Had he really walked into the compound thinking that this night couldn‘t get any worse?
Holy hell, had he been wrong about that.
After everything he‘d been through the past twelve hours, culminating with this unwanted babysitting assignment, he was going to have to seriously recalibrate his idea of Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.
CHAPTER Seven
Here you go, Mrs. Corelli.‖ Tess lifted a plastic cat carrier over the reception counter, passing the growling, hissing white Persian back to its owner.
―Angel‘s not too happy right now, but he should be feeling back up to snuff in a couple of days. I wouldn‘t let him outside until the sutures have dissolved, though. Not that he‘s going to be feeling like much of a Romeo anymore.‖
The elderly woman clucked her tongue. ―For months now, all up and down my street, what do I see? Little Angels running around. I tell you, I had no idea! And my poor smoochie-puss, coming home every night looking like a prizefighter, that pretty face of his torn up and bloody.‖
―Well, he won‘t have a lot of interest in fighting anymore. Or in his other apparent pastime. You‘ve done the right thing by having him neutered, Mrs. Corelli.‖
―My husband would like to know if you‘d do the same for our granddaughter‘s current boyfriend. Ay, but that boy is a wild one. Nothing but trouble and he‘s only fifteen!‖
Tess laughed. ―My practice is limited to animals, I‘m afraid.‖
―More‘s the pity. Now, what do I owe you, dear?‖
Tess watched the elderly woman dig out her checkbook with chapped, arthritic hands. Even though she was well past retirement age, Mrs. Corelli cleaned houses five days a week, Tess knew. It was hard work, and the wages were meager, but since her husband‘s disability pay had dried up a few years ago, Mrs. Corelli had become the sole provider for her household. Whenever Tess felt tempted to sulk because she was strapped and struggling, she thought about this woman and how she soldiered on with dignity and grace.
―We‘re actually running a special on services right now, Mrs. Corelli. So your grand total for today is twenty dollars.‖
―Are you sure, dear?‖ At Tess‘s insistent nod, the woman paid the clinic fee, then tucked the pet carrier under her arm and headed for the exit.
―Thank you, Doctor Tess.‖
―You‘re very welcome.‖
As the door closed behind her client, Tess glanced to the clock on the waiting-room wall. Just after four. The day had seemed to drag on endlessly, no doubt due to the strange night she‘d had.
She
had
considered
canceling
her
appointments and staying home, but she‘d marshaled herself and worked the full day. One more appointment, and then she could get out of here.
Although why she was so eager to race home to her empty apartment, she had no idea. She felt edgy and exhausted at the same time, her entire system buzzing with an odd kind of disquiet.
―You have a message from Ben,‖ Nora
announced as she came out of one of the doggrooming rooms. ―It‘s on a sticky note by the phone. Something about a fancy art thing tomorrow night? He said you mentioned you‘d go with him a few weeks ago, but he wanted to make sure you hadn‘t forgotten.‖
―Oh, shit. The MFA dinner exhibit is tomorrow night?‖
Nora gave her a wry look. ―Guess you forgot. Well, it sounds like fun anyway. Oh, and your fourtwenty vaccination called to cancel. One of the girls called in sick at the diner, so now she‘s working a double shift. She wanted to reschedule for next week.‖
Tess gathered her long hair off her neck and rubbed the tight muscles at her nape. ―That‘s fine. Will you call her back and rebook the appointment for me?‖
―Already did. You feeling okay?‖
―Yeah. It was a long night, that‘s all.‖
―So I heard. Ben told me what happened. Fell asleep at your desk again, eh?‖ Nora laughed, shaking her head. ―And Ben getting worried, calling the cops to look in on you? I‘m glad he didn‘t get into hot water with them about that stray cat he picked up.‖
―Me too.‖
Ben had promised when he dropped her off at home that he‘d turn right around and pick up Shiva from the clinic so he could take the animal back to its owners, like the police had instructed him to do. He wouldn‘t promise that another rescue attempt was out of the question, however. For what wasn‘t the first time, Tess wondered if his tenacious zeal, as well-intentioned as it was, might one day be his downfall.
―You know,‖ she said to her assistant, ―I still don‘t understand how I could have accidentally speed-dialed his number in my sleep... ‖
―Huh. Maybe subconsciously you wanted to call him. Hey, maybe I should try that one night. Think he‘d ride out to my rescue too?‖ At Tess‘s eye roll, Nora held up her hands in surrender. ―I‘m just saying! He seems like a really great guy. Goodlooking, smart, charming—and let‘s not forget totally into you. I don‘t know why you won‘t give him a fighting chance.‖