me as I humped the carrier into the office and then set it down. Ursula Levey sat behind the reception desk, filing her nails. Her long red hair was pulled up into a high braid that enhanced her facelift.
“Joey,” Ursula’s smile was predatory. “I hear you got fired from the café. Nice homeless sweats look by the way. You practicing for the inevitable?”
“Ursula, I hear your husband left you for another man.” Darcy wore a sweet smile on her face. “Funny how gossip spreads around a small town.”
“Well, at least he didn’t decide to become a woman first,” Ursula snapped.
“Leave Georgia out of this,” I warned. I had heard all of her barbs and was used to them but I wouldn’t tolerate her trash-talking Georgia.
“Yeah, just because her boob-job is better than the one you’re sporting,” Darcy nodded to the exposed cleavage. “It looks like you have an ass on your chest.”
Ursula’s face flamed and she pushed herself out from the desk. “I’ll let Pete know you’re here.”
“What a passive-aggressive hose beast,” Darcy shook her head. “Her twin brother is the nicest guy in town and she’s his emotional photo negative. She hasn’t changed at all since high school.”
I had to agree. Ursula Levey was not the sort of person normally found working at a veterinarian’s office. She was mean and spiteful and for some reason, she’d had it out for me since we were kids.
“Did Tom really leave her for another man?” I whisper-hissed.
“Yeah, their accountant.” Darcy was always up on the latest gossip. “Cleaned out the joint bank account and headed for Aruba. Or maybe it was Jamaica. I don’t know, one of those tropical places my pasty hide never gets to visit.”
Ursula pushed her way through the swinging door and reached for the cat carrier.
“Rooooweeeer,” Puck screeched and swiped a paw out through the bars of the kitty jail, nearly costing Ursula one French manicured index finger.
“It’s true,” Darcy had a note of awe in her voice. “Animals can sense evil.”
She swore and jumped back. “Is that thing rabid?”
“No more than you are,” Darcy said with a sweet smile.
I picked up the carrier and said, “I’ve got her. Lead the way.”
With one more killing glare, Ursula minced down the hall and gestured to a small room on the left that smelled of woodchips, disinfectant, and dog.
She didn’t say anything as we set Puck down on the metal exam table and then seated ourselves in uncomfortable plastic chairs.
I squirmed. “Do you think…never mind.”
“What?” Darcy asked.
“Well, it’s just that I was wondering about when I go back, do you think I can change other things?”
“Like what?” Darcy raised a brow. “Do you mean—”
There was a knock on the door and a moment later Pete Green stepped in. His smile crinkled the skin around his baby blue eyes. His thick sandy brown hair had just a slight hint of red and his skin held a deep golden tan. He wasn’t as good looking as Robin, but he was a close second.
I nearly sighed when he turned that smile on me. “Joey, Darcy, how are you, ladies? It’s been a long time.”
I mumbled something incoherent.
Darcy did what she always did and came to my rescue. “Hi, Pete. How’s the family?”
He grinned and took out his phone, swiping to display a picture of himself, a pretty blonde woman and two golden-haired cherubs as well as a beagle puppy.
“Wow, they’re getting big.” Darcy elbowed me in the ribs.
“Congratulations,” I coughed up and looked away.
“So, who do we have here?” Pete stashed his phone and headed toward the carrier.
I jumped out of my seat. “Careful!”
But Pete unlatched the door and Puck strutted out like she owned the place.
“Hey there, pretty girl.” Pete stroked along her back and she arched into his touch and then began to purr.
Too low for Pete to hear, Darcy sighed. “He always did have a way with the pussies.”
My hour of pilfered time was up when we left the vet’s office, still with Puck in tow. There was no weird magical conveyor belt feeling, nothing at all other than a slight dizzy spell as we were walking out the door.
I staggard and Pete reached out and put a steadying hand on my arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I suddenly felt…whole. There was no other way to describe it. As though a hunk of me had been missing. “Sorry, just got a little woozy there.”
“Maybe you ought to sit down in the waiting room for a bit.” He offered.