her heavy glasses up the bridge of her nose. “You need an actual business manager, Lindy. You’d give the place away if I let you.”
“It’s my place. And I only give away my time.” Which wasn’t exactly true, but she understood.
“There’s a finite amount of that commodity, you know.” She handed me a stack of files. “And you volunteer enough of it without inviting people to come here for free examinations.”
“I examine the pets, not the people.” She flipped me off behind her back as she walked away. I stretched my stiff neck and raised my arms over my head. My vertebrae popped all the way down like corn. Hmm. It felt like a Queen day. I hummed a few notes of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
“We got it, but yuck.” Vet tech April came into the room holding an emesis tray with a rancid sock in it. She slipped it into a zippered plastic bag, then removed her gloves and washed her hands.
“Mylo’s a champ.”
“He is. He’s fine.”
“That was quick. I was going to go out and talk to Jill.”
“You have time.” She wrinkled her nose. “He’s spacey, and I need to get him cleaned up before I can take him out there.”
“Thanks.” I went to the human fridge and pulled out a bottled water. “Want one?”
“God yes.” She took it from me. “Thank you.”
“What’s next?”
“Senior feline in exam one is listless. Owner says she won’t eat or drink. Pebbles the pittie’s in room two for her rabies vaccine. Oh my God, wait until you see the adorable schnauzer puppy in three. New client. He’s so cute!”
“The client?”
“The puppy.” She rolled her eyes.
“Can’t wait. Listen, can you tell Travis to put the young man with the Lab in exam room four and make him comfortable? Tell him it might be some time before I can get in there.” I took out my wallet and handed her a ten. “Have Travis get him a sandwich from next door and see that he has pop or something. Oh, and ask if the dog has eaten today. If not, get something from the back.”
“You’re feeding dogs and their humans now?” She studied me. “Something going on there?”
“No.” I probably protested too fast, because she gave me the side-eye.
“It’s one of your projects, isn’t it?”
“No.” I couldn’t meet her knowing gaze. “Okay. Maybe. His name is Beck. The dog is Callie. They might be living rough, so they could use some help.”
“Ah, gotcha. I’ll tell Travis and then finish up with Mylo.” She carried the baggie as if it was an animal carcass.
I left the safety of the back rooms to talk to Jill and her kids. They stopped crying as soon as they knew Mylo was okay. That dog was a lucky critter, considering every sock removal cost the family around two hundred bucks. It was hard on the dog too. I’d have reminded them not to leave socks where Mylo could get them, but Mylo was a wily creature. He’d been known to steal socks off a sleeping child’s foot.
Outside exam room one, I pasted a smile on my face. “Hello, Mrs. Grimes. What’s Misty got for us today?”
Dutifully, I finished with the three patients who’d booked their appointments ahead before I approached exam room four. From outside the door, I could hear a distinct drumming rhythm. Fingers, probably, on the wall or the exam table. Like Cooper, Beck obviously made music wherever he could. The idea made me smile.
I opened the door. “Sorry to keep you waiting so long, Beck. Today just blew up out of nowhere.”
He stopped his hands. “Beggars can’t be choosers.”
“Well, thank you for stopping by. I’ve been looking forward to seeing Callie again.”
“Thank you. Your guy—”
“Travis.”
“Yeah. He gave me a sandwich and lemonade. You didn’t have to do that.” Beck’s guitar case and backpack sat against the wall. At his feet, a very patient Calliope leaned against his legs. “We make our way.”
“I’m sure you do.” I braced against the exam table with my arms folded. “But I kept you waiting for such a long time. I didn’t want you guys to eat me when I finally came in.”
His eyes sparked with mischief. “Callie wouldn’t eat anyone.”
Despite the AC, my face burned. “So, the reason I asked you here…Lena says Callie’s caught up on her vaccinations, but I’d like to check her for parasites and make sure she gets protection.”
“Parasites?”
“I’d like to see her protected from fleas, ticks, and mosquito-borne illnesses. A simple blood test will be necessary before