The Very Worst Man

by Laura Stapleton

  He grinned, opening the door a little. “I didn’t mind. It’s not every day I get to kiss a beautiful woman.”

  “Right. Go before you tell any more fibs.” She grinned at his laugh and watched until he got in his car.

  Closing the door and locking it, she leaned against the solid wood. He’d had a point with that alone talk. She always hid alone and covered lonely feelings, preferring to display hurt and angry if she showed anything at all. She had a scattering of friends, fun but superficial. Maxine was like a sister, only better, since she never murdered a spouse. Alexandra picked up the two drinking glasses and went to the kitchen. Having Hayden over had been very nice. Setting down the dishes, she tried to think back to when someone besides Max had been in here. Her heart answered too long and her mind agreed. She switched off the light and went to bed.

  After spending the first hour texting Maxine all about last night’s kisses, Alexandra hurried to get ready for work. She wanted to get there early so she could talk with her employees before patients began slithering, crawling, and trotting in the door. As soon as her vet tech came in, Alexandra pounced on her. “Brenda! I need to thank you for stepping up while I was hiding out in the back. It really helped everything around here.”

  “No problem. I’m glad you counted on me.” She tapped the counter as if unsure she should continue. “I’m just going to say it and hope you don’t take it the wrong way. This might be the first time you’ve taken any sort of break for yourself. Every other time was for Stan and his trial. You look better already, like it did you some good. It’s probably not for me to tell you, but it’s good you’re taking care of yourself.”

  She liked her employee’s candor, reassuring her how Brenda didn’t just punch a time card but wanted to be here. “Thank you. It’s always your place to say anything that might help my practice. Even if it means kicking me out of the building for a while. Now, where are we on Murphy’s recovery?”

  “He’s better and will stay that way.” She led the way to the sleeping animal. “What makes a dog eat a fork, anyway?”

  “Depends what’s caked on it.”

  Brenda laughed. “True. Maybe he thought it was a tough piece of meat.”

  “Good morning, ladies!” Ginny breezed in, hanging up her coat. “Dr. Bromley! You look wonderful today, like you’re feeling a lot better.”

  “I am feeling better, thank you. I’ve told Brenda and want to tell you how much I appreciate you both letting me hide and work on entering Dr. Gibson’s records.”

  “Oh gosh! No need to thank us. We’re here to help you. Plus, you pay us. It’s our job and I think our pleasure, right Brenda?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “You’re the best boss to tell us so,” Ginny continued. “I’d hug you but I need to unlock the door for your eight o’clock. Later?”

  “Yes, later is fine.” Alexandra went to get her lab coat while her employees began their morning tasks.

  Near the end of the workday, Ginny peeked in from the front. “The waiting room is empty, and Murphy’s parents said they’d be here at 6:30. We don’t have any more appointments. Do you want me to lock up until they get here?”

  After a day full of sad pet parents, she all but had to glue shut her lips to keep from saying yes to the request. “I’m tempted to, but no. We might as well stay open until they’re gone.”

  Tapping her long fingernails on the doorframe, the younger woman said, “Oo, I like the extra money.”

  “Aren’t you staying as a favor to me?” The crestfallen look on Ginny’s face made her chuckle. “I’m kidding. Of course I’m paying you unless you have plans and need to leave. If so, go ahead. Brenda and I can hold down the fort.”

  The front door jingled and they heard Hayden’s voice. “Hello? I need some help, please!”

  His panic grabbed her attention and she stepped out into the waiting room. “We’re here. What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, thank God. All right.” He set Lily in her carrier on the counter. “I let her out when I got home from work. I don’t usually, but the day was nice. I figured she deserved a treat.”

  She tucked away in her mind a personality trait they both had in common. Both of them over explained things when panicked or stressed. She had to get to the crux of the matter in a hurry and asked, “And?”

  “When she came back, something was wrong. She’s fine for a while, then she’ll start gagging. The first couple of times, I thought it was a hairball but nothing ever happened. I’ve never seen her like this, and it’s really scary.”

