered the injection made that trauma worse.

She’d bawled and grizzled most of that afternoon and wouldn’t allow anyone to console her. Since then, she avoided dogs but hadn’t lost the deathly fear that made her relive the experience every time she came across aggressive four-footed critters that didn’t have owners.

“Thatdog only bit you because the boys were taunting it and it felt threatened,” Seya said gently.

“Don’t remind me,” Gina replied under her breath. “And anyway, this is a daycare, not a petting zoo, which brings back the one question I have.”

She faced the female at the counter, who reminded her of Zack a little bit. “Sorry about that. I already filled in the paperwork, but changed my mind yesterday afternoon.”

“I remember.”

Gina was grateful the woman didn’t laugh in her face. She could have, after Gina’s outrage yesterday and canceling her payment. Now, thanks to Seya, here she was again. Gina’s gaze strayed to Emily’s polo shirt with the center’s logo on the chest and her name spelled out on a small gold pin framed in black.

“That’s perfectly okay. How will you be paying?”

“Credit card.” She handed it over, then asked, “Where is the gentleman who brought in the dog?”

Seya glared to indicate she was working her way around to the question they should have asked when they first arrived. Gina didn’t care. If she left the matter up to Seya, she’d make small talk all afternoon.

“Zack is in the office. You wish to speak with him?” Emily asked.

A weird shiver passed through Gina’s chest as she nodded. “Yes, please.”

“Can you wait a moment?” Emily asked, holding out the receipt.

“Sure.” Gina stashed the slip of paper inside the sleeve with her bank card, where she could find it if she needed it again.

Meanwhile, Emily went through a door behind the counter, interrupting the flow of graphics that extended across the wall. No wonder children loved the place.

While they waited, Seya wandered to a set of chairs on one side of the room and pulled out her phone.

Gina scanned the area behind the counter for want to something better to do. Everything was neat and organized, which was a good sign. A tidy environment was a plus in Gina’s book, even if she still wasn’t one hundred percent comfortable with this place.

The door opened again, and Emily pointed to the gate built into the counter. “Zack is inviting you inside.”

Seya rose from the seat and joined Gina. They followed Emily down a corridor, which connected with another passage. The door she held open carried an unusual name plate. A riot of pink flowers circled ‘Lizette’ written in elegant cursive.

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