Dr. Noah and the Sugar Plum Fairy (3 page)

He picked up the pace. “Be right there. Keep ’em moving.”

By the time he reached the door, Bridget had already curled up on the leather couch in his office. “Really, girl? You’re gonna try that again?”

At the sound of his voice, she dutifully jumped down and settled instead for the large pet bed on the floor.

He stepped into his bathroom to wash his hands amidst a chorus of high-pitched kitten squeals. He glanced back at Bridget whose ears perked at the noise. “Your guess is as good as mine. They either have a belly full of tinsel or they chewed through a string of lights.”

Un-Plain Jane and Monsieur Snowball crossed his mind again as he donned his lab coat. He’d thought about them a lot since Friday night. Her incessant chatter about weird name things and ballet and that clumsy fall from the stool had been his only reasons for a genuine smile in months. Her quirky personality and girl-next-door honest beauty brought that smile back a time or two.

It surprised him every time.

****

‘Twas the third night of Christmas break

And Jane’s heart was broken,

The joy had left Christmas

And cheerful words were not spoken.

The family had gathered

To say their good-byes,

Jane resolved to move on

Through sad, puffy eyes.

So on now with Christmas

And dancing and fudge,

Just one man to visit

To keep Jane from a grudge...

Jane grabbed her pillow at midnight and headed for Melody’s room. Her sister evidently had the same idea and they collided in the dark near the bathroom.

Melody screamed.

Jane stumbled backward and landed on her sore hip.

Their grandpa’s dog heard the commotion and let out a warning bark at the bottom of the stairs.

“Go back to sleep, Major,” Jane told the slightly overweight mutt. “It’s just us.”

Melody snickered. “You mean it’s you. I’m not the one who busted my butt and rattled the floor. What are you doing up, anyway?”

“I was worried about you.”

“Well, I was worried about you. So who’s bed is it going to be?”

“Yours,” Jane said and slipped by her. “It’s too sad in my room.”

Jane snuggled in as Melody turned on the purple bedside lamp and pulled a bag of homemade Christmas cookies from under the bed.

“Sweeeet,” Jane sang, “but does mom know you took those? I think they were for the neighbors.”

“Ooops. But wait. There’s more.” Melody went to the other side of the room and came back with two small cartons of ice cold milk. She hopped into the bed and burrowed in next to Jane.

“I can’t believe Mom and Dad let you have a mini fridge in here. It’s like your own apartment. I barely had a cell phone and working car when I left for college.”

“Mom says it’s OK because of my crazy hours. I’m up at four for dance team at school, and I don’t get home until late because of ballet. She thinks if it’s full of juice and milk and healthy stuff that I’ll eat it. Hate to admit it, but she’s right.”

“I was going to ask you about that. Your Sugar Plum Fairy costume is tiny. You are taking care of yourself, aren’t you? Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about your body. You’re perfect, and if I see any bones—”

“Time out. You sound like Mom. Don’t worry, I’m fine. I eat like the proverbial horse. Besides, you’re thin, too. Have you been eating? You’re like a toothpick with eyes. I’ll bet my costume is too big for you.”

Jane laughed. “That’s funny. Real funny. I don’t think I could get my left thigh in that thing.”

“Speaking of legs, when was the last time you shaved them? There’s some serious scraping and cutting going on here. I may need stitches. You should keep those on your side of the bed.”

Jane smacked Melody with a pillow. Hard. Cookie crumbs flew everywhere. Good thing she wasn’t drinking milk at the time.

She put her pillow back behind her head. “Enough goofin’ around. This meeting of the Sister Cuddle Committee is now called to order. We are here to commiserate about Monsieur Snowball.” She turned to her sister. “I’m sorry about Snowball, Mel. I know he was just as much your cat as he was mine.”

“Yes,” she sniffed. “We had a lot of pow-wows on this bed while you were at school. Sure gonna miss him.”

“I know. But I’m glad I was here. Can you imagine if I’d been away at school?”

“I think he waited for you to come home.”

“Me too.”

They talked, they blubbered, they cuddled. Then Melody fell asleep with red and green cookie sugar on her top lip.

