Sonny laughed. "Oh, they'd pay more, I'm sure."

"She have any sisters or brothers?"

Sonny shook his head.

"Cousins?"

Sonny busted out laughing. He shook his head.

Big Tony leaned back in his chair. "Pity, we could've had a family affair," he said, blowing smoke toward the ceiling.

Rheyna got out of the Jeep and shut the door. She looked around the Haven Veterinarian Clinic parking lot. She couldn't believe how crowded it was. The lot had definitely reached its capacity. She made her way toward the crowd of people who were milling around in front of the clinic. As she got closer, she could see what was holding their interest-to the left of the doorway, along the whole front of the building, cages of various sizes set in a U-shaped design were stacked on top of each other. Each cage contained an animal as diverse as the size of the cage. She walked past a row that had a monkey, several different colored rabbits, a couple guinea pigs, and a very large box turtle.

Ah, this is what I am looking for, she thought as she walked up to the small cages. She walked slowly down the row, looking at the different breeds of puppies. She stopped in front of the last one. It contained a small black puppy with a cast on its right front leg. The little pup was curled up in a tiny ball, sound asleep and snoring louder than any human Rheyna had ever heard. She looked at the card stuck in the slot. It said the puppy was a female Labrador Retriever, approximately ten-weeks old, and could be adopted for $125.00. The card went on to say the price covered the cost of the puppy's shots, an electronic ID chip, and a $50.00 gift certificate toward spaying/neutering fees.

Rheyna stuck her fingers through the cage, scratching the pup's head. The puppy opened her eyes and then stretched her front legs out, arching her little body like a cat. She yawned while simultaneously licking Rheyna's fingers. Rheyna smiled. "Hey, girl," she said, continuing to rub the pup's head.

"She's a real cutie, don'tcha think?"

Rheyna jumped, startled by the voice coming from just over her shoulder. She felt her pulse quicken. She turned to face Caroline and smiled. "I think she's adorable." She nodded at the pup's leg. "Why does she have a cast?"

"Because her leg is broken in two places and she has a pin holding her kneecap in place."

"That must have hurt like h.e.l.l. How'd it happen?"

Caroline opened the cage door. She reached in and caressed the side of the pup's face. She turned to look at Rheyna. "I think she had a run-in with a car and the car won. I found her lying against a curb not far from here."

Rheyna frowned. "So the person who hit her just left her there?"

Caroline nodded. "Unfortunately, it seems that way."

Rheyna shook her head. "People can be such a.s.sholes," she blurted without thinking.

Caroline smiled at her. "Yes, they can."

Rheyna looked back at the puppy. "I'll take her," she said, turning to Caroline.

Caroline eyed Rheyna curiously, crossing her arms against her chest. "Most people don't adopt wounded puppies. From my experience, they're usually the last to go."

Rheyna laughed at the expression on Caroline's face. "Well, I guess you can say that I'm not most people."

Caroline smiled at her and nodded at the pup. "I can see that, but are you really sure about her? A pet is a lot of responsibility, especially one with a broken leg."

It was Rheyna's turn to smile. "I thank you for your concern, but I've already made up my mind. I've always wanted a dog. It's not the way I pictured getting one, but it'll work."

"All right, you win." Caroline smiled as she grabbed the cage card out of the slot. "Let's go get the paperwork taken care of and then I'll get a tech to help get your new puppy into the car."

Artie snapped off the bowtie and tossed it on the kitchen table, along with his briefcase. He picked up the stack of mail on the counter and tossed it next to his briefcase. He opened the refrigerator door and glanced inside. He shook his head at the bare contents and then grabbed a pack of lunchmeat from the crisper-a cold sandwich again. What else is new? he thought to himself as he rummaged through the cupboard for a loaf of bread. He pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. He tossed a few pieces of ham between the bread and flipped through the mail. He tore open the letter from the Mortgage Company.

He looked at the typed form letter. They were now three months in arrears on the mortgage payment and if the bank didn't receive the back payments within one week, they would begin foreclosure proceedings. He took out a hanky and wiped sweat from his brow. He opened the next letter and shook his head as he read the final disconnect notice from the phone company. He pushed it aside and opened the next one.

"Artie, is that you?" Alice yelled from the bedroom. "Is that, is that you?" she asked again.

