Page 4 of Falling for the Veterinarian

“How’d the convention go?” Jen asks.

“Great, I learned some really great new techniques—” Her expression makes me stop my sentence.

“You know what I mean …” she says.

“Jen, I told you, I’m just not ready to date. Even if it were another vet who loved this work as much as me.”

“I know.” She pats my arm motherly. “Susie’s been gone for years now and you’re too young and have too much love to be alone for the rest of your life, Zach. She would have wanted you to find happiness again.”

I look at my shoes. It had been almost six years since my wife, Susie, died in a car crash in Upstate New York. She was the love of my life and our time together was just cut too short.

“I know.” I smile somberly. “I’m just not ready.”

Three

Sarah

Adultingissohard.One minute, things are amazing and you feel like you can actually reach those stars. The next, you lose everything you thought you wanted. Standing in front of the mirror, I inspect the sightly bruise forming above my left eyebrow. That’s going to take a lot of concealer to hide. As I put my war paint aka makeup on, I decide to pull up my big girl panties and go shoe shopping. If I can’t buy them, I can at least try them on.

My Aunt Michelle always said a good pair of shoes can soothe the soul. I am quite sure she meant soothe thesole, but I prefer my version. For some women, the saying “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” is true, but for me instead of diamonds, it’s shoes. I pull on a pair of wedged Steve Madden sneakers before leaving my apartment. As I pull the locked door shut, I see a notice attached to my door.

Sarah Murphy, this a notice that you are hereby in breach of contract for allowing another individual not on the lease agreement to live even part-time in this dwelling. You are hereby notified that you must vacate the premises immediately for an irreparable breach of the lease agreement. You have 10 days to comply before the authorities will become involved.

Seriously? My life is spiraling out of control. I leave the building as quickly as possible after stashing the notice in my teal Michael Kors crossbody purse. I take a deep breath once I get in the elevator.

“Hi, Miss Sarah,” Sam, the doorman, says. “I see you finally took a day off!”

“Um, yeah,” I lie.

“Should I call you a ride?”

“No, thank you, Sam,” I reply. “I could use a walk with some fresh air.”

“Don’t know how fresh it is, ma’am. It is New York, after all,” he chuckles,” but I can understand the sentiment.”

I smile and wave at him as I head up the street. Sam was right—the smell of urine and trash wafts in the air, but the temperature is unseasonably warm at a perfect sixty degrees and the sun is actually out. My mood is almost improved.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull out my phone and see Aunt Michelle’s name on the screen. A smile crosses my face. How does she always know?

“Hey, Aunt Michelle."

“Hi, dear,” she says. Her voice radiates warmth and kindness and I suddenly miss her incredibly. “I miss your company. How about humoring your uncle and me and staying with me in Vermont for a bit? I know you have that amazing job, but the seasons are changing and the red and yellow foliage is just stunning right now. What do you say?”

“Yes!” I exclaim. “You have great timing. How do you always know when I need you?” I proceed to tell her the events of the last twenty-four hours.

“Oh honey,” Aunt Michelle empathizes. “Don’t you worry. I’m savin’ you the best room at my bed and breakfast. You can stay as long as you like.”

“Thank you so much, Aunt Michelle. You have no idea how much I appreciate this and you!”

“See you soon, hun, and be safe.”

Feeling a new resolve, I stroll through the park and grab a hot dog at my favorite vendor.

“Hey Vinny, I’ll have my usual, please,” I order.

“Sure thing, Sarah,” he replies as he immediately prepares my meal. He has such a warm personality, and he reminds me of an Italian version of my grandfather.

First, he opens the bun to eighty-five degrees precisely, then pours the spicy brown mustard. Next, he adds the hot dog and finally tops it with the best sauerkraut nearby. I like it all.

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