Chapter 7

Even though he had no pressing need for it, he got to work half an hour before the clinic officially opened. Fifteen minutes later, his current assistant, Athena, walked in through the back door.

“Hey, Doc,” she greeted him, looking a bit worse for wear, but it was pretty much her normal appearance before ten in the morning anyway.

“Hi. I put the coffee maker on for you,” he replied, and watched as she perked up visibly. “Can you go through the clinic emails and see if there’s anything important, and call the Norths to check up on the puppies and the momma for me? I have the first client coming in at nine sharp, so let’s hustle once you’ve got some caffeine in you.”

She marched to the coffee maker and filled a large mug, then went through to the front to open and get ready. She’d get verbal after the first mug was empty.