As Olivia laughed, he motioned across the room. “So, this room and the one next to it are where we see most clients. Dr. Washington ran the place as a small, intimate practice from the time the doors opened in 1979. To tell you the truth, this building is a bit inadequate in some ways, but he never outgrew it. One of the biggest things I’d love to have, aside from a third exam room, is a separate waiting room for cats. We do our best to keep them out of the waiting room when there are dogs in it, but sometimes it’s just not possible.”

Next, Gabe gave her a tour of the back rooms. There was an X-ray and ultrasound room and the operating room. In what might once have been a closet or mudroom in the old house, there was a small recovery and observation room. In it were ten kennels of various sizes, with the cats sequestered in the four smallest ones at the far end. The dog kennels ranged in size from Chihuahua- to Great Dane–sized.

This evening, only three animals were being kept overnight—a dog and a cat, both of whom Gabe had spayed this morning, and now the Yorkie.

After he’d introduced her to Janice, who was freshening the water of the two who’d come out of surgery this morning, Olivia lowered her voice so as not to disturb the animals and asked, “Are they sick?”

Even as undefined as their relationship was, Gabe would happily introduce Olivia to any of his staff, but he was thankful the only one working tonight was Janice. All but one of his six-person staff were female, and Janice was the least likely to join in on the gossip that sometimes permeated the front room. Like him, she didn’t seem that interested in fanfare.

“This is the Yorkie who had the stone taken out of his bladder just now. He’ll probably doze another few hours. The other two were spayed this morning. They should go home tomorrow, so long as they’re still doing well. As long as their owners are able to keep their activity levels under control, I’m a firm believer that animals recuperate faster in the comfort of their own homes.”

Olivia nodded. “Makes sense. Though I’m sure keeping an animal still is harder to do with some than others.”

“Especially with the hyper ones,” Janice added with a wink as she locked the cat’s kennel. “For the most part, animals are better than us at knowing when to lie low.”

They stepped out of the room and talked for a few more minutes; then Gabe used the very real excuse of being famished and asked Janice to text him an update before leaving.

“Sure. Are you calling Ms. Bonner, or should I?” Janice asked. “Her number’s on the front counter.”