Rafe
“Give him one tonight with dinner, and make sure you finish the full course. He should start feeling better in twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”
I scratch the docile malamute’s big head before handing over the antibiotics to its owner. The dog was brought in with an infected wound to one of his hind legs. The owner hadn’t noticed it under the thick fur until the dog started licking it and his paw became swollen.
I walk with them to the reception area where I leave them in Lisa’s hands before turning to see who’s next.
“Mrs. Myers,” I try not to show my irritation when I greet her.
Taz mentioned a few days ago she was relieved the woman was taken off her roster of visits. It doesn’t surprise me, as soon as she’s back on her feet, I find her back in my clinic with poor Charlton.
“Dr. Thomas.”
“Why don’t you come back to the exam room and tell me what brings Charlton in today.” I lead the way to the back and show her into the room.
Then I leave her to fetch Jason, my intern who’s in the back monitoring the two animals we spayed this morning. I like the guy. He’s good with the animals, personable with their owners, and seems to have a steady hand and a good head on his shoulders. He should do fine with Rick Moore’s support while I’m on vacation.
He’s had a chance over the past few weeks to meet most of my regular patients, except for Charlton.
“I’d like you to step in with me. Mrs. Myers and her dog are what we’d call frequent flyers. Charlton’s a beagle and has a myriad of health issues, most related to his morbid obesity. We’ve tried for years to get him to lose the weight, but it’s impossible without his owner’s cooperation.”
“All right,” he agrees, closing the door to the crate of the tabby scheduled to be picked up later this afternoon.
The moment I close the door behind us, and finish introducing Jason, Mrs. Myers starts talking.
“He’s not eating.”
“When was the last time he had anything?” I ask, lifting the overweight dog onto the table and notice its labored breathing.
“He ate a little of his dinner Monday night, but nothing since.”
It’s Friday morning now. “Has he been drinking?” I notice a tremor in the dog’s legs as I palpate his abdomen, as if he has trouble standing.
“Not as much as usual.”
I fit my stethoscope in my ears and listen to the elevated and highly irregular heart rate, as Charlton sinks down on his butt. The poor dog’s heart is failing. I want to yell at the woman for not heeding my warnings these past years. Beagles can live a healthy twelve to fifteen years, but Charlton—at only nine years old—is at his end. Frustrated I yank the stethoscope off and gesture for Jason to have a listen. I’ve tried to explain how dangerous obesity is in dogs. Urged her to keep the dog on a strict diet.
I wait for Jason to finish his examination. When he looks at me and faintly shakes his head, I know he’s come to the same conclusion I have.
“Mrs. Myers, Charlton is not well. In fact, his heart is failing.” I try to keep my tone gentle. In spite of her disregard for my warnings over the years, there’s no denying the woman loves her dog, as tears fill her eyes.
“Can you fix him?” her voice whispers and suddenly I see her for what she is; a lonely old woman, scared to death of losing another loved one.
My heart goes out to her, even as I prepare to break hers.
“He’s suffering, Mrs. Myers. His heart is not pumping effectively, and he has trouble breathing. I can’t fix him, but I can end his pain.”
“You mean put him to sleep? Now?”
“Rafe.”
Sarah’s voice is curt when she answers the phone. We haven’t seen Taz’s parents since last Sunday, although I spoke to Ed earlier this week when he called. He mentioned Sarah would need some time, but they wanted to see the kids before we left to go camping. They’re supposed to take them for dinner tonight.
“Mom, I need your help.”
“Are the kids okay?”
“Yes. It’s not the kids; it’s Cynthia Myers. Or more accurately, her dog. Heart failure. She’s agreed for me to euthanize him, but I’m worried about her.”
“Give me ten minutes,” she snaps, hanging up immediately.
We’ve given Mrs. Myers some privacy with Charlton. Jason’s looking after a cat with a torn ear someone just brought in, and I get a head start on my notes while I wait for Sarah to get here. I hear her come in as promised ten minutes later, and listen to the muted voices in the exam room next door for a few moments before I go in.