He pushed away from the table and walked down the hallway toward their bedroom. He stopped in the doorway and looked at the disheveled woman lying spread eagle across the bed in her bra and panties and wondered what happened to the beautiful woman he had married. He walked over to the side of the bed and looked down at the nightstand littered with whiskey bottles and an ashtray overflowing with cigarette b.u.t.ts.

Reaching down, he angrily s.n.a.t.c.hed up a pile of gambling tickets. "What the h.e.l.l is this, Alice?" he asked, slinging the ticket stubs at her. "You promised me you would stop gambling!" he yelled, his voice shaking with anger. He walked over to the desk sitting against the wall and jerked the computer plugs out of the receptacle. "That's the final straw."

"What, what are you doing?" she asked, pulling herself upright to look at him.

He ripped the computer monitor off the desk. "I'm taking this d.a.m.n thing out of here!" he yelled.

"Artie, please don't be like this!" she cried.

He stopped in the doorway and turned to look at her. "I can't take this anymore, Alice. I don't know what else to do."

She fell off the bed and shakily got to her feet and followed him into the kitchen. "But you can't take my computer," she whined.

When he set the monitor on the table, she grabbed him by the s.h.i.+rt. He pushed her hand away. "I can take it and I will," he said and headed back to the bedroom with her on his heels. He jerked the hard drive out from under the desk. "I'm leaving on an a.s.signment, I'll be gone awhile, and this is the only way I can be sure you won't be gambling."

She followed him back to the kitchen. "I don't, I don't really gamble that much, snookims." She made a halfway attempt to bat her eyes in what was supposed to be a seductive fas.h.i.+on.

He set the hard drive next to the monitor. "Like the h.e.l.l you don't. Have you looked at our bills, Alice? Well, have you?" She started to sob. "And you can quit the crying c.r.a.p. It doesn't work anymore."

She dropped down to her knees and leaned against the stove. "But I'm sick, Artie, I need help."

He knelt down on the floor next to her and smoothed the stringy hair back from her face. His expression softened as he looked at her. "I know you are, honey," he said, pulling her into his arms. "I don't know how to help you anymore, Alice. I've tried. You need professional help, honey. You need to be in a treatment center where they can help you, but you have to want it and right now, you don't. You don't even think you have a problem half the time."

She angrily pushed him away from her. "I'm not as bad as you make me out to be!" she yelled.

He stood up and looked down at what was once his beautiful wife. He shook his head. "Look at you, just look at you. When was the last time you combed that rat's nest mess of hair? When was the last time you took a bath and put on clean clothes?"

"That's not fair," she pouted.

"Not fair? Not fair?" His look was incredulous. "I'll tell you what's not fair, Alice. You maxing out our credit cards on that d.a.m.n online gambling site and drinking yourself into oblivion. Do you have any idea how much money we owe because you think you're not that sick-how about $275,000 dollars' worth?" He pointed at the bills lying on the table. "In that stack is two final disconnect notices and a letter of foreclosure on our home. I've worked my a.s.s off for our home and now I don't even know if it'll be here for me when I get back."

Alice sobbed as she pulled her legs up and curled herself in a fetal position on the floor. "I'm sorry, Artie. I promise I'll get help."

"Either you get help while I'm gone, Alice, or I'm filing for divorce when I get back. I have packing to do." He stepped over her and headed back to the bedroom.

Caroline and Rheyna stepped to the side to allow the vet tech to lay the puppy on the back seat. Rheyna thanked him and slowly pulled the seatbelt across the pup's midsection. She took extra care to avoid hitting her front leg and clicked the belt in place.

"She won't break, you know," Caroline laughed.

Rheyna shut the door. "I know," she said, walking toward the front of the car with Caroline by her side. Rheyna climbed into the seat and closed the door. "But I don't want to take any chances," she said through the open window.

Caroline leaned against the door. She nodded at the envelope lying on the pa.s.senger seat. "I can take those to Mom if you like."

"I would really appreciate that," Rheyna said, reaching over to pick up the envelope. She handed it to Caroline through the window.

Rheyna glanced at the puppy lying on the back seat. She turned back to Caroline. "Do you make house calls, by any chance?" she asked sheepishly. Seeing hesitation on Caroline's face, she quickly added, "I'd be willing to pay you, of course. I've never had a pet before and with her leg and-"

"You don't have the foggiest idea what you're doing, do you?" Caroline interrupted.

