Page 86 of Spindrift

MD:Your dog expired. Did you buy the warranty?

ER:I was hoping you could fix her.

MD:Wait, she’s not spayed?

Emiliasnorted at the lame joke and wriggled into a pair of jeans.

ER:That was a Stevie-level joke.

MD:Ouch. I’ll tell her you said that.

ER:You wouldn’t.

Thenext message contained a picture of Stevie’s devastated face behind the wheelof the truck. Kraken loomed in the background with his head out the truckwindow. Emilia kissed Nell on the snout and tapped one of the limp paws.

“Comeon, slug-a-bed. We’re going to see your new friends.”

Chapter Twelve

Lillianushered her into the greenhouse, still dressed in slacks and a blouse that woreits own coat of pet hair.

“I’vegot a few flats left over. You can see if the kale lasts in the heat, and it’sa bit late for peppers, but I’ve got chard, beets, and actually these tomatoesand peppers might do it. I forgot I potted them up. And cucumbers. Ooh, andthis summer butterhead lettuce is pretty heat tolerant.”

“Howdo you have time for all this?” Emilia asked.

“Notsure I really do, but I make it work.” Lillian pressed her finger into the soilat the base of a small tree with fat, glossy leaves. “I bring some of it in formy patients. And, of course, Circe.” The tortoise poked her head up from behinda row of carefully stacked planters.

“Isshe the only exotic you have?”

“Atthe moment. I almost took in an African Grey parrot last year, but a betteroption came along for him. I’m glad, honestly. Circe does okay when I travel,and the dogs come with me, but birds are tricky.”

“Howoften do you travel?” Emilia sneaked a glance out the greenhouse window to thedriveway. Still no sign of Morgan.

“Hah.”Lillian put a few seedlings in an empty tray. “Usually whenever I can to seeBrian, but since he’s in South America and couldn’t be bothered to come see mebefore he left. . . .” She took a steadying breath and smiled.“Sorry. You don’t need to hear that.”

“Idon’t mind at all. Long distance is hard.”

“Youcan say that again.” Lillian brushed her hand over an herb planter with anexpression of muted frustration. “Want any herbs?”

Emiliabreathed in the fragrances that stirred in the wake of Lillian’s hand: thyme,rosemary, sage, and lavender. “Just annuals for now, I think.”

“Right.”Lillian’s dark eyes focused on her face. “I keep forgetting you’re here for onlya little while.”

“Metoo.” Doubt crept into her voice.I can’t afford any more doubt, shethought as she met Lillian’s gaze.

“Well,this should get you started, though you might not see any tomatoes untilSeptember. Until then, help yourself to some of mine.”

“Thankyou so much.” She looked at her tray of plants. “You’ve all been way nicer tome than I deserve.”

“Bullshit.We’re all just sick of each other, and you fell into our clutches. This houseis a Venus flytrap, by the way. Watch out.”

AndMorgan is the nectar.

“Hasyour boss found a new large animal vet yet?”

“No.”Lillian unbuttoned her blouse in the heat, revealing a sensible undershirt. “Noone wants to come out here. The pay isn’t as good as it is farther south, andDanielle doesn’t want to hire anyone out of desperation. Any chance you wantthe job?”

“Ihaven’t touched a large animal since vet school.”

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