I hate euthanizing, but when an animal is beyond help, it’s the only thing left I can do for them. Still, it makes me feel like shit when I watch heartbroken owners leave.
Sarah has an arm around Mrs. Myers as they walk to her car.
“Don’t worry about your car, Mrs. Myers,” I tell her as I follow them out. “If you’ll leave me your keys, we’ll drop it off later.”
Without a word she pulls them from her purse and hands them to me. Sarah helps her into the passenger seat and makes sure she’s buckled up before closing the door and turning to me.
“Thanks for calling.”
“Thank you for coming. I thought she could use a friend.”
She nods, letting her eyes drift to the house. “I’d still like to pick up the kids from Kathleen’s for dinner as planned, but maybe Cynthia will want to tag along, if that’s okay.”
“Of course. Mom…” I reach for her but she turns away and quickly rounds the car.
I watch her get in and start the car. I’m still standing in the same spot when Taz pulls in minutes later.
“Was that Mom?” Taz asks the moment she gets out of the SUV.
“Yeah. With Mrs. Myers. I just had to put Charlton down.”
“Oh no, what happened?” She puts a hand on my arm and I automatically reach for her, pulling her close. She tilts her head back to look up at me.
“The inevitable. His heart gave up.”
She snuggles closer. “She must be devastated. That dog was like a child to her.”
“I know. That’s why I called your mom.”
We stand there for a moment, arms around each other. “Are you done for the day?” she finally asks, stepping out of my hold.
“I have to go back and arrange for Charlton’s body to be picked up, and get Jason to help me drop off Mrs. Myers car before I hand off the clinic to him.”
“Okay. I’ll go finish laundry and start packing the kids’ stuff. Why don’t you pick up some pizza on your way through town for dinner? We can start loading up some things after we eat.”
I tag her behind the neck and press a kiss to her lips. “It’s a plan.” I watch as she walks away and call her name right before she disappears inside. “Taz?”
“Yeah?” She stops and turns, her eyebrows raised.
“I love you.”
Taz
I’m still wearing the same smile when I finish putting clean sheets on the last bed.
This way I won’t have to worry about washing them when we get back next week. I’m sure we’ll be bringing back enough laundry as it is.
It’s funny how easily Rafe and I have settled into our changed relationship. It feels natural: right. Even with the need to watch ourselves around the kids, the significance of those seemingly casual touches, the easy glances, and the frequent warm smiles, sustain me.
Still, I look forward not having to be secretive. It does make me nervous, though. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t care less what people in town might think, but I do care about my family. The kids especially. Rafe wants to talk to them early on in our trip, so we have the whole week to let them get used to the idea. I don’t disagree; I’m just worried if they don’t react favorably, this whole trip could be ruined.
I hear my phone ringing downstairs and grab the kids’ duffel bags before running downstairs. Tossing them toward the front door, I quickly snatch up the phone from the coffee table before it stops ringing.
“Hello?”
“Tomorrow night. Salty’s on the river for girls’ night,” Meredith says without introduction. “Kathleen is on board.”
I smile. “I bet she is, but we’re leaving tomorrow to go camping, remember?”
“Shit. I forgot. When are you back?”
“Next Saturday. Probably early afternoon.”
“Good, we’ll make it next Saturday then.”
I’m about to protest when it occurs to me I might be ready for a little girl time by then. “It’s a plan.”
“We’re telling the kids this weekend,” I blurt out.
“Nervous?” Meredith asks immediately, and I’m reminded how wonderful it is to have friends who seem to get you without explanation. Even Meredith, who I haven’t known all that long.
“Honestly? Shitting my pants. Rafe and I; things are pretty good, even though we have to be very careful. If this does not go well, it could seriously complicate things.”
I’m not sure what I’m expecting, but it’s not Meredith cracking up.