  Alexandra held up a hand when hearing Lily’s choking cough. She agreed with him: the sound was frightening. “Outside for how long?”

  “I’m not sure, ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Is that important?”

  She lifted the cat out of the carrier, holding her close and going through the diagnostic checklist in her mind. Lily began twitching as if suppressing a cough. Alexandra’s throat had that taste of fear in the back. “Does your car leak antifreeze?” Seeing him shake his head, she asked, “How about your neighbors? Is anyone over there working on their cars?”

  “I don’t know.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe. People are outside the apartments all the time. I don’t pay attention most days.”

  “She might have drunk some antifreeze, but that shouldn’t cause choking.” She didn’t want to tell him if Lily had been poisoned, they had very little time to get an antidote in her. Instead, she lifted the cat’s chin and felt a little relieved at not seeing any pink or green around the animal’s mouth. “Let me check her throat before doing an ultrasound.” She held Lily’s face and pried open her jaw. Even before the cat’s mouth opened, Alexandra saw a fishing line looped over one of her front teeth. Sweet relief swept through her, almost making her cry. “Ah ha! Here’s the problem.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s something I’ll have to do an ultrasound for anyway.” She ran a hand down Lily’s back when she began the horrible choking again. “Come with me and we’ll check to see if a hook is at the end of the line.”

  “A hook and line? What the hell?”

  “If it’s any consolation, I think it’s just the line. Unless there was a minnow or something fishy on the end, there’s probably not a hook.” She glanced at him while putting Lily on the table. “Even then, she would have eaten around the metal. You don’t keep her in a barn and hungry for mice, so I’m sure she’s picky about her snacks.” His wrinkles eased a little from her explanation and she smiled. “I’ll just do a quick check of her stomach for metal.” Lily took that time to cough and gag again.

  “I hate when she does that.”

  “It does sound bad, so let’s see….” She ran the ultrasound wand over the cat’s tummy. The animal began squirming, and Alexandra said, “Hayden, could you help keep her still? She’s not as crazy about this as I’d hoped.”

  “Sure.” He put one hand on his cat’s shoulders over Alexandra’s hand, and the other on Lily’s hips.

  “Here,” she pulled her hand from under his. “I might need this one later.”

  “Oh, sorry.” Staring at the small screen, he said, “I don’t see anything. That’s got to be a good sign.”

  “It is.” She let out her pent up breath in relief. “All right!” Putting the wand back in its holder, she switched off the machine. “This is a quick and easy cure that turns me into a hero.” Alexandra opened the cat’s jaws and pulled the loop from the tooth. As the line dragged through her esophagus, Lily gagged until it was free. “There you go, girl.” She nodded to Hayden. “You can let her up a little now. She’s good.”

  He ran his hand down Lily’s back, and she raised her forehead for more pats. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re very welcome.” After Alexandra spoke, the cat went to her and leaned against her tummy for a moment before licking her hand. Grinning, she added, “If Lily has difficulty eating or drinking, it may mean her throat is sore so call and I’ll give her some medicine
to help the irritation.”

  He picked up his pet, interrupting the cat trying to nuzzle her vet and held her close. Hayden scratched behind Lily’s ears. “I should have looked in her mouth myself, but just panicked when it started.”

  “I completely understand. You love her and choking is always scary. I’ve had to pull bones from dogs’ mouths, and no one is ever calm when that happens. I wasn’t at first but have done it enough that it’s not as terrifying now.” She watched as he resisted letting Lily clean his neck with her tongue. “I don’t know why she’d swallow fishing line unless it tasted like bait. I’m not willing to smell her breath to see if that’s it, though.”

  He grinned, giving Lily one last hug before putting her in the carrier. “I imagine. How much do I owe you?”

  She tapped her chin, staring at the ceiling as if truly thinking it over. “Gosh, well, it’s almost my birthday, and I’d like something really nice.” Grinning at his accepting expression, she entered in the charges on the nearby computer. “I’m warning you, it’ll be a lot.”

