Page 130 of Save the Date
“I’ll see you in a bit,” Ginny said hastily, ending the call.
“Did you do this?” Cara demanded. “Did you tie my dog to a tree and leave her out there all day with no shade and no water?”
“She had water,” Ginny protested.
“What kind of heartless, stupid bitch are you?” Cara felt her whole body shaking with barely contained fury. “It was nearly a hundred degrees out there today. You tie her up with four feet of rope, so she can’t get to shade, can’t get to water? And you leave her there? She could have died!”
“She was fine,” Ginny said. “You weren’t here. You don’t know. She kept whining to go out, then whining to come back in, and the phone was ringing, and when I went to load the van, she tried to get out of the gate. She would have run away! So I tied her up. And I gave her water. I did. She had a whole bowl of it. I figured she’d be okay.”
“How about this, Ginny? How about I take one of your kids and tie a rope around their neck and leave them out in the sun all day—with no water and no food? And dressed in a fur coat? Would that be okay?”
“She’s a dog, for God’s sake,” Ginny said. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“It certainly won’t,” Cara said. “You’re fired. Now get out of my sight before I do something we’ll both regret.”
***
The vet tech at the after-hours animal clinic found Cara in the waiting room, sitting beside an elderly man whose dachshund had eaten a remote control.
“Ms. Kryzik? Poppy’s fine. Why don’t you come back and see her now?”
***
Poppy was sprawled out on her side on an examining table, damp towels draped over her head and body, a small fan pointed toward her face. It reminded Cara of a spa treatment she’d once had. When the dog saw Cara, her tail thumped against the vinyl tabletop.
“My girl,” Cara whispered, kissing the towel on top of Poppy’s head. “My sweet, sweet girl. You had me so worried.”
“It’s a good thing you found her when you did,” the tech said, giving Poppy’s rump a fond pat. “Her body temp was right at a hundred and two. She was one degree from stroking out. You did the right thing too, wetting her down like that and getting her over here immediately. You’d be surprised how many people try to put a dog in an ice bath. They mean well, but that’s totally the wrong thing to do. It makes the surface blood vessels constrict, and that can kill a dog.”
Cara realized she’d been holding her breath. She exhaled slowly now. “I guess I just reacted. I was so scared, and then so furious, I didn’t really have time to stop and think.”
“We gave her some Pedialyte and her urine checked out okay, and her heart’s fine,” the tech said. “So you can take her home now. Just try to keep her quiet tonight, and cool, of course. Let her have as much water as she wants, but don’t try to force her to drink.”
“I will. I mean, I won’t. I mean, I’m still pretty freaked out. Can you write all that down for me?” Cara asked.
***
She dragged Poppy’s dog bed downstairs and placed it in the workroom, near the air conditioner, which she turned on high. Screw the electric bill.
Poppy flopped down on her bed, but seemed restless, getting up every few minutes to stand in front of the front door, staring out at the now-dark sidewalk. Cara didn’t know if the dog was watching for enemy squirrels, or even worse, Ginny Best.
Cara was restless as well. She opened her laptop and checked her emails. There were at least forty more responses to her Craigslist ad. She read a few, silently, her reaction to the contents ranging from hopeless to hilarious. Finally, Poppy gave up her sentry post and returned to her bed.
“Here’s a good one,” Cara said, turning toward the drowsy dog and reading aloud.
“‘Hello sweet mommy. My name is Khalika and I am living in Gambia. I have read your requirements and am saying I am excellent candidate for professional job you are wanting. Please be immediate wiring two thousand dollars (American) for air travel expenses.’”
Poppy’s bright pink tongue lolled from her mouth.
“Wonder if he’s single?” Cara mused.
She was still reading when the laptop dinged, signaling the arrival of a new message in her inbox.
“I don’t believe it,” Cara said, staring at the message.
“Poppy, listen to this. It’s an email from that stupid bitch Ginny. The one who tried to kill you earlier today? Here’s what she says.”
Poppy opened one eye, lifted one ear.
