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“Sorry, we’re closed until two,” she managed around a heavy mouthful. Holding up one finger, she took a sip of water from a black hydro-flask before continuing. “That door should’ve been locked.”
“It was locked,” I replied. “I know how to jiggle it open, though.”
The woman blinked her eyes as if I were some kind of mirage, then cocked her head in confusion. “Jiggle it op—”
“It’s okay, Mary,” came a deeper voice in a German accent. “I got this.”
I turned, and my old boss stood there looking exactly as he always did. His medical scrubs were crisp and clean, his wire-rimmed glasses polished to perfection. There were a few more greys mixed in with the hair over his ears, and the top of his head was a bit thinner than I remembered. But his smile was broad and beautiful, and the twinkle in his eyes was still there.
“Emmett!”
I rushed into his arms, hugging him so tightly I elicited a strangled laugh. The owner of the animal hospital had lost weight. He even felt a little frail, as my arms went further around him than they ever did before.
“I thought you might be back,” he said softly. His smile faded temporarily. “After, well… I’m sorry about your friend.”
“It’s okay,” I told him, patting his back a few times before finally letting go. “Really.”
“You staying long?”
“Only until tomorrow,” I told him.
“Ah, too bad,” the old man said. “I’ve missed you.”
His accent was something I’d almost forgotten — something I’d tucked fondly away in the back of my mind. Glancing over his shoulder to make sure the receptionist wasn’t watching, I ran a finger along the front counter. It came back covered in dust.
“Looks like this place is missing me too.”
“I know,” he sighed, wrinkling his mustache. “Help you can find. But good help?” He lowered his voice confidentially. “It’s almost impossible these days.”
I smiled and hugged him again, remembering all the time I’d spent here. Thousands of hours with cats and dogs, birds and ferrets and even chinchillas. I’d worked my way up from the front desk to assisting in just about everything. I still needed a vet tech certificate to assist in the operating room, but I’d come more than halfway along before… well…
“How are your studies?”
The old man’s scrutiny was tough, almost judgmental. I could’ve lied but it didn’t feel right. Besides, Emmett would’ve seen right through it.
“Nonexistent,” I admitted glumly.
“You never finished?” His Santa-like eyebrows went up. “But you told me in California—”
“Yeah, yeah, well what can I say?” I shrugged. “Life got busy and money got tight.”
Emmett wasn’t having any of it. He shook his head sadly. “Kayla, you were so close.”
He walked to the closet, then pulled out the old broom I always used to sweep the lobby during the lunchtime lull. He handed it to me with a grunt.
“Here.”
I chuckled then got straight to work, sweeping left to right, front to back, exactly the way I used to. It was like I never left.
“So you ever think of going back?”
I sighed quietly, hoping he wouldn’t hear me. But the old man had ears like an elephant.
“Maybe,” I said, though it was only halfheartedly true. “If I can find the time, somehow. I’m managing a surf shop right now. The hours are crazy.”
“Everything’s crazy,” the old man said. “Everyone’s busy, all of the time. Either it’s a fact of life, or it’s something people just say when they want to blow things off.”
I stopped sweeping and leaned on the broom. Emmett was scowling at me, and yet somehow smiling at the same time.