And Jane stayed wide awake.

At three in the morning, she pulled on her jeans and a Christmas sweatshirt and headed for the Animal Emergency Clinic. She wanted to tell Mrs. Salmons she wouldn’t be in the office to see Dr. Salmons in a few hours as expected.

She also had a question or two for Dr. Noah.

This time, when she arrived at the clinic, there were no less than twelve cars at the front. The coffee was brewing and worried pet parents were perched on plastic chairs awaiting news. Someone had docked their smartphone and was broadcasting Christmas music throughout the room. One particularly restless pet father paced nervously with a leash at the clinic door.

A short, bubbly, early-thirty-something woman dressed in animal and Christmas-themed scrubs eventually bustled out. The red velvet bow on her Christmas headband jingled amongst her mass of brunette curls each time she moved. Jane tried not to stare, but there were bells in there somewhere. She just couldn’t tell where.

“You can bring Sheba in now,” she told the distressed man. She turned to Jane. “I’ll be with you as soon as I can.”

Jane held the main door as the guy dashed to his car and helped his large Boxer out of the backseat and through the doors. Sheba moved slowly past her. Her midsection was swollen and looked tight. Jane surmised she could be in whelping distress. That, or she’d eaten an entire hat, scarf, and mittens from out of a gift box under the tree. Either way,
some
thing was coming out of Sheba tonight.

The woman jingled back to the counter. “May I help you?”

“Is Mrs. Salmons here? I need a word with her, and I had a question for Dr. Noah, but I can see how busy you are.”

“You’re a friend of Noah’s?” She extended her hand. “I’m Tina, his regular tech. Mrs. Salmons isn’t here. She was only covering for me. Hope she’s home asleep. I don’t think she’s used to staying up all night.”

“That’s fine. I’ll call her at the clinic when they open. Thank you.”

“Wait. I’ll tell Noah you’re here.”

Jane gave the counter a pat and reached in her pocket for her keys. “It’s OK. I’ll catch him another time.”

“Jane?”

She barely recognized the tall man in medical green scrubs and a surgical cap. He was adorable with that face mask dangling from one ear. He snatched it away and looked around as if searching for her cat.

“Uh... what brings you back?”

He knew. She could tell he knew.

“I wanted to tell Mrs. Salmons Snowball had died and that I wouldn’t be bringing him in for that tooth extraction later this morning. And I wanted to talk to you, but it’s OK. You’re busy and it doesn’t really matter.”

“I have time.” He peeled the cap away from his unruly hair and motioned toward the door. “Come on in the hallway for a minute.”

She met him there and decided she would not cry. She crossed her arms, squared her shoulders, and met his gaze.

“I’m sorry about Snowball,” he said before she could speak. “I know this is a difficult time for you. I can help you with aftercare if you like. Did you bring Snowball back with you?”

She felt a massive internal eye-roll coming on. “While I’m sure you’ve seen it all, Dr. Noah, I can assure you I’m not so far off the beam with grief that I’m driving around at three-thirty in the morning with my dead cat in my car.”

“I’m not trying to offend you, Jane. I just want to help.”

“Well, you
helped
on Friday night. Consequently, the cat died Saturday night. Thanks for your help.”

That bothered him. She could tell by the sudden pained look on his face.

She stepped a little closer, being careful not to raise her voice. “Why didn’t you tell me Snowball was dying? Plain and simple.
Jane, your cat’s not gonna make it
. Or
Jane, it doesn’t look good so don’t take him home
.”

“I didn’t say those things because I didn’t believe those things. I sincerely thought Snowball had a good chance of beating that infection. I never would have let him go if he wasn’t ready, and it was my honest, professional opinion he was improving.”

“Yeah, he was improving all right. Right up until the second he wasn’t.”

“I am sorry for your loss, Jane. Please let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you.”

“I have to go. And no, I don’t need any help with aftercare. My whole family drove out to my uncle’s deer hunting property and buried him in the family pet burial plot.” She bumped open the door with her sore hip. “It was a very nice service.”

****

‘Twas the seventh night of Christmas break

Pine and cinnamon filled the air,

Jane agreed to go church caroling

And hand out meals on the downtown square.

