TAMMY’S POV“Are you fucking serious, Sean? ” I screamed at him.“That dog was aggressive! He bit Sue! How did you think bringing a dog home was a good idea?”“Sean, he was a rescued puppy. We still had to train him. I was ready to commit to having Rain be a part of our family. How could you do this?”“To be honest, I didn’t like that stray anyway. I would have just put a bullet through its head if I found it on the side of the road, just put it out of its misery.” Sean said coolly.I choke on whatever words are coming up, I’m at a complete loss. How could he be so unfeeling like that? Harming a poor, innocent animal? I feel queasy.Sean knows how passionate about animals as a veterinarian. That my soul purpose is to heal and save them every chance I can. He must know that speaking of harming an animal in front of me would break my heart into a million pieces. “And please, Tammy, don’t bring home any more strays.” Sean said as he took another sip of whiskey. I hardly recognise this ma
TAMMY’S POVI get into my car and pull out of the apartment parking garage at quite a speed. The roads are quiet, it must be close to midnight. On the drive to the shelter Tito had directed me to on the phone earlier, I ruminate about how Sean ended up taking Rain to the shelter and the actual size of the wound on Sue’s arm. Rain was such a well-behaved pup in the week that I had him. Puppies are known for biting objects like furniture or shoes. But I made sure to have enough teething toys for him so that he wouldn’t feel the need to bite anything important or expensive in the house.Valentina even enjoyed having him around. I overheard her talking to Rain when he would sit with her, going from room to room as she cleaned. Ángel even started giving Rain some offcuts of meat when he was done cooking Sue’s meals in the kitchen. Rain would be so well-behaved, sitting politely waiting for Ángel to command him to take it “gently, gently” from his hand. Could it be that Sue was antagoni
TAMMY’S POVI sit down on the barstool next to Gideon. How could I pass up his offer to grab a drink after he helped me save Rain from the shelter?I make sure Rain is securely fastened to the open barstool next to me with a bowl of water that the bar staff didn’t mind pouring for him. He promptly falls asleep on the floor, exhausted after what he’d been through today.It’s pretty late but the last place I want to be right now is home. I’m not sure if Sean and Sue are back from their run to the hospital for her ‘bite’ and I definitely didn’t want Sean to see that I’d rescued Rain from the shelter. I order a cocktail as Gideon sips on his beer. “High-risk adoption, huh?” I ask, circling back to why he was at the shelter when I arrived there an hour ago.“Yeah, I was locating two wild lynxes that were being circulated through a trade syndicate. They ended up in that kill shelter. After we get them out of there and into our rehabilitation centre, we go after the sick fucks that put them
TAMMY’S POVHow the hell did Sean find me here at this pub with Gideon?“Sean, how did yo…?”Sean cuts me off, knowing exactly what I was about to ask, “I put a tracker in that new car I bought you.”“That’s a complete violation of privacy, Sean!” I bark at him.“It’s for your own safety, Tammy. For instance, this little encounter with your friend.” Sean says, sneering at Gideon.As shocked and upset as I am, I’m almost moved by his caring about my safety. To know he still cares lights a little flame inside of me. With the way Sean’s been acting recently, I don’t know how he feels about me anymore. Anger builds back up inside of me as I say, “Why don’t you go and make sure Sue is safe? That’s what your priority has been recently. I’m perfectly fine on my own.”Sean just shook his head at me and continued, pointing once again to Gideon standing next to me, bracing for the conflict, “And you call this fine, do you? Drinking with a complete stranger in a pub in the early hours of the mor
TAMMY’S POVThe drive to Gideon’s house with Gideon and Rain in the back seat was awkward. Probably just because I was overthinking everything. And after he helped me save Rain from the shelter, he was repaid with an uppercut to the jaw by my husband.He directs me all the way and eventually I stop at his driveway. “Thanks again, Gid. You can just grab his bed and food out of the trunk.” I say shyly.“No problem, Tammy.” he says, opening the back door and ushering himself and rain out onto the sidewalk. Before he closes the door, he leans in and says, “And, Tam? Good luck. With everything. I’ll take good care of your boy. See ya around.”The door slams closed, probably just because Gideon is too strong for his own good and didn’t know these damn car doors are so light. He grabs Rain's things from out the trunk and makes his way to his front door. I wait for them to step inside the house before I take a big sigh and head home.My heart feels heavy as I pull into the basement parking g
TAMMY’S POVI follow Sean out of the basement parking lot and into the elevator that leads to our penthouse apartment.He ignores me the whole ride up until the elevator stops and the metal doors slide open into the foyer. Sean walks left toward our room and I head straight for the kitchen, needing a long glass of water.As I enter the dimly lit kitchen, I see Sue leaning against the granite bar counter with her usual dirty martini in hand. Great, just when I thought this day had finally come to an end, I have to deal with her.Sue looks up at me from her drink. “Darling! I was oh so worried! I’ve been waiting up all night for you.” her expression sounding deliberately insincere. Or maybe it’s just that my bullshit meter has reached its maximum capacity. “I’m alive, don’t worry.” I say sarcastically as I skulk to the refrigerator and grab a bottle of water to take to my room. I start making my way to my room to avoid any further conversation but she has more to say.“Well, listen, I
TAMMY’S POVI’m so grateful to be back at work today. Even though last night felt like a triumph for me, I still enjoy getting out of the apartment, away from Sue and all the recent drama.I just discharged my first patient of the day, a ferret that needed her annual blood test. As I’m cleaning up the table in my exam room, my boss, Dr Genti, poked his head into the doorway.“Tammy, good to see you.” he holds out a piece of paper to hand it to me.“Are you signing up to the Exotics Workshop in Kenya this year? I’m going around the office getting everyone’s applications.”I remember the same month-long training opportunity was available to sign up for a year ago when I first started at Dr Genti’s veterinary clinic. It’s an incredible opportunity to learn medical and rehabilitation skills on exotic animals for veterinarians practicing on this side of the world, where the trade is booming and the demand for these skills is increasing.I didn’t apply last year. Back then, I couldn’t imagi
TAMMY’S POVI pull up to Gideon’s house, still pissed off at another failure of an evening with Sean. But right now, my mind is more focused on Rain and making sure he’s okay.I run up to the door and knock. Gideon opens almost immediately.“Tammy, hey, come in.” Gideon welcomes me inside and shows me to where Rain is lying on a big suede sofa, panting heavily, his eyes glazed over.“His temperature has shot up to a hundred-and-four degrees. I’ve been keeping track of his other symptoms and I think he’s contracted distemper from the kill shelter.” Gideon says.“Shit!” I say, bending down in front of the soft to rest a hand on Rain, let him know that I’m here and it’s going to be okay. I check a few more symptoms that Rain has been experiencing over the last twenty four hours and Gideon seems to be right about the diagnoses here. I’ve seen distemper in other rescued dogs and this is it. I have to act fast if I want to save Rain.“Gid, grab some cold water and a few towels. Pat him dow