"Am I that obvious?" Rheyna asked, making a pouting face with her lips.

Caroline placed her hands on her hips. "I think you're more pitiful than the pup is," she said, shaking her head.

Rheyna raised her eyebrows. "Does that mean your answer is ayes'?"

Caroline grinned at her. "How about I give you a call first and then we can discuss my house calling fees."

Rheyna reached over and flipped open the glove box. She pulled out one of her business cards and handed it to Caroline. "Thank you," she said as she put the key in the ignition.

Later that night, after getting the puppy settled on the couch, Rheyna took a bottle of beer, along with her cell and stepped outside on the patio. She took her normal seat on the lounger and hit the speed dial. On the fourth ring, Laura picked up.

"Should I congratulate California's newest pet owner?" Laura asked, chuckling.

"Yes, ma'am, you should," Rheyna answered, smiling from ear to ear.

"So tell me, did it work?"

Rheyna took a swig of beer. "Oh, it worked all right-better than I thought it would-and Dr. Caroline is going to call me tomorrow so we can discuss her services."

"And why on earth would you need her services?" Laura teased.

"This is where the brilliant-but-nuts part comes into play. You see, not only did I get a dog, I got one with a broken leg and get this, she's still wearing a cast." As soon as the words left Rheyna's mouth, she wished she could take them back. The feelings of guilt blindsided her, guilt for using the puppy in this manner and guilt for taking advantage of a beautiful and caring woman.

The sound of Laura's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Yep, I have to agree. You are definitely nuts, but brilliant."

"Well, I better get off of here. It's about time for my new pup to eat dinner," she lied.

"Okay, give me a call tomorrow."

"Will do."

"Oh, and Rheyna..."

"Yeah?"

"Good job."

"Thanks. I'll talk to you tomorrow," she said and hung up the phone, relieved to end the conversation. She didn't want to think about what she had done, and although she knew she was just doing her job, it still didn't make her feel any better.

Chapter 7.

Just as Caroline had predicted, the new puppy had slept the entire first day and only went to the bathroom after Rheyna carried her outside. Today, the little fur ball was a little more active. She let Rheyna know just how hungry she was when she chomped down on the fried egg sandwich in her hand.

Rheyna tore off a small piece and handed it to her. She then made a mental note to go out later and get some proper puppy food. She wasn't sure exactly what she needed, since she had never had a pet in her life, but she was sure the store clerk would be able to fix her up.

Even with a broken leg, her new pup was a bundle of energy and bounced off the couch. She hobbled over to the fridge where Rheyna had placed a water bowl. She raised her head and looked at Rheyna, oblivious to the amount of water spewing all over the floor from her jaws. Rheyna got up off the couch and grabbed a rag from the counter. She bent down to wipe up the floor when the phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and felt her heart race. She answered it on the second ring.

"Hi, Caroline," Rheyna said into the receiver, her voice shaking a little.

"Am I disturbing you?" Caroline asked, not seeming to notice.

"Not at all," Rheyna answered. She sat down on the couch and smiled as the puppy jumped up beside her.

"I'm calling as promised to see how you and the puppy are doing."

"Right now, she's being a good girl. If you had called an hour ago, I wouldn't have said the same thing. I think everyone but her knows she has a broken leg."

Caroline laughed. "You're in for a real treat. Just you wait. When she gets that cast off, you won't be so quick to call her a good girl. Seriously, though, how are you holding up?"

"I'm doing well, thank you, and I think I'm going to like having her around."

"Good. That's what I like to hear. Before I forget, I also wanted to tell you Mom loved the photos. She chose three from the proof sheet you sent."

Rheyna thought about Terasa and smiled. "Good, I'm glad she liked them."

"Well, I guess I'll let you go now."

Rheyna didn't want to hang up the phone. If she were honest with herself, a part of her was disappointed that the puppy was the real reason Caroline called. She thought about her motives for getting the puppy. "Aren't you forgetting something, Doc?"

"I am?" Caroline asked.

"House calls, fees, feeling sorry for me, etcetera. Any of this ring a bell?"

Caroline busted out laughing. "I'm not sure, but I think something may seriously be wrong with you."

"Does this mean you'll be my puppy's personal physician?"

"On one condition."

"And that is?"