“Oh. Yes, of course do that if he doesn’t think it’ll be too hard on her.”
“It won’t be. We’ll let you know as soon as we’re finished with the surgery.”
“Thanks, Joe.”
She hung up and looked at her sisters. “They’re getting ready to start the surgery. They’re also going to spay Agatha while they’re fixing her leg.”
“Good idea,” Honor said. “That way she won’t have to have a second surgery.”
“That’s what Joe said.”
Brenna cocked her head to the side. “You’re nervous.”
“Of course I am. You should have seen her, Bren. She was dirty and matted and shivering in my arms.”
“And now you’re going to be a mommy.” Brenna’s lips lifted. “Hope you’re up to the challenge.”
Erin lifted her chin. “Of course I am. You think I can’t handle having a dog?”
“When have you ever wanted a dog?” Brenna asked. “Or a cat? Or any kind of animal, for that matter. I wanted to get a hamster when we were kids and you screamed about that until Mom said no.”
“Hamsters smell.”
Brenna rolled her eyes. “Oh, and dogs don’t get dirty or stink?”
Honor slanted a sympathetic look at her. “She’s got you on that one, Erin.”
“Fine. I apologize for the hamster thing. And I promise to keep the puppy as clean as I can.”
“Hey, I don’t care,” Brenna said with a slight shrug of her shoulder. “She’s your responsibility. I just think it’s ironic since you’re the last one of us that ever wanted a pet.”
As irritating as Erin found her oldest sister, she was telling the truth. Erin had never been an animal person. Yet something about Agatha’s pitiful cries as she lay there in the ditch had called to her in an emotional way that had never hit her before.
“You’re right. When we were kids, I never wanted a pet. I mean, yesterday I could say I still didn’t want one. But that was yesterday, and as we know, things can change in a heartbeat. Now I do, and I promise to do my best to give her the best life I can.”
Brenna opened her mouth to say something, then shut it.
“That’s all you can ask for,” Honor said. “I know you’ll give her all the love you have in you, Erin.”
After her sisters left, she finished the project she’d been working on, then organized her files, cleaned her desk, set up her planner for next week and by then she still hadn’t heard back from Jason, which only made her stress level shoot up to stratospheric levels.
She needed to talk to someone. She decided to get out and take a walk. She headed outside, breathing in the fresh spring air as she walked along the side yard and toward the vineyards.
She never took part in the vineyard business—not the actual growing of the grapes, anyway. That was Brenna and Dad’s job. But she loved coming out here when she needed a break. She’d stroll along to watch the tiny grapes growing on the vine. To her, it signaled growth and renewal, and a wonder at what these grapes could become.
She made her way down the line, checking out some of the riper grapes, nearly ready for picking. She wished she could grab one and taste it, but she knew better.
What she really needed was a nice glass of wine, but she wanted to stay clearheaded, so she went into the clarification room, where she found her dad and Brenna working on a batch of red grapes.
“How’s it going?” she asked.
“Good,” her father said. “What brings you out here?”
“Just . . . wandering.”
“She’s waiting to hear from Jason about her new puppy,” Brenna said. “He’s in surgery right now fixing the pup’s broken leg.”
“Ah,” her father said. “Puppy will be fine. Jason is a good doctor.”
“I know he is, Dad. So, what are you working on?”
“Checking this batch of pinot noir,” her dad explained. “It’s been in fermentation for a month.”
“It should be ready to move to clarification soon.”
Her father nodded.
Her phone buzzed. She grabbed it and stepped outside.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Erin. It’s Jason.”
Her stomach tightened. “Hi, Jason. How’s Agatha?”
“She came through surgery great. Plates and pins aligned the leg perfectly, and the spay was routine, with no complications.”
She sagged against the outside wall in relief. “That’s great. So great. Thank you.”
“Not a problem. Since she had a double surgery she was under anesthesia a little longer, so she’s really groggy right now. We’ll keep her overnight to maintain her fluids and keep a close watch on her. You can pick her up tomorrow afternoon.”
That would give her time to make things ready for her pup. And for Agatha to recover with people who knew how to take care of her. “Okay, sure.”
“Someone on the staff will come in every few hours to check on her. If anything changes with her condition, they’ll contact you.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you still want me to go out to the store to help you pick out things she’ll need?”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure I can figure it out.”
“I don’t mind. I’m kind of hungry. Maybe we could grab something to eat first?”
“Only if you let me buy you dinner for taking care of Agatha.”
He laughed. “Taking care of animals is my job, Erin. It’s what I love to do.”
Of course it was. Jason was dedicated. Ever since they were kids he’d loved animals. He always said he’d become a veterinarian one day, and he’d never once wavered from his commitment.
“I’m still buying dinner,” she said.
“Sold. What are you in the mood for?”
She hadn’t even thought about food, in fact wasn’t even hungry. “I . . . don’t know. You choose something.”
“Okay. Tacos. How about that new place everyone’s talking about?”
“The one on Memorial? The Asian/Mexican fusion?”
“Yeah.”
“Sounds good to me,” she said.
“I
