Reunion in October (The Calendar Girls Book 2) Read Online Free

dignity.”
    Gratitude overwhelmed me. This woman, this stranger , seemed to understand my fears and knew exactly what to say to comfort me. Which made what I’d heard about her background ridiculous. “Are you really from Brooklyn?” I blurted.
    She pulled away from me, face pale. “Of course I am.”
    Great. I’d insulted her. How could I apologize and explain without shoving my foot farther into my mouth? Somehow I doubted the excuse that she seemed “too nice” to come from Brooklyn would win me friendship points. Roy always warned me my words often jumped too fast for my brain. I finally settled for, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
    Dr. Herrera relaxed and offered a smile, icy at the corners. “It’s okay. I get it.” Lifting Freckles, she passed him off to the vet tech. “Put him in cage three,” she said, then turned to me. “Do you want to say goodbye?”
    I flinched. “For good?”
    “No,” she said hastily. “Just for tonight.”
    I stepped closer to the young lady cradling Freckles and rubbed his head. His soulful gaze connected with me, and I understood what Dr. Herrera had hinted. I sensed my dog’s pain, his exhaustion, his need for me to let him go. “I’m gonna do what’s right, boy,” I murmured, “I promise.”
    The tech headed for the doorway and paused to wave a fat brown paw. “Bye-bye, Mommy.” She mimicked a child’s tone.
    My breath caught, and my heartbeat hitched.
    “That’ll do, Miranda,” the vet admonished.
    The young girl blushed a deep red and ducked her head. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
    Great. My callousness was contagious. I waved off her apology. What else could I do?
    Apparently, Dr. Herrera wasn’t satisfied. As soon as the tech left the exam room with Freckles, the vet closed the door and turned back to me, arms folded over her chest. “I really am sorry. I doubt she intended to be unkind. She’s young and inexperienced, but not mean. Believe me, I know mean. That’s not it.”
    Numb from the morning’s events, I didn’t pursue that statement. “I know,” I said instead. “It’s okay. Really.” That familiar ache bloomed in my chest. Heartburn. Too much coffee, not enough healthy stuff. I glanced at the clock above the window. “I have to go to work. You said I could call you after ten tomorrow?”
    “Yes, unless you’d prefer I call you.”
    “No,” I answered in half a breath. “The kids. I mean…”
    Smiling, she held up a hand. “Trust me. I understand.”
    I stood for a long minute, shuffling from one foot to the other, awkward as a teenager in front of her first crush. “Umm…thank you,” I murmured and backed toward the exit.
    “My pleasure,” she replied and walked me out, a manila folder in her hand. Once we stood in the narrow waiting area, she plopped the folder on the receptionist’s desk.
    Becky, Dr. Bautista’s administrative assistant, flipped it open and began punching in numbers on a calculator. “That’ll be one hundred twenty eight dollars,” she said brightly.
    I dropped the pet carrier I’d used to bring in Freckles and pulled out my checkbook with trembling hands. I glanced at my balance, and the indigestion in my belly burned hotter. I had exactly $63.72 in my account until I got paid two days from now. “Can I give you fifty today, and I’ll pay the rest later?”
    Becky lowered her jewel-rimmed glasses on her nose and shared a questioning glance with Dr. Herrera, who—thank God—nodded.
    After writing out the check and handing it to Becky, I looked up at the new vet again. “Thanks again. Nice meeting you.”
    “Same here.” She nodded and returned to the exam room.
    Meanwhile, Becky took my check, stamped the back of it, and called out, “Bootsie Garcia? Dr. Herrera will see you now.”
    An elderly lady rose and tugged on a leash, jerking a Great Dane to its massive paws. “Come on, Bootsie,” she sing-songed at the gigantosaur. “That’s