Page 31 of Perfect Harmony

Keisha laughed. “Cool. Your next appointment’sat the front.”

“Thanks. I’ll be right there.”

* * *

“Grace?”

Grace turned in Wanda’s driveway, a smile crossingher face. She hurried over and embraced the older man. “Hi, Warren. How areyou?”

“I’m good.”

She studied him for a moment. “You look good.”Warren was Dr. Warren Brandt, owner and head veterinarian of Brandt VeterinaryClinic, and Harper’s father.

He smiled at her as they walked up thedriveway toward Wanda and Murray’s bungalow. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good, thanks. I was texting withHarper a few nights ago and she said you hired another vet at the clinic.”

“I did,” Warren said. “A young fellownamed Nathan. He’s been working a few weeks now, real smart guy.” A grincrossed his bearded face. “A lot of my younger female clientele have been especiallyeager to book appointments with him.”

Grace laughed. “Harper said he’s also beendoing the emergency calls at night now?”

“Yes. I’m too old to be getting up atthree in the morning to help a mare foal or pull some quills out of a dog’smouth. He’s been a real help, that’s for sure. I’m glad I finally bit thebullet and hired someone.”

“Maybe you’ll finally get to take that cruiseyou’ve always talked about.”

“Maybe,” he said. “Wanda pulled you in forthis volunteer thing too, huh?”

“She did,” Grace said. “How’d she trapyou?”

“You know she’s been fostering a cat for LittleWhiskers Rescue, right? She brought him in for a check up on Monday and beforeI knew it, I was volunteering for her fundraiser.”

“She’s a wily one,” Grace said.

“That she is,” Warren said with a laugh asthe front door opened and Wanda waved them in.

“What are you two whispering about?” shesaid.

“How good you are at getting people tovolunteer,” Grace said.

“I am good at it, aren’t I?” Wanda said witha saucy grin. “It’s my superpower.”

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Warren said. “Gotheld up at the clinic.”

“And I’m late because I got lost on thedrive over,” Grace said. “Being lost ismysuperpower.”

Wanda laughed. “Neither of you are evenlate. We’re just meeting in the dining room. Follow me.”

They followed her to the dining room. Thetable had a few trays of veggies and dip, a fruit tray, some bowls of pretzels,and a platter with cheese and meat. A pitcher of lemonade sat in the middle.

Grace smiled at the woman closest to herbefore sliding into the chair next to her. “Rayna, how are you?”

“Hey, Grace. Same as always.”

“What happened to your arm?” Grace said.

Rayna glanced at the bandage wrapped aroundher forearm. “Rescuing a dog. He got me good, but he didn’t mean it. He wasjust afraid.”

Rayna was the founder of Little WhiskersRescue, an animal rescue that focused primarily on cats and dogs. Rayna alsoworked as a plumber for Sneaky Leaks Plumbing Services, but Gracie knew most ofher free time was focused on the rescue. She and Rayna had attended the sameelementary school and high school, but they ran in different social circles. Grace’sfamily fell smack dab in the middle-class category while Rayna hadn’t been quiteso fortunate. Raised by an alcoholic single mother, Rayna had grown up in the SouthFalls neighbourhood. If Harmony Falls had had a train track, the South Falls neighbourhoodwould have fallen solidly on the wrong side of it.

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