Page 133 of Debts and Desires
“I’m just saying she looks like Bandit.”
“Don’t name her. You’ll get attached if you do.”
As if I’m not already,I told him with a roll of my eyes.
After locking up, we headed out. The drive wasn’t a lengthy one, just out to the outskirts of town where the veterinary clinic stood proudly, a large red brick building welcoming us. Above the door hung a wooden sign, boldly proclaiming “Hudsonville Emergency Veterinary Services” in black letters. Despite its age,the building appeared well-maintained and immaculate, with what seemed like a house attached to its rear. Save for a weathered pickup truck parked to the side, the gravel lot lay empty as we pulled in. I’d seen it in the garage before.
“Mac, stay,” Carter commanded, and obediently, Mac remained in the back of the truck with the windows down as we made our way inside. A small bell chimed as Carter held the door open for me, and the sounds of dogs barking and cats meowing filled the air as we stepped inside.
The lobby was predominantly cherry wood, adorned with white walls and accents. Everything was neat and orderly, with several chairs for waiting patrons. The bright glow of fluorescent lights reflected off the waxed dark wood floor and the scent of antiseptic and damp fur mingled in the air.
Initially, the reception desk stood empty, until a tall, slender woman emerged from the back. Her brown hair, streaked with gray, framed her face, and she adjusted her thick pink-rimmed glasses before greeting us with a warm smile.
“I’ll be right there, Carter. I’m finishin’ up feedin’ time,” she said before turning, heading back the way she came. She had the same accent as Carter, maybe slightly thicker. We made our way to a bench, Carter’s long legs leaning against mine as we got comfortable.
While we waited for the doctor to come back out, the little kitten had made its way from Carter’s lap to mine.
“You think she’s okay?” I asked.
“I do. BJ here’s a fighter. Just wanna double check everything’s good.”
“BJ?”
“If you’re offerin’, sure. But I suggest waitin’ ‘til we’re back in the truck. I don’t think Doc Nelson is gonna appreciate comin’ out to see that.”
“Carter!” I hissed, nudging him with my shoulder, to which he responded with a small laugh. “I thought we weren’t supposed to name her?”
“Youweren’t. I didn’t say nothin’ ‘bout me.”
“So… does that mean we’re keeping her?”
“No,” he replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes. The grin he gave was playful and I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.
“But look at her! She’s too cute.”
We both stared down at the tiny furball, who had been content to sit on my lap, chewing on her own paws. But, after a few minutes, she lost interest and began climbing around on my shirt, making me laugh.
I grinned wide, a thought crossing my mind before I said, “And you seem to have a knack for taking helpless, adorable things home.” He gave a wicked smile.
One of the exam rooms swung open, startling me, which in turn startled poor Bandit, eliciting a chuckle from Carter at our expense. Doc Nelson, clipboard in hand, greeted us with a smile, indicating she was ready for us. We rose to our feet, Carter taking the little thing from me.
“Sorry for the wait,” the vet apologized as we stepped into the room and closed the door behind us.
“No problem, Doc,” Carter replied, nodding in my direction. “This is my girl, Emmy.”
Swoon.
My heart fluttered at his words.
“Nice to meet you, Emmy,” Dr. Nelson said, extending her hand, which I shook with a smile.
“Nice to meet you.”
“And who do we have here?” Dr. Nelson inquired, gently plucking the small kitten from Carter’s grasp.
“This is the little miss I was tellin’ you ‘bout earlier.”
“Bandit,” I interjected, earning a playful glare from Carter.
