Page 118 of Perfect Harmony

“Gracie?” Connor stepped into the hallwayand motioned for Grace to come into his office.

She plopped down in the chair. “How’s itgoing? Did you see that Mrs. Morris is back? Apparently, the Harmony Falls DentalClinic is just as mean as us when it comes to cleanings.”

She grinned at Connor, her smile faltering whenhe didn’t return it. “What’s wrong?”

“Have you talked to Gideon this afternoon?”

“No, I mean, my phone is in my locker so maybehe’s texted me. Why? What’s going on? Is he hurt?” Fear spiked in her belly.“Shit, Connor, is he -”

“He’s fine,” Connor said quickly. “ButKira just called me. Tank is at the vet. He has bloat. It’s pretty bad.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. Adrenalinebuzzed through her veins and she clutched at the arms of the chair.

“Kira just left the vet now – she has ameeting with a client she can’t miss – but she’s worried about Gideon. He’snot taking it very well. Tank is just going into surgery and -”

“I have to go,” Grace said. “I’m sorry,but I -”

“I know,” he said. “I’ve already asked Aliceto do your last two cleanings. Go, Grace.”

She jumped up and raced to the staff room,cursing when it took her two tries to open the combination on her locker. Shegrabbed her purse and ran out the back door to the employee parking lot.

She checked her phone as she started hercar, freezing for a moment when there were no missed calls or texts from Gideon.He hadn’t even tried to call her. Hurt was sliding in with the panic and shepushed it aside. Now was not the time for hurt feelings. Gideon needed her.

* * *

She ran into the lobby of Brandt VeterinaryClinic twenty minutes later. Gideon was sitting in a chair, staring at thefloor with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Preacher was sittingbeside him.

“Gideon!” She sat on his other side and puther arm around him. She didn’t give one shit that Preacher or the receptionistwere watching them. “Honey, how’s Tank?”

He didn’t look up or reply. She could seehis throat working compulsively and she rubbed his back through his vest and kissedhis shoulder.

“He’s in surgery,” Preacher said. “Hisstomach is twisted or some shit like that.”

“Gastric dilatation and volvulus,” Gideonsaid dully.

Preacher squeezed Gideon’s other shoulder.“Dr. Brandt said if they didn’t do emergency surgery and put his stomach backinto the proper place, Tank would die.”

Gideon shuddered under her hand and shesaid quickly, “He’s not going to die, honey.”

“He might.” Gideon’s voice was hoarse andso full of pain and fear that she had to blink back her immediate tears. “Warrensaid it’s the worse case of bloat he’s ever seen. Tank was already going intoshock by the time Guardians got him here. They brought him in as soon as hestarted showing symptoms. If they’d waited even a half hour longer, Tank wouldbe dead.”

He shuddered again and she pressed evencloser to him. “I’m so sorry, honey.” She cupped his face and made him lookat her. “He’s going to be okay.”

“You don’t know that.” His face was grim,and his eyes were hollow.

He pulled away from her grip and stared atthe floor again. Feeling sick to her stomach, she continued to rub his back asthe three of them sat in silence.

* * *

When Warren walked through the door that separatedthe lobby from the rest of the clinic, Grace felt Gideon’s entire body gostiff. She reached for his hand, trying not to flinch when he grabbed it andsqueezed so hard her fingers went numb.

All three of them stood as Warren stoppedin front of them. Gideon stared silently at Warren, the look on his face heartbreakingin its pain.

“He’s waking up from anesthesia. The de-rotationof his stomach went very well. There was no stomach necrosis, no intestinalcompromise, and his spleen looks good. We’ve tacked his stomach to hisabdominal wall. All things considered, he got lucky with what could have gonewrong,” Warren said.

Gideon visibly exhaled, his body slumping,but he continued to hold Grace’s hand in a tight grip.

“Thank fucking Christ,” Preacher said.

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