Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
She had always wanted a dog, a cat, or both. The first kennel had a cocker spaniel doggy, Billie. She smiled in at him, and his tail flicked from side to side. “I hope you’re feeling better.” His tail wagged.
She moved down to the Jack Russell, Martha, and did the same, before heading to the three cats, Trixie, Ainsley, and Betty. After her visit with them, she made her way through the practice and began to open and check the rooms.
The main heating wasn’t on, so she made her way toward the back, where Phil and Andy had given her the tour. After flicking on the heat, her next place was the staff room. She set up the coffeepot, flicked it on, and waited for a cup.
She opened the fridge, only to pause as she thought about it. There was no cream or milk. She closed the fridge, grabbed a mug, and waited for the coffee. Pouring herself a generous cup, she walked out toward her desk. She was the only receptionist they had on staff, and she didn’t mind working the six days a week they were open.
Phil and Andy did also work on Sundays but that was for emergency calls. They didn’t ask her to work, but she was more than happy to.
Making excuses for not attending Sunday lunch with her family was imperative. She had yet to find something reasonable. Working sounded a lot better than listening to her parents moan about what she had or hadn’t done.
Shaking her head, she took a deep breath and then sat down in her chair. It was no good thinking about her parents. That was not the best way to start her morning. Blowing across the rim of her cup, she took a sip and wrinkled her nose.
This was a new leaf of her life. There was no time for moaning or hating black coffee. She would learn to like it. Taking another sip, she attempted not to shudder. By the sixth sip, she was more than used to it.
Smiling to herself, she flicked open the appointment book and saw they were already fully booked. With the appointments open, she got to her feet and made her way toward the filing cabinet. Phil and Andy insisted on keeping a record of their patients. She flicked the lock from the set of keys she was given and found the appointments for that day, lining them up in the tray. As she finished, Andy arrived, shaking as she did so.
“I swear it’s going to snow soon.”
Andy was a lovely woman, who also happened to feel the cold, even in August in the height of summer.
“You’ve been saying that since June.”
“Trust me, one of these days I’m going to be right.”
Aria couldn’t help but laugh.
“Please tell me we have a busy day?” Andy asked, removing her hat, gloves, scarf, and coming toward the desk.
“We certainly do.”
“Good news. Very good news.”
“Where’s Phil?” Aria asked, getting to her feet.
“He had to take a call during the night. One of the ranchers wanted his cow to be attended to. I would have gone with him, but Phil insisted I stay home so I could make it here.”
“Is the cow okay?”
“I’m not sure. He’ll give us an update when he arrives.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Aria asked.
“You’re a precious woman, Aria. Absolutely. I feel I need it.”
Aria smiled and made her way back into the staff room while Andy walked to the back office.
Without Phil in the office, it would get hectic quickly. They were both amazing vets, but where Phil was able to calm people’s fears and stop panicked conversation, Andy was not the same. She would chat for hours, and of course she was an animal lover, so it meant they were going to be here for a long time, until Phil arrived. Aria didn’t mind. The idea of going back to her home, the one once owned by her grandparents, didn’t appeal.
Her grandparents on her father’s side had left her the house in their will, much to her parents’ dismay. They had hoped to either use the property as a rental, bringing in money, or to sell it. They had tried to contest the will, but her grandparents’ lawyers had warned in that event, all other property granted to her parents and Isabella would revert to Aria. That had been an awkward meeting.
Anyway, she moved out of her small apartment the next day and hadn’t looked back since.
****
Grant stared around at the kennels. Once again, he’d been given kennel duty, not for the first time either.
He was starting to recognize these dogs, including their names and their reasons for being at the kennel, and why they had to find this location. Running a hand down his face, he tried to convince himself that he didn’t care. Dogfighting happened.