To Hazel I’m glad you like animals and puns as much as Charlie and Amy do
Chapter One Charlie Dembinski looked up from the counter as the door opened into the waiting area of the veterinary clinic It was Amy Ma Five minutes late as usual Charlie’s mother Selena was a veterinarian Amy’s mom was the clinic’s bookkeeper and she and Amy lived in the guesthouse on Charlie’s family’s ranch Amy smiled at the only other person in the room a tall man sitting in the corner holding a gray cat 1
Hi she said to the man Do you happen to have a dog I’m starting a new business Dog walking I need to earn money for my mom’s birthday present Just this cat he said with a tight sad smile He rubbed the cat’s head I think she has a tumor I’m so sorry to hear that Amy said Dr Dembinski is the best You and your cat are in good hands She marched over to where Charlie sat behind the counter The clinic had just opened for the day and Selena was already in surgery at the back of the building doing a hip replacement for a German shepherd Since it was summer break Charlie and Amy worked mornings in the clinic answering the phone and taking questions from anyone who came in 2
with a sick animal In the afternoons Charlie built doghouses to sell on the clinic’s website Amy’s doghouses didn’t look quite good enough to sell Amy dropped a sheet of paper on the counter and pointed What do you think Instead of answering Charlie stood and walked to the window that overlooked the small parking lot Beside it was a driveway that led past the vet clinic to the ranch where he lived with his mom and dad and his baby sister Behind the house were three red barns and behind that was a long view to faraway hills Charlie loved living here From his spot at the window he could see the sign at the road DEMBINSKI VETERINARY CLINIC DR SELENA DEMBINSKI DVM Open weekends 3
