Page 37 of Vetted for Vengeance
There are no signs of problems in Pumpkin’s litter, but they’re starting to move more.
They’re two weeks old and still utterly dependent on their mom, but they need more space than a hospital kennel.
“Hang on a minute.”
I dart away to find Tree, pitching my fantastic idea. We need to let the puppies out, but they can’t go anywhere patients use; they’re too young to vaccinate.
The office would be perfect.
With permission granted, I carry the litter in a box while Chloe brings Pumpkin.
Martha, the office manager, is about to get all the incentive she needs to adopt someone.
We set up a dog bed under her watchful gaze, and the puppies begin to explore. They’re wobbly, their eyes only open a few days. The edge of the bed is enough for them today.
The moment the first puppy tumbles out of the box, the entire office transforms.
Tiny paws slide across Martha’s polished floor as little bodies wobble in every direction.
One immediately topples over its own feet and rolls onto its back like a confused potato.
Chloe laughs, scooping it up before it can crawl under Martha’s desk.
“They’re drunk,” she says.
“They’re two weeks old,” I correct. “Same thing.”
Pumpkin circles once, clearly unimpressed with the new location, before settling with a sigh like a tired mother accepting defeat.
Martha pretends to be furious, but she’s already crouching down, letting one puppy chew her shoelace.
I bat my eyes at her until she reluctantly agrees to the small family intruding on her life. I’ll have her falling in love with Pumpkin in no time.
Chloe crouches beside me, watching the puppies.
“You really can tell them apart?” she asks.
“Of course.”
I point. “This one’s Biscuit. That one’s Smudge. And the chunky one trying to eat Martha’s shoe is Tank.”
“You named them?”
“Only temporarily.”
Even if I remember every single one.
She watches them for a moment before whispering, “You really love them, don’t you?”
I shrug. “Someone has to.”
“Well, everyone here loves them. You’re not alone anymore.”
I smile, building bridges with someone who will probably become my closest ally during this student nurse training.
We kneel on the office floor like naughty kids while Martha’s leg becomes a leaning post for a tired spaniel who just wants a moment of peace and a head scratch.
I spot Rhys the second he steps through the door. His eyes immediately drop to the floor.
