Page 17 of Until Landon
“Thank you, Doctor. Thor will be better behaved next time you see him, you can count on that.”
“No more biting the doctor!” the woman coos instead of scolds.
“Bye, Thor. Listen to your mother.”
The door to the back offices swings open and a patient I am not familiar with comes out. A middle-aged woman holds her prince. Thor looks anything but threatening. He is a teacup poodle. The small ones are the ones you have to worry about. July keeps her distance, holds the door with one hand and lets the pissy patient and the human pass.
“Carol, make a follow up appointment for three months, please. Morning, Kim. Let’s talk sometime today.” She says it with a weird excited expression. Eyebrows rising.
Before I get a chance to respond, the front doors open and a mother and child enter carrying a dog in a blanket. I can’t detect any movement. The little boy is red-eyed. Crap.
“Doctor July! Can you help us? I found Dexter under the bed this morning,” the woman starts to cry.
“This way,” July says, calling them forward into the back rooms.
I see her put an arm around the child and comfort him. Then they are gone.
Carol and I get to work, trying to control our own emotions. There is no more talk of Landon.
“Rest in peace, baby.” She says it softly and it requires no reply.
For the remainder of the day, work takes its rightful place. My attention is on the animals and their humans. Thankfully we have been busy, so I have not dwelled on the crying boy or his deceased best friend. There is just enough time before the five o’clock closing to see what July was talking about.
“I’ll be in the back,” I say to Carol who has her eyes on the screen in front of her.
“K. Don’t forget the story you want to tell me.”
The phone sounds and Carol turns her attention away from me. Heading for July’s office, I take two of the hard candies meant for customers. More often they are in one of the staff’s mouths. The door is open, but I knock anyway.
“Is this a good time?”
July looks up from her writing and smiles. “Can I have one of those?” she says, motioning for a candy.
I toss her the butterscotch and take a seat.
“So what’s the latest about finding a full-time job? Any luck?”
“Not yet. I’m waiting for the right fit. If needed, I could get along without working for awhile.”
“Good. You have a cushion then?”
“Thankfully. But I like working.”
“You’d be a great addition to anything you pursue.”
“My problem is I want something that feeds my soul. Like this has. It’s my thing. I need purpose.”
“I’m sorry we can’t keep you full-time. You have been a godsend these last six months. Thank you so much for helping us out. But I promised Judi she’d have her job back after maternity leave.”
“Believe me I get it. You were clear from day one, boss.”
Her hand reaches across the desk for mine.
“I hate that we are not going to see you every day.”
“It’s been so much fun working here. But there’s a silver lining. Now, I will have more time for play. At least temporarily.”
Her face lights. “Speaking of. How did it go last night? I mean other than the creep following you into the bathroom. Geez.”