  Hayden laughed while taking out his wallet. “Really? I’m not scared. You saved her life, so I’m fine with whatever the cost is.”

  “No, not really.” She laughed at his sigh of relief. Scratching Lily behind the ears before closing the lid down on her, she said, “All you owe is for the ultrasound and an office visit. The perfect amount for paying the bills, not so much for extravagance.” She patted his back in reassurance before leading the way through the exam room. “Ginny will take care of everything, and thanks for letting me help Lily.”

  “You’ve got it turned around.” He glanced at the cost sheet before giving Ginny his debit card. “We’re glad you saved her life. You’re amazing.”

  “See? I told you I’d get to look like a hero.” The door jangled, catching everyone’s attention as a couple walked in.

  Alexandra smiled at them. “And there’s Murphy’s parents. He should be ready for you. Come on into an exam room, and I’ll see where he’s at in recovery.” She opened a door and they walked in. Before she followed, Alexandra couldn’t help but look back at Hayden. He’d been looking at her too and winked. She grinned, her face feeling hot, and went in with Murphy’s owners.

  The next day, Alexandra stared at the computer, looking for an invoice indicating when she last ordered a special diet dog food. It should have been here by now. Brenda at the doorway caught her eye, and she glanced at the clock. “Is Binky here already? It’s a bit early.”

  “Not her so much as something from an admirer.”

  “Oo, now you have me curious. Now you have to tell me if they’re for you or Ginny?”

  “Neither. The card says you, so come out here and tell us who sent them before Ginny explodes.”

  “I don’t know who’d send me anything today. It’s not my birthday or anything.” She didn’t want to say anything about hoping they were an apology from her brother. As Alexandra stepped through the doorway, she couldn’t help but see a rather largish bouquet of summer flowers overfilling a glass vase. “Wow! My admirer doesn’t go halfway, does he?” She walked over and took the card. After reading it, she laughed. “Turns out my admirer is a she.” The odd looks from her staff made her chuckle, so Alexandra read the card to them. “Thank you for saving my life. Love, Lily.”

  “Aww!” Ginny and Brenda said at the same time.

  “I know, right? What a sweetheart of a kitty.” She ignored the look passing between the two women, focusing instead on enjoying her flowers from a cat.

  “And a sweetheart of an owner,” said Ginny with a slight giggle.

  Shyness at such a display from Hayden swirled with disappointment at the lack of an apology from Stan. The emotions stayed unmixed like Styrofoam beads and grains of sand. “I suppose he’s an ok guy.” Her face grew even hotter when realizing Hayden thought enough to send flowers. She buried her nose in a carnation and breathed in deep, loving the sharp, spicy smell.

  Brenda leaned over, giving the other woman a wink. “It’s nice of Lily to send such a thank you.”

  Alexandra laughed at the image of the cat calling up a florist. “Very much so. Good thing she didn’t fat paw the phone and send over pizza instead.”

  Ginny arched an eyebrow. “Let’s see if you say that sometime after closing when you’ve skipped lunch yet again.”

  “That’s true. Sometimes I can’t tell when it’s my stomach growling or it’s the sick dog I’m seeing.”

  Brenda laughed and then winked at Ginny. “Is that an authorization to call Pizza Joe’s for lunch?”

  She glanced out at the beautiful weather. Between the sunny day and summertime fragrance, Alexandra didn’t want to be cooped up in here for lunch either. “Yes, we can eat outside while I call Lily and thank her for the flowers.”

  Grinning, her receptionist said, “I’m sure he’ll like hearing from you so soon.”

  The front door jingled and Alexandra waved away her idea as the girl went to the front. “Oh, it’s just a courtesy call to let him know they arrived. No big deal.”

  “Right,” said Brenda.

  Ginny leaned into the back room. “Pizza order has been sent, mail is here, and the food shipment is too.”

  “Great!” She needed the change of topic from Hayden to anything else. What better than the tubby little Rosco to distract them? “That’s a load off of my mind. Rosco is scheduled for this afternoon, and I’d hoped to send a bag or two of the new diet food home with him.”

