The Beginning of After

Persian cat had received at a pet store, and wanted a promise from Dr. B that he could fix it.
    “They were supposed to give him the lion cut, but he looks more like a poodle!” the woman said, on the verge of tears.
    Eve and I had developed a hand signal for this type of call; I put a finger-gun to my head and pretended to shoot. Eve smiled, glad she’d dodged that bullet.
    Finally, I heard a door creak open and Dr. B appeared. He was filling out some forms.
    “We’re going to do a blood panel on Masher to check his coagulation levels and overall health. Apparently it’s been a while since he had a checkup or even any vaccinations. Pam Fischer has all his records, so call over there to get them faxed.”
    Dr. B shot me a puzzled look, and although I knew he was wondering why I hadn’t brought Masher to his regular vet that day, I remained silent. If he wasn’t going to ask directly, I was definitely not going to answer.
    The doctor disappeared again, and then I heard footsteps through the waiting room. I looked up just in time to see David walking out the front door, then watched him through the window as he sank down onto the stone bench right outside.
    When I stepped out to join him, he was sitting on his hands, staring into space. He just glanced up at me with no expression.
    “The doctor says it’s going to be a few minutes,” he said, and I just nodded. I’d watched a lot of clients waiting on this bench for test results and good news and bad news. It was designed to look like a big rabbit, with one end shaped like the head and the other, the tail and hind legs. Most people got on their cell phones or whipped out a magazine. But David didn’t seem to need anything to pass the time.
    Finally, I found something to say. “How is it, staying with your cousins?”
    He shrugged. “It’s not fun, but they leave me alone. It’ll do until I can figure out my next move.”
    My next move , like he had a plan.
    I knew I should ask him about his father, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It opened up too much for me that was so neatly shut tight.
    Instead, I offered, “I’m sorry about not taking Masher to Dr. Fischer. I knew she was your vet.”
    He looked up at me and there was something about his eyes, suddenly warm and familiar. “It’s okay. I know why.”
    The relief of that washed over me, and I felt like I could breathe for the first time all day.
    Then David slid over on the bench to make room. I wasn’t supposed to be on a break, but I sat.
    “My grandparents went down to their place in Florida,” he said flatly.
    “I noticed I hadn’t seen them around.”
    “They want me to come stay with them, but I don’t know. . . . On one hand, there’s the beach. On the other hand, there’s two old people who annoy the living crap out of me.” He swept a glance up and down my face. “Your grandmother is much cooler than mine.”
    I’d never thought of Nana as “cool,” but apparently everything is relative.
    David let out a long sigh, the kind that takes forever to wear out and seems to contain every emotion at once. Neither of us spoke again, and we both just gazed at nothing. The silence was almost comfortable now.
    Finally, the front door opened and Robert appeared with Masher.
    “We’ll call you with the results sometime tomorrow,” he said to David, handing him the leash. Then he turned to me and said, “Eve needs you.”
    I bent down to Masher, who now had a small bandage on his right foreleg from getting blood drawn, and hugged him quickly.
    “Bye, buddy.” I forced it to sound businesslike and cold.
    “Bye, Laurel,” David said, as if answering for him. “It was good seeing you.”
    I looked up, a little surprised, and then suddenly tired of always feeling that way about David. Some of his hair had fallen out of the slick-back and across his eyes, and I had a sudden urge to sweep it away. Those eyes were my favorite part of him, and I hated to see them covered up.
    Wait—I had a favorite part of him?
    “Let me know what happens, okay?” I said quickly, trying to de-focus from his face, sounding purposely vague. I wasn’t sure when I’d see either of them again. He could be back next week, or never.
    David nodded slowly and smiled a bit, although sadly, and this was possibly the closest thing to a farewell that we could hope for.
    I went inside and didn’t look back.

Chapter Fifteen

    M asher, as it turned out, had the beginnings of arthritis; plus, he still