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“What are they going to do?” she finally asked, wishing she could find a way to help.
“Kelly Casson said she’ll beg people to foster any animals they have left.”
“Sit down,” she said, pointing to the set table. “We should eat before the food gets cold.”
“Maggie, I can tell I’ve upset you. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not you, Justin. I can’t stop thinking about those animals. If I had a barn, I’d take them all in.”
“I know you would. My dad and I will take some of them, and we’ll try to find homes from the clinic. Let’s just hope she can adopt out the ones she has.”
“It makes me sick that people don’t get their animals fixed.”
“I know. We’ll do a low-cost spay and neuter clinic soon. Dr. LeBlanc is going to split the advertising costs with us. Both clinics will do the surgeries.”
“That’s great. That makes me feel so much better. When you speak with Kelly, let her know I’ll help her.”
“Maggie, just so you know, Amber Greely is working in Ted LeBlanc’s office now. She’s going to school to be a veterinarian technician, and he’s letting her intern there.”
Maggie looked up from the turkey she was carving. “Because she can’t work with you and Doc Chastain.”
After working together for years at the wild horse preserve, Justin had had a one-night stand with Amber, and when he began dating Maggie, it didn’t go over well with Amber. After breaking into Maggie’s cottage, she spent a night in jail. Amber was ready to turn over a new leaf. However, Maggie claimed that there were no hard feelings, and when she saw Amber at the wild horse preserve, they were cordial.
“Right. Not that she ever would anyway.”
“I don’t know Ted LeBlanc,” Maggie said. “But he’s a vet, so he must be okay. Let’s hope something develops between the two of them.”
“That would be too perfect,” Justin said, snickering.
Maggie placed the food on the table, offering Justin a plate of sliced turkey. “Bon appétit!”
“Delish!”
They passed plates of food to each other, chatting and eating. Maggie poured more wine into their glasses. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, two people who were getting to know each other well, were in love, but weren’t allowing too much familiarity, especially Maggie. She was determined to keep the mystique alive between the two of them.
“I have a surprise,” she said. “Close your eyes.”
“I’m intrigued,” he said. “What more could there be? This was a great meal.”
“Don’t open them,” she said, taking the dish towel off the pie. It was done to perfection. She held it up for scrutiny. “You can look.”
He opened his eyes and cheered, seeing the pie. “The perfect ending to a wonderful meal!”
“We’ll see,” she said, laughing.
She took it back to the counter and cut two pieces, one small for her and a generous one for him.
“I hope it’s edible,” she said, tasting a small piece of apple.
Then she screeched and ran to the sink, spitting it out. “Don’t eat that!” So much for mystique, she thought. “Oh, crap that’s awful. What did I do?”
“Are you sure? Should I taste it?”
“No! It’s pure salt.”
She opened the cupboard door, and there in front of the yellow bag of sugar was a yellow bag of pickling salt.
“Great! I just wasted six bucks’ worth of apples and two hours of my time.” She held up the bag.
