Page 13 of The Convict Gets His Girl

"Good morning," the mom said, smiling and making her apple cheeks plump up. "We're here for Mitzy's appointment?"

Kayla nodded and checked them in, so Jewel followed Gemma into the back, listening with one ear as her sister showed her the old school filing cabinet and pulled Mitzy's file.

Jewel rubbed her temple. All these files needed digitized. She mentally added it to her to do list. After Jordan took vitals in the room, Gemma and Jewel stepped inside.

"Hello, this is my sister, Dr. Jewel, who's finally joining the family practice and moving back home. Jewel, this is Ana and Skye."

"It's nice to meet you," Jewel said, shaking their hands.

"Welcome home," Ana said with a kind smile.

The teenager put her phone down and head bobbed a hello. "Hey."

Ana frowned at the teen. "Skye, that's not how we greet people."

Jewel waved a hand with a chuckle. "Oh, don't worry. I have a fifteen-year-old girl too, so I'm used to it."

Skye sat up a little in the chair as Gemma gently took the orange tabby from the girl. "Oh? What grade?"

Jewel sat at the computer as she answered. "Going into tenth. What about you?"

"Same. I'm really excited to not be the bottom of the barrel this year."

Gemma talked softly to Mitzy and stretched each of her limbs, but the cat was just limp and lethargic. "What seems to be the problem with this little angel?"

"She's just not been herself lately. She's refusing food, doesn't want to go outside, and her bathroom schedule is way off," the teenager said with a frown.

The mom rolled her eyes. "I think she's just going through a phase, but I promised that if she wasn't back to normal by the weekend, we'd come in. What do you think, Dr. Gemma?"

Jewel clicked on the computer and a pop-up was added to the sparse digital file of the quick lab results from the vet tech, Jordan.

Gemma stroked the cat and crooned softly. "Oh, I bet Mitzy's just going to be a mama. If I was a betting person, that's what I'd put my money on."

Skye gasped, and Ana groaned. Jewel typed on the computer and said, "Looks like you're right. Blood work just confirmed it."

Gemma chuckled, stroking the cat's soft fur. "It's alright, little mama. You'll feel better in a week or two."

Skye asked a hundred questions about cat pregnancies and how to make sure Mitzy had everything she needed. As Gemma focused on answering her questions, Ana leaned closer to the computer and said, "Is your daughter into soccer by chance? Try-outs are going on next week."

Jewel shook her head and turned to face her. "It's a fifty-fifty shot on whether she'll want to try out. She's a science nut and while decent at soccer, she doesn't really love sports the same way. After her first summer camp at NASA, she was hooked."

Ana's brows rose as she nodded. "Oh, how wonderful. Our physics teacher at the school teaches a whole grading period on astronomy. He worked for an observatory out in West Texas before moving here. She'll like that class. Of course, she has to get through chemistry this year before physics next year."

Jewel's head tilted. "You sound like a teacher."

Ana laughed, making her cheeks rise and her eyes almost disappear. "Oh no, my secret is out."

Jewel snickered as Ana continued. "I teach English at the middle school. As soon as a high school position opens up, I'm hoping to move up though."

The conversations continued until another pop-up on the computer drew Jewel's gaze. She looked at Gemma and cleared her throat. "The next appointment is here," she said.

They escorted the family out of the room just as Henry came in the side door. He stopped at the front desk to talk to the secretary and the people in the lobby.

Jewel walked Ana and Skye to the door, where Ana said, "Girls' night yoga session is one night each week. You should join us. It's low-key stretching, for the most part, but our girls can join in or go to the park to get to know each other."

Jewel smiled. "I'd love that, but Destini doesn't get to town for a few more weeks. She's a camp counselor at NASA this summer."

Ana nodded. "Well, come anyway, and we'll hang out. It was really nice meeting you."

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