Page 21 of The Jackpot Screwer
“I know he thinks he wants this,” I continued. “But I want him to be sure about it, because if he changes his mind after a few months or even a year, that would be so much worse.”
Mom’s bright grey eyes shone with understanding because she knew exactly how that felt, the thought of losing the man you loved after you’d built a life together.
“Okay, honey,” she replied, giving my hand a squeeze. “Whatever happens we’re here for you.” She looked up at Dad who was watching her carefully. The look on his face so soft and gentle it stole my breath. “Right, Jim?’
Dad nodded. “Yeah. Always. Whether Carter comes along for the ride or not, you’ve always got our support.”
He engulfed me and Mom in his arms and I knew everything would be okay, one way or another.
There aren’t many things that I regretted in my life but getting drunk on whisky without any food in my belly, is one of my biggest.
In the three days since my drunk-ass announcement Bronte had refused to speak to me even when I returned her shoe; she just snatched it from me and then slammed the door in my face.
Sighing at my own stupidity, I walked out into the waiting room to call for my next patient. We were real busy, it seemed nearly every pet in Dayton Valley had an ailment of some kind.
“Ariana Grande,” I called out and when Dulcie Rogers stood up with her mother and a cute looking puppy, I mentally high-fived myself.
The staff and I had a monthly sweepstake on the names of the new puppies and kittens that we would see. They were usually named after popstars or film stars and I’d chosen Ariana as my monthly pick. If no one else’s choice came up in the last three days of the month, I’d bagged myself a six-pack of beer as the prize. Okay, so it was a shit prize if three of you won and had to share, but we had fun with it.
“Okay, Dulcie, so we’re giving Ariana her puppy injections today, right?” I asked as Dulcie and her mom Vivien closed the door of my consulting room behind them.
“It’s actually Ariana Grande,” Dulcie informed me as she placed the French Bulldog on the examination table.”
“My bad,” I replied and grinned at Vivien.
If I’d expected her to laugh along with me about her daughter’s fussiness over her dog’s name, I’d have been mistaken. Her face was sour enough to curdle milk. Schooling my features back into something more professional, I set about getting everything ready. As I went about my job and soothed the puppy before sticking a needle into her, Vivien tsked real loud and followed it up with a sigh. I might have ignored it had she not muttered, “A total embarrassment,” under her breath loud enough for me to hear.
“Okay,” I said brightly and turned to Dulcie. “All done. If you want to take her to see Louisa on the reception desk, I’m sure she’s got a treat Ariana Grande can have.”
Dulcie gave me a huge smile and carefully picked up the puppy, cradling it like a baby. Vivien went to follow Dulcie, but I stopped her by calling her name.
“Yes,” she said, narrowing her eyes on me.
“Have you got a problem, Vivien? Because if you have, I’d rather you tell me.”
“Do I have a problem?” she asked, folding her arms over her ample chest. “Of course, I have a problem; you. Embarrassing poor Bronte like that.”
I groaned and rubbed a hand down my face. It was bad enough Bronte and her folks being at outs with me, but the rest of the town as well?
“I’m not proud of myself, Vivien. I had too much to drink and let my mouth run away with me. I’ve apologized to Bronte along with her mom and dad, there’s not much more I can do.”
Vivien arched a brow and made a move toward the door. “Maybe grow up and show her you’re ready to be a father.”
“I don’t think—”
She didn’t hear what else I had to say, because she walked away and pulled the door closed behind her.
“Fuck,” I groaned and threw my pen across the room.
Vivien was right, I had to prove to Bronte that I was ready to be a dad. First thing I needed to do in my mission, was to speak to Lance. Going through the door at the back of my consulting room, I strode off to find him. As expected, he was in the office doing paperwork.
“You put an invoice in for your time at Wickerson’s last week?”
“Afternoon to you too, Lance. And yes, I did it yesterday.”
He looked up and grunted something before bending his head back to his desk and continuing to write in his big ledger.
“Lance, I’ve told you, I can get all of that put onto the computer.”
