CHAPTER 10

Right after breakfast, Nicola left Iris in Alma's care the next day, loaded the stray dog into the car, and drove to the nearest veterinarian's clinic. There was a twenty-minute wait before she could take the dog into one of the examination rooms.

While she waited, Nicola stroked the animal’s white colored fur and talked to him in a low voice. He gazed up at her with warm brown eyes, his pink tongue sticking out of his mouth.

“You are so cute, so well-behaved. I can't believe someone didn't want you.”

The dog licked Nicola's hand.

“You need a name but I'll let Iris do the honors.”

Ten minutes later, the veterinarian, Dr. Parry stepped into the waiting room. Nicola scooped up the little dog and got to her feet. She followed the doctor down a short hallway and into a small room on her right.

“And who is this little guy?”

“I don’t know. He wandered onto my employer's property a few weeks ago. He looked so thin and I felt sorry for him, so I started