  “Man! I forgot about seeing him today.” Brenda sighed. “I love that little dog, but I’m wearing black pants.”

  Now remembering what she’d forgotten to tell her assistant, Alexandra winced. “I’m sorry, I should have warned you yesterday.”

  The woman laughed at her shamed face. “No big deal. I can check the schedule as easily as you can. He sheds so much, I need a pair of tan scrub bottoms that match his coat.”

  “That’d be nice. Your hem would be fur trimmed thanks to him,” she offered as a positive.

  “God. What makes a little dog act like a cat? He’s just crazy.”

  “He loves you.” Alexandra glanced at the clock, seeing it was after noon. “Which reminds me, I need to call and thank Lily.”

  “Oo, I should leave you alone in case she can’t talk and you have to tell tall, dark, and handsome instead.”

  Butterflies began swarming in her tummy. Maybe she should wait until tomorrow. He might be busy today. “You don’t have to, I don’t mind.”

  “Ha! Go on and call while wait out back for the pizza guy.”

  “Very well.” Alexandra shook her head at Brenda’s teasing. Good thing she and Hayden didn’t have a relationship or the gal would be merciless. Typing in search terms gave her his office number. Somehow, she suspected he took an hour off at noon as often as she did and dialed.

  “Hello, Dr. Bromley I assume.”

  She ignored the tingly, happy, nervous flutters in her tummy and became her professional persona. “You guessed right, and why are you answering your own phone?”

  “Caller ID helps or you’d get the official greeting. I figure after you saved Lily’s life, we’re past formalities.”

  She bit her lip to keep from smarting off about him taking away Stan’s life. Alexandra knew it would be an attempt at dark humor, but Hayden might not see it that way. “I agree and wanted to thank her for such a lovely bouquet. The flowers are amazing and thank you.”

  “They’re there already? The florist doesn’t mess around, and I’m glad you liked them. So is Lily.”

  “Speaking of her, how is she doing? No pain when swallowing?”

  “Not at all. She ate a small can of wet food last night just fine. I’m holding off on the dry until later today, and if that doesn’t goes down easy for her, I’ll call you first thing tomorrow.”

  His voice caressed her inner ear and she liked the vibrations. Being strictly professional became more difficult the longer they chatted. She cleared her throat bef
ore continuing. “Great. Sounds like you have it under control. Give Lily a hug from me and keep a bunch of thanks for yourself. The flowers were a nice surprise.”

  “I’m glad and sure, I’ll give her a hug from you.”

  That was a lucky little cat, Alexandra thought. The guy knew how to hug, and she missed him already. She needed to get Hayden Wells off the phone before making up an excuse to see him. “My next patient is already waiting, so can we talk more later?”

  “Sure, looking forward to it. Later, Alex.”

  “Later, Hay.” She heard his laugh as she clicked off her phone. Amusing him brightened her day even more. She grinned, glad she’d not waited to call him.

  Ginny walked over to her. “Here’s the mail minus catalogues, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not. I’d recycle them anyway.” She thumbed through the windowed envelopes, not thrilled to see bills so soon after paying the last round of them. They put a dimmer on her sunshine.

  The official letter from Rawlings stood out in the stack. She’d been alarmed the first time she’d received one. All sorts of horrible things had run through her mind that day, courtesy of television’s prison shows. Now she knew a visitor’s letter when it landed on her desk. Maybe this was Stan’s apology via paper instead of flowers. Making sure Ginny had closed the door, Alexandra opened the envelope to see her next time to visit her brother was this weekend. The date nagged at her, and she glanced at the calendar.

  Saturday. He’d made the visit for a Saturday, and she double-checked the time. “During business hours? Damn it all to hell. What a flipping moron!” The words escaped her like papers out of her car on a windy day. She’d called him a moron? A part of her felt like a little kid who had gobbled down a forbidden cookie. The other part felt sick, like she’d betrayed Stan in a big way. “Alright,” she whispered. “I can make this work. Just this once.”