Page 16 of Second Act
Chapter 5
“It’s Monday, so why are you smiling?” Carla asked as she placed a plastic takeout container and a bottle of water on Jessica’s desk.
“Because I’m starving and you brought me food.” Jessica unsnapped the cover and snatched up the sandwich. Taking a huge bite, she sighed with appreciation and mumbled, “I love curried chicken salad.”
Geode hopped up on her desk in a bid to share her lunch, but she set him back on the floor, ignoring the annoyed twitch of his fluffy orange tail. “Curry wouldn’t agree with you, buddy.”
Carla sat down in the other chair and crossed her arms. “I ain’t talking a chicken salad kind of smile, honey. That’s a man kind of smile.” The manager’s eyes widened, and her voice took on a note of awe. “Did you go out with that movie star? He’d put a giant, happy grin onmyface.”
Jessica had decided not to mention her upcoming dinner with Hugh. Carla would make all kinds of erroneous assumptions. “Nope. I had dinner with a fellow Iowan. From my hometown, in fact, so we had a lot of memories to share.”
“Is he a tall, strapping, good-looking Iowan?”
“You might describe him that way.” Jessica took a swig of water to hide the smile that had started the interrogation. After stewing about it half the night, she’d decided to enjoy whatever this was with Pete. She could use it to take her mind off Hugh.
“I knew it was a man,” Carla said, sitting back with a smug look. “He better be a good man or he’ll be hearing from me.”
“Haven’t you learned that Iowans are all nice people?”
“Nice ain’t what you want. You need some fun.”
“He could probably make me a terrific corn maze,” Jessica said, taking another bite. “It’s considered an art form in Iowa.”
“A corn maze.” Carla snorted. “Yeah, that’s what I meant by fun.”
“You’d be surprised at what you can do in the far corners of a corn maze.”
“If it involves dirt, cows, and insects, it’s not my idea of a good time.” Carla smoothed the red silk scarf she’d dressed up her sapphire-blue scrubs with. “I’m thinking a king-size bed with six-hundred-thread-count sheets and the big strapping Iowan stretched out across it, buck naked.”
Jessica choked on her water as she pictured Pete in that scenario.
“My job here is done,” Carla said with a smirk as she stood up and strolled out the door.
Jessica took another bite of her sandwich. Pete had texted her earlier to say how much he’d enjoyed the evening before.
In contrast, she hadn’t heard a word from Hugh. She knew he worked long hours when he was filming, but she’d expected something about their upcoming dinner, especially after the cryptic message. She’d considered canceling but decided that she was curious to find out what he was like now that he was so successful and famous. Not surprisingly, he seemed different, more self-assured and less focused on something always beyond him, yet his intensity and magnetism were the same as the man she’d once been engaged to.
“Hey, Doc, can I talk to you about Khonsu over at the center? I’m worried about—” Diego stuck his head around her office door, his dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you was...were eating.”
Jessica beckoned him in. “I can eat and listen at the same time.”
As Diego eased himself down onto the chair, it creaked under his weight. The boy was only thirteen, but he had the height and breadth of a large man. Ironically, he wanted to use his strength to protect helpless animals. He was so terrific with them that Jessica had taken him on as an intern. His ambition was to become a veterinarian, so she helped him with his science courses in school, too.
As if to prove Diego’s animal-handling skills, the usually standoffish Geode leaped into his lap and butted his head against the boy’s chin. Diego stroked the orange-and-white cat absently. “Shaq been having diarrhea bad for a couple of days. And now Khonsu got...has got the runs, too. I promised Felicia and Isaiah I’d talk to you about it, since they’re the dogs’ owners.” The boy’s hand paused on Geode’s back. “Could you come take a look at them?”
“Of course,” Jessica said.
Diego’s face lit up with relief. “Sorry to make you come to the center, but since there’s two of them...”
The George Washington Carver After-School Care Center was one of South Harlem’s treasures. It offered a safe after-school environment to disadvantaged neighborhood kids ages eight to thirteen, along with computer access, homework help, and healthy food, all at no charge. But what made the center special to Jessica was their K-9 Angelz program, the brainchild of the center’s director, Emily Wade Varela.
The K-9 Angelz allowed the kids to adopt rescue dogs who then lived at the center. Taking care of the dogs taught the children responsibility, gave them a sense that they were needed, and, of course, offered the best benefit of all, unconditional love. In turn, the dogs were given a wonderful home.
Jessica supported the program by providing veterinary care at cost—and sometimes even less than that. She also made house calls when necessary. Honestly, she enjoyed seeing the kids and the dogs interact, so her visits there were a pleasure, even though they required extra time.
However, the diarrhea was worrisome in an environment where multiple dogs lived together. “I’m glad you came to me right away,” she said. “We don’t want any more dogs to get sick if we can help it.”
Fortunately, her patient load was relatively light that afternoon, and several could be taken care of by the vet techs. Jessica managed to get free by four thirty, when she indulged herself and Diego in the luxury of a ride share to the Carver Center.
