“That’s all right, ma’am. You need to have your arm x-rayed because I can’t be sure that the bone was not injured as well. We’ll transport you to the hospital where they can get you checked out and fixed up.”
She nodded, sighing once again. “I understand, and you’re right.” Twisting her head toward the back, she called out, “Jack, the dog has had its shots, but I know you have to quarantine it for now. Plus, I need the vet to come in. Sandy? Can you take care of that?”
Rory’s head jerked around so quickly he felt a sharp pain in his neck. The blonde woman in the back talking to the police officer had turned around to look at Glenna. Sandy? Dressed in sneakers, jeans, and a long-sleeved t-shirt with her hair pulled up into a ponytail, she looked so different from the woman in the bar or wedding… and yet so familiar. And beautiful. She hadn’t looked at him yet but replied to Glenna.
“I’ll call the vet and make sure the animals are fine before I leave. Do you want me to pick you up from the hospital?”
“No, I’ll have my husband come. I want to come back here and make sure everything is taken care of before I go home, anyway.”
“I don’t mind staying,” Sandy said.
Rory watched as Sandy’s gaze moved from the shelter director past Shania before landing on him. Her eyes widened, and even from across the room with dogs barking loudly he could swear he heard her gasp before she jerked back toward the police officer.
Shocked that she was in an inner-city animal shelter warred with concern that she would be there with all the animals, especially since Animal Control was placing the dog in question into one of the kennels there and not taking it with them.
“Let’s go,” Shania ordered, pulling his attention back to their patient.
With no other choice, they walked Glenna out to the ambulance, assisting her into the back where she settled onto the gurney, allowing Bobby to take over the monitoring.
Once at the hospital Emergency Room, Bobby headed back to the ambulance and Shania completed the paperwork. Taking a moment, Rory turned to Glenna. “The woman that was in the shelter with you…”
For the first time since meeting her, Glenna smiled. “That’s Sandy. She’s the best volunteer I have. She’ll be fine with the animals. She’s a big chicken when it comes to blood but is amazing with the animals.”
More questions filled his mind, but Shania walked past and said, “Okay, Glenna, we’re turning you over to the hospital. Take care.”
With no other opportunity to speak to the shelter manager in private, he simply nodded and followed Shania out the door, his mind still struggling to comprehend a woman like Sandy volunteering in an inner-city animal shelter mucking out dog kennels. He lifted his hand and rubbed his chest, realizing how much she’d been right in her assessment of him—he’d misjudged her, and that didn’t sit well with him at all.
“Here I am sitting at the bar missing my bestie, and you’re at home being domestic in your married bliss.”
Sandy was sitting on a tall stool near the end of the bar, nursing her glad-to-be-off-work Lemon Drop with her phone pressed to her ear, chatting to Harper. She twisted around in her seat so that her back was to the barstool next to her, and she cast her gaze around the room. Tuesday nights were never crowded, and this one was no different, hence one of the reasons she decided to come out.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry. I had the day off and needed to get so much done. Sean’s getting off work a little early, and I decided to fix a nice dinner.”
“Harper, don’t worry about it. I’m not upset, just envious! You and Sean being all lovey-dovey and getting settled into his house is nice. Honestly, girl, I’m happy for you.”
“Well, I want to have a girls’ wine night sometime next week. Just some of our friends, and a chance to let our hair down. Text me when you think you can make it because I want to be sure you’re there.”
“Sounds good!” she said, taking another sip. She was bumped from behind as someone stepped between her barstool and the one next to her. She glanced over her shoulder, but all she could see was the back of the man facing the woman who had been sitting on the barstool next to