“Oh, my God, you’re funny,” she finally informs me, still chuckling. “Complicate things? Honey, from what I hear your situation is about as complicated as it’s gonna get. Shee-it, girl.”
“Kathleen told you about my parents, huh?”
“Sure did, and I gotta tell you, it’s not half as bad as I expected it could be. Besides, it sounds like your man did pretty good throwing down for you like that. From what she tells me, he’s as close to them as if they were his own. He sure put it all on the line for you.”
She’s right. As far as my parents go, he stands to lose as much as I do.
“He loves me.” I can’t stop the smile sounding in my voice.
“I hate to tell you, but that’s no secret, honey. I could see it in the way he looked at you the first time I met him. Why do you think I assumed y’all were married? He looks at you the way Andrew does at me when he thinks I don’t notice. Like he’s still wondering after years how the hell he got so lucky.”
“It’s soon.” I can’t help trying to talk myself down from the high her words give me.
“It is what it is. Soon, late, it all depends on how you choose to look at things. Who the hell cares anyway? I meant what I said before, there’s something so tragically beautiful in your story. Anyone who can’t see the cataclysmic perfection of you two together is not worth your time.”
“Thanks, Meredith,” I tell her softly, thinking my sister would’ve appreciated that way of describing our messy lives. “Nicky would’ve liked you.”
There’s a brief pause before she responds. “Of course. What’s not to like?”
“Next Saturday,” I confirm with a grin.
“Pick you up at eight and prepare to get hammered. Andrew is designated driver, he’ll come pick our sorry carcasses up.”
I’ve barely hung up the phone when I hear the front door and the dogs run for it as Rafe walks in, carrying a pizza box.
“Hey, honey,” I greet him, taking the box from his hands so he can say hello to the dogs.
In the kitchen I pull off a few sheets of paper towel—not bothering with plates—and grab a few beers from the fridge. I’m washing my hands at the sink when two strong arms slip around me from behind.
“I like that,” Rafe rumbles in my neck. “You calling me honey.”
A charge ripples over my skin as one of his hands comes up under my shirt to cup my breast, and the other slips down the front of my lounge pants. “The kids,” I remind him, even as I press back into his body.
“They won’t be home for at least another hour. After that I won’t be able to do this for a whole week.” His fingers stroke leisurely along my folds, as he plucks at my nipple with his other hand.
“Pizza will get cold,” I point out, almost breathless with arousal when his thumb finds my clit.
“I’d rather have you hot,” he whispers, before laving my neck with his lips and tongue. “And wet,” he adds, slipping two digits inside me.
“Rafe…” I whimper helplessly, as he gives me my first orgasm in front of the kitchen sink.
The second with my ass on the counter and his mouth on my pussy. The third with my ass in the air, bent over the kitchen table as he pounds in me from behind.
It takes us ten minutes to collect the various items of clothing Lilo and Stitch have dragged all over the house. We’ve finished cleaning up and are about to sit down with cold pizza, when the front door opens.
As usual, Spencer is the first one to come barreling inside with his sister following at a more sedate pace.
“Hey, Daddy, hey, Aunt Taz. Guess what?”
“I give up,” I joke, but Spencer’s already well into his story about Grandpa giving him his lucky fishing hat to take on our trip.
As Spencer is proudly showing his dad, I notice Mom staying in the hallway, Sofie by her side. “Won’t you come in?” I ask, getting up to join her there.
“No, I should get back to your father. I just wanted to wish you a good trip.” She watches as I absentmindedly stroke Sofie’s braids.
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll have my phone, though. Anything happens, call, okay? We’ll only be a couple of hours from here.”
Her eyes dart over my shoulder and I can sense Rafe closing in. “Lisa also offered to be on standby for whatever you need,” he adds, and I see Mom nod.
She seems to swallow hard as she takes us in; Sofie with her back to my front, my arms loosely crossed over her chest, and Rafe behind me, not touching, but close.
Then she nods again, “I will,” and walks out the door.