Page 38 of Reckless Harmony

“Thanks, Allie.” Hal released the St. Bernard and stood, joining Rayna by the lab counter. “Maeve doesn’t have a fracture. Radiographs this morning confirmed it.“

“What? I didn’t authorize x-rays for Maeve,” Rayna said as panic flooded her. The rescue absolutely did not have money in the budget to do x-rays on both Maeve and Mr. Magoo. “You did x-rays?”

“We did,” Hal confirmed.

“I need to speak to Nathan,” Rayna said. Shit, she’d have to apologize and explain there was a mix-up and hope like hell that he was good with adding the cost to the balance already owed by the rescue.

“I know he’s just finishing up a meeting with Warren,” Hal said. “Maybe talk to Laila? She was the one who told us to do the x-rays.”

As if he’d summoned her, Laila came in from the side yard, her cheeks rosy from the cold and holding Mr. Magoo. The curvy blonde was the clinic’s office manager, and she gave Rayna a cheerful smile. “Hey, Rayna. How are you?”

“Good,” Rayna said. “Do you have a minute to talk?”

“Sure.” Still carrying Mr. Magoo, Laila led her to the far end of the treatment area. She’d turned an unused storage space into a tiny office, and Rayna squeezed in past the bookshelf and sat in the folding chair in front of Laila’s minuscule desk.

Laila plopped down in her chair and stroked Mr. Magoo’s fuzzy head. The dog lounged contentedly against her chest, its left hind leg in a cast. The cast was wrapped in lime green bandaging, and someone had cut out hearts from pink bandaging and stuck them all over the cast.

Laila kissed Mr. Magoo’s head. “I just took him out for a pee, and considering how ancient he is, he’s doing really well. Of course, we have him on all the good pain meds.”

Rayna smiled. “He’s a good boy.”

“He’s the best boy,” Laila declared before kissing his head again. “Nathan said you weren’t sending him back to his original foster home. Is that right?”

“Yes.” Rayna could hear the discouragement in her voice. “I don’t have another foster home for him currently, which means he’ll be coming back to my house for now. Nicole is a good person, and she means well, but she’s too busy with her kids to give Mr. Magoo the proper care he needs. He shouldn’t be allowed to do stairs.”

“What if I took him?” Laila said. “I know it’s been a while since I fostered for Little Whiskers, but life isn’t as busy now, and I have more time for a dog. Plus, I can bring Mr. Magoo to work with me, so he’ll never be alone.”

“Are you serious?” A little of Rayna’s discouragement lifted. “You’d foster him?”

“Yes,” Laila said. “I love this little dude.”

“Oh my God, that would be amazing. I can bring you some supplies later tonight if that works.”

“You have enough on your plate, and I know you were up all night,” Laila said. “Is Myrna still a supply location for fosters?”

“Yes,” Rayna said.

“Perfect. I’ll text her and arrange to swing by after work and pick up the supplies I need for Mr. Magoo,” Laila said.

“You’re a lifesaver,” Rayna said. “Thank you, Laila.”

“My pleasure. What was it you wanted to chat to me about?”

“That stray lab mix I brought in last night with the injured leg.”

“Maeve,” Laila said. “I think Savina Ras picked her up a while ago.”

“She did,” Rayna said. “But Hal said you told them to do x-rays on her, and last night, I specifically told Nathan not to do them. As you know, the rescue’s bill with the clinic is high, and we didn’t have it in the budget to x-ray her and Mr. Magoo.”

“Oh, it was paid for by a private donation,” Laila said.

“What? Who?” Rayna asked.

“Isaac Stark.”

Rayna’s mouth dropped open, and she stared silently at Laila. Laila raised an eyebrow. “Why do you look like that?”

“I’m sorry, did you say Isaac Stark paid for it?”

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