Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
I go into the kitchen and call the number, but it goes to voicemail because it’s after hours. I leave a message and then call Caroline, our team doctor.
“How much of it did he eat?” she asks after I relay the situation.
“I don’t know.” I rub my unshaven jawline, feeling sick. “I have to fix this. He’s a family member. The girls will never forgive me if he dies on my watch.”
“With his size, I think he’ll be okay. There’s no direct treatment, but you need to monitor him. He’ll probably have more vomiting and also diarrhea. If he gets lethargic, call me immediately. My biggest concern is dehydration. Don’t give him any food. Check in with me in the morning and I’ll come look him over. I can’t give him fluids, but I can call in a vet to do it at the house if needed.”
“Okay, thanks.”
I go back to the living room and tell Mara what Caroline said. I’m expecting her to unleash her substantial fury on me, but she surprises me by staying calm.
“I don’t think we should say anything to Carter and Suki,” she says. “Suki’s been looking forward to this trip, and they’ll want to come home.”
I exhale heavily, looking at Darling. “This is my fault. I can’t even think about him not being okay.”
“Let’s not go there. Your doctor said she thinks he’ll be okay.”
“Yeah.” I look at the pig, wishing he could tell me how he’s feeling. “Pull through this and I’ll feed you Goldfish while we watch Babe as many times as you want.”
Mara clears her throat, giving me a look that says You’re a fucking weirdo. “I think we should spread towels and blankets on the floor.”
I meet her gaze, our verbal sparring forgotten. “You’re staying to help?”
“Suki’s my best friend. And I love Darling. Of course I am.”
I’m relieved for the help, even if it is from the woman who drives me mad every time she opens her mouth.
“I’ll buy them a new couch,” I say. “Once this is over.”
“Don’t worry about the couch. Just focus on Darling.”
Birdie comes up and sits down beside me, so close she’s brushing against my calf.
“Hey, girl.” I bend down to pet her. “You ready to eat?”
Darling gets all the way up and backs his way to the ramp, coming down to the floor. His legs are shaky and his smile is gone. I feel like such an asshole. Even though I didn’t know the plant was toxic, and I really don’t know why he never tried to eat it before, this is on me.
He walks one step before dropping a massive load of diarrhea on the floor, complete with squirting sounds. I sigh softly and walk into the kitchen without a word.
So much for movie night. There’s nothing in store for me but shit, shit, and more shit. But as long as Darling’s okay, I won’t complain.
Chapter Four
Mara
* * *
I open my eyes, squinting against the light flooding the living room from the second story windows.
It was a long night. Leo and I finally both crashed on the sectional, Darling between us. The pig is snoring softly as I push myself into a sitting position, my neck protesting after the awkward position I slept in.
“Hey.” Leo blinks at me, bleary-eyed.
His voice is raspy and his hair is messed up, his dark stubble completing his exhausted look.
Darling keeps snoring, ignoring us. Birdie, who was curled up on Leo’s other side, gets down from the couch.
“Shit, where’s Noodle?” Leo springs off the couch.
After snorting softly, Darling lifts his head from the couch to see what’s keeping him from sleeping. I pat him on the back.
“Come on, big guy. Let’s go outside and stretch your legs.”
There can’t be anything left inside his stomach. The stench of shit hangs in the living room even though I took any soiled towels and blankets straight to the laundry room for washing.
We took turns for most of the night. One of us would do Darling duty while the other one did dog duty. Noodle cried nonstop when we tried to corral him with a puppy gate, so we had to either listen to it or let him out and keep track of him. And also, let him out to potty constantly.
“Noodle, you dick,” Leo says from another room. “You’re supposed to piss outside.”
When I glance at my watch, I see it’s six forty a.m. I have just enough time to let Darling out, move towels from the washer and dryer, and go home to shower and get ready for work.
Today is a long day of traffic hearings. I’m using my lunch hour to work with Bruce on domestic cases. I’m going to need a double at the coffee shop: a large coffee and an espresso.
“Darling.” I add the note of sternness to my voice that Suki sometimes uses. “Let’s go.”