Page 75 of Swept for Forever
19
AUTUMN
Dr. Claire was already waiting when we arrived at the clinic, her blonde hair pulled into a neat ponytail, her scrubs crisp. Her gaze focused on Lulu, who was being carried in Dom’s arms.
“Claire!” Dom greeted her. “Or should I say Dr. Lucas?”
“Please.” She waved him off, already ushering us into an exam room.
“Thanks for coming back after hours,” Dom said as he set Lulu down gently on the exam table.
“Not a problem,” Claire said, already pulling on gloves. “It’s only day two, but I’m already getting the hang of this after-hours gig.”
Dom had known Claire for years, apparently. He said she was good, the sister-in-law of a close friend.
And within seconds of watching her work, I saw it too.
She was soothing and gentle yet efficient, exactly someone I’d want caring for my dog. She spoke in a reassuring voice as she ran practiced hands along Lulu’s belly.
“Has she gotten into anything unusual? Any new food ortreats?” Claire asked, feeling along Lulu’s abdomen with steady fingers.
“No. I gave her the usual kibble earlier today,” I said.
Claire nodded, checking Lulu’s mouth next. “Any vomiting? Diarrhea?”
I shook my head.
Claire gently lifted Lulu’s lip, checking her gums. “Nice and pink. No signs of dehydration. That’s a good sign.”
She reached for a thermometer, speaking in that dog-talking way. “Just a quick temp check, sweetheart.”
Lulu barely reacted, only twitching her ears in mild protest.
Claire read the number, her brow furrowing slightly. “A little warm, but nothing alarming.”
“So what could it be?” My mind was already sprinting toward the worst-case scenario, perhaps a slow-acting toxin or a delayed reaction to something dangerous.
Claire gave Lulu’s belly another light press. “Her stomach’s tight,” she said. “I’ll run some tests to be sure, but more than likely, it’s just something she ate. Let’s wait and see if she brings it up.” She gave Lulu a final pat.
Suddenly, Lulu twitched, then gagged.
Claire moved fast, grabbing a disposable pad and shifting Lulu into a better position.
The mutt gave a little wiggle, then threw up.
A wet, unpleasant mess hit the pad, a couple of seed pods rolling out among the bile.
I let out a shaky breath, my knees nearly buckling from relief.
Claire clicked her tongue and ran a comforting hand over Lulu’s back. “Aha! Good girl, Lulu. Good girl for getting that up. But not so much for swallowing them in the first place.”
Lulu let out a low, sheepish huff, her tail giving a weak wag.
My heart was still hammering, but the weight of panic lifted all at once. It had nothing to do with that stranger. Nothing sinister, nothing calculated. Just a dog being a dog.
Claire tossed the contaminated pad and washed her hands. “I’ll give her something to ease any lingering irritation, but she should be back to normal soon, if she isn’t already.”
Lulu, perking up, proved her right with another tail wag, this time stronger and happier.
