Page 28 of Sit, Stay, Love
Sera stared after him, a cold sensation spreading across her skin and her heart sinking as she watched him wave down his ride, disappear into the back seat and drive off without a second look.
Sera chewed her thumbnail. ‘It was my fault, Herriot. I screwed up.’ She sank into his couch with a miserable huff. The dogs had been thrown into the backyard with some chicken wings.
Toby, dressed in his blue surgery scrubs, leaned against the wall. ‘You can’t control other people’s dogs. And if his phobia is that bad, he needs professional help.’
She nodded. ‘I’m going to suggest it. I just thought, the dog park… I didn’t think it would be that busy during the week. And we were having such a nice time! The sun was shining, and we were laughing. Then those dogs had to have a fight right in front of him. I mean, literally, right in front of him.’
‘That was just bad luck, and absolutely not your fault.’
‘That’s what he said.’
‘Well, he was right. You’re great with dogs, and with people. If anyone could help him, it’d be you. But maybe he needs to see a therapist.’
Tears filled her eyes. ‘I’m going to have to close the rescue. The money he promised, the fundraiser, the publicity – that might have kept us going, we might have scraped through – but now…’ She swallowed back a sob.‘I won’t be able to keep it going, and I can’t ask my folks for more money. My mum would crack the shits.’
Toby glanced towards the surgery.
‘Sorry. You’re busy,’ she moaned.
He sighed, sat beside her and pulled her into him. ‘I’m never too busy for you. And I can help. You know I can.’
She snuggled into the warmth of his body and rested her head on his shoulder. ‘You do too much already. I won’t ask you for money.’
‘Then we’ll do a raffle or something,’ he said. ‘Run some kind of fundraiser through my practice. We’ll work it out.’ He touched her chin and turned her face towards him. ‘Ser. We’ll work it out.’
She gazed into his soft chocolatey eyes, always half-hidden behind an errant curl, and her breath eased. He always made her feel better. She smiled, wiped her nose across the back of her hand and patted his thigh. ‘I love you, Herriot, but I think it might be time to give up the dream. I can’t go on like this.’ She pushed herself off the cushions. ‘I’ll go get the dogs and head home.’
‘Why don’t you hang out here?’ he said following her to the back door. ‘I’ve got a dental extraction to do and then a couple of appointments, but when I’m finished up for the day, we’ll watch a movie and order in some McDonalds or something. Chicken nuggets always cheer you up.’ She loved that he knew nuggets always brightened her day. But her mood was beyond even nuggets.
‘I promised Tia I’d be back mid-afternoon. She’s going out somewhere.’
‘What if I come over later? I’ll grab some takeaway.’
‘I have writing work to do. I can’t miss this deadline. I need the money.’
‘Then how about tomorrow night, I take you out. Your pick. Whatever you like.’
‘I can’t. I’m seeing my parents. But thanks for trying, Herriot.’ She hesitated for a moment, then pushed up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. ‘You’re the best.’
Sera gazed out at the harbour. The sun was starting to set, sparkling golden on the water, and the breeze carried the tang of the ocean and the sweetness of jasmine, along with a little bit of a chill. She pulled her cardigan closer. She’d spent the day doing chores around the shelter and getting her copy proposal off to Peaceful Slumbers. She’d texted Ethan – twice – to see if he was okay. He hadn’t answered. She’d thought about calling him, but Toby had suggested leaving him alone.
‘He’s probably embarrassed,’ he’d said. ‘Guys aren’t great at being embarrassed.’
So she’d let Ethan be, and instead stared at her phone every thirty minutes.
Now she sat on a cane lounge on her parents’ balcony, waiting for the next onslaught from her mum. Her father poured her a glass of wine.
‘Where’s Toby tonight?’ her mother asked.
‘Home, I guess.’ She was convinced her mother liked Toby more than she liked her own daughter.
‘Why don’t you call him and ask him to join us? I can put out more cheese.’
‘I’m sure he’s already sorted his dinner, mum. Anyway, isn’t it nice to spend time with just me for a change?’
‘Of course, darling. You’re always enough.’
Sera took a gulp of wine. Then why did she always feel like she wasn’t?