She took all of Snowball’s belongings

And left them at the shelter door,

She helped Grandpa wrap some presents

And helped her father pick out more.

But there was something left to fix

Something she’d said but hadn’t meant,

She needed to make it right

Before this Christmas came and went...

Jane entered the kitchen as her mother was busy putting cut up vegetables in assorted baggies.

“What else? I delivered the cookie trays to the neighbors and made sure your letter carrier got his envelope.”

“Great, honey, thanks. Your dad’s working late so we need to feed grandpa before we leave for dress rehearsal. His plate’s in the microwave. Please pour some iced tea and go find him. I think he’s out back with Major.”

“Sure thing. Where are you two on the ‘no pants’ stalemate?”

“He still refuses to wear pants around the house. By the way, he does understand he has to wear them in public, so if you drive him somewhere or he wants to walk the dog down the street, don’t let him fool you. He knows he can’t wear just his Christmas boxers.” She tossed the bags into the drawer in the refrigerator. “And speaking of Christmas boxers, he is allowed to wear them to the table, but make sure it’s a pair I’ve already sewed closed in the front.”

Jane paused as the timer on the microwave beeped. “I have no idea how I’m supposed to do that without creating an awkward situation, but all right.”

Her mother laughed and put several water bottles on the granite counter. “Whatever you do, don’t get him all riled up.” She held up her thumb and forefinger. “I’m this close to convincing him it’s all right to wear his robe during the day. That will solve all kinds of clothing issues.” She tucked a mass of honey blonde hair behind her ear and gestured with a dishtowel in her hand. “Let me ask you something. Do you see any change in Grandpa since you were here last?”

Jane reached for a tea glass and pulled the pitcher from the fridge. “Not much between when I was home at Thanksgiving and now, but there did seem to be a difference between August and Thanksgiving. Nothing substantial. He drops a detail once in a while in conversation or loses his train of thought. But when he talks about the good old days, he doesn’t miss a beat. Isn’t that normal for a lot of people his age?”

“True.” Mom shrugged and handed Jane a napkin and fork. “I’m with him every day so I can’t always see things. I thought maybe you noticed something markedly different.”

“Good point, but no, I haven’t. He’s just Grandpa. And Grandpa has always been a little unconventional. Some might say eccentric.”

“That’s what I know. That’s why I’m wondering if this whole pants thing is just his way of rattling my chain. I’m not sure it has anything to do with the early stages of dementia.”

Jane put his plate on the table. “That would be hilarious.”

“Yeah. Ha-ha-ha.”

“You know, Mom, the real scary thing is that dad’s a lot like him. They both have that peculiar streak.”

“I know. Has Grandpa talked to you about his fruit and vegetable body part theory yet?”

“No.”

“He will. Your father eggs him on. Especially at church. Hey, what are your plans this evening? Think you might like to visit some friends or something?”

“First I have to get through this dress rehearsal with the Sugar Plum Fairy. And after I’ve had all of
that
drama I can stand, I have to visit someone. Oh, and I’m taking a bag or two of cookies.”

“Good. You’ve haven’t been out much since you’ve been here. Between the cat trauma and all the stuff you’ve been doing around here, you haven’t had any time to yourself.”

“Well, this visit tonight isn’t all fun and games.”

“No? Where are you going?”

Jane dropped her gaze. “I have an apology to make.”

****

Noah glanced at the clock. Eleven fifty-nine Thursday night. He dropped into Tina’s chair and logged in to check their website on her computer. There’d certainly been a lot of activity on the site and several phone calls, but so far tonight he’d not seen one animal.

But he did see a car drive up.

And out jumped slightly clumsy Un-Plain Jane, who’d served him his head on a platter the last time they talked. She paused to straighten her little black skirt and sling that goofy red Christmas scarf around her neck. It nearly obscured her silky-looking Christmas green blouse.

She reached back inside the car and pulled out a loaded drink carrier and a handle bag. Once again she stopped. This time it looked like she needed to steady herself on her sparkly silver high heels. And while he knew less than nothing about women’s clothing trends, he was certain her ensemble broke several fashion laws.