Page 38 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
“I’ll go with you,” she blurts, hoisting her beach bag on her shoulder.
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I know.” Her eyes are big and round. “But it sounds like you could use the help. Please, Brady. Let me help.”
I’m in too much of a rush to worry if this is a good idea or a bad one. So I nod at her sandals. “Can you run in those things?”
“Yes.”
Her hand slides into mine, and we jog toward the parking lot.
ChapterFifteen
NATALIE
I spend the first hour at the clinic contacting everyone with an appointment for tomorrow. Out of respect for Mrs. Swanson’s privacy, I leave the details vague. Whatever’s going on with her health is her news to share. Or not share. Besides, in a town like Abieville, word will spread quickly enough as it is.
As I work through the list, all the clients are more than willing to reschedule. That is until I call Glenda Morgan. When I tell her the doctor won’t be able to see her long-haired guinea pig until next week, she groans. “But Oscar is an intact male,ifyou know what I mean.”
After a quick beat of imagining what may or may not beintacton a male, I wince. “Yes, I think I do.”
“Veryintact.”
My first instinct is to ask if there’s such a thing asmildlyintact, but making jokes won’t be helpful to Brady. He’s worried about Mrs. Swanson, and I’m here to help him, not laugh at their clients.
“Oscar’s long hair absolutelymustbe trimmed,” Mrs. Morgan insists, emphasis on must. “Otherwise, the situation with his backside gets… regrettable,ifyou know what I mean.”
“Yes, I think I do.” Now I’m fighting the urge to throw up in my mouth, but getting sick would be even less helpful than making jokes. Still, Oscar’s regrettable backside is the last thing I want to picture on an empty stomach. I may never want to eat again.
“Could you maybe take him to a groomer, just this once?” I suggest.
“I’ve tried that.” Mrs. Morgan harrumphs. “They clipped my poor Oscar in three different places,ifyou know what I mean.”
And just like that, Mrs. Morgan managed to come up with an even less appealing visual. “I do believe you,” I say. “And I’m truly sorry about Oscar’s… situation. But the doctor simply isn’t able to handle his… trim tomorrow. How about if I put Oscar down for first thing Monday morning?”
Mrs. Morgan lets out a long, thin whine. “Fine. But I’m not happy about this.”
“Thanks so much for your understanding,” I say in the most cheerful voice I can muster. “And please accept my apologies.”
“Don’t apologize to me.” Her sniff is so sharp, it’s almost like her nose has teeth. “Apologize to Oscar.”
“The next time I see him”—I bite back a laugh—“I certainly will, Mrs. Morgan.”
Ending the call, I stand and stretch, looking out from the office over the half wall into the lobby. The space is furnished with one long couch and two matching chairs. The coffee table in between is covered with magazines. I’m about to find Brady to see what else I can do when my phone buzzes. It’s inside my beach bag, which is hanging on the back of the chair. I dig in and see a new text from my mother.
MOM: Will you be home for dinner tonight?
ME: Not sure. I’m at the clinic with Brady. The Swansons had an emergency and he needs my help. Unclear how long we’ll be here.
MOM: No rush. We’ll be seeing you a lot this week. And maybe by the time the wedding is over, you’ll decide not to move to California. LOL!
ME: Thanks for understanding.
MOM: Of course. Helping Brady is a lovely thing to do. You’re a good friend, Natalie.
Friends. Right. As far as my parents and the Grahams are concerned, that’s all Brady and I are to each other, which must mean nobody knows about what really happened between us back in December. Yes, I kissed Brady on the porch. And yes, he told me it wasn’t a good idea. But then he kissed me in his parents’ kitchen three days later. And Kasey almost caught us.
Okay, Nat. Let’s be real. You were full-on kissing when she walked in.
