Paisley
So much for well laid out plans, mine just went to shit. Dr. Greene couldn’t make it in, so I had to fill in for her. She’s got a bug and has been pushing it the last couple of days, but today she couldn’t even get out of bed. So, all my plans for the farm were put on the back burner and I’ve been here all day. Ollie texted me a couple of times when he got there for his meeting with Mark, and when he finished, just said it went better than he thought.
Now just when I’m about to leave, I get a call on the emergency line. Again, Dr. Greene was on call tonight, so here I am waiting for a pregnant pit bull/bulldog mix to come in, probably needing a cesarean section. We told the owners that most bullies require a C-section because it’s too hard on the female, but no, they know better being this is their very first litter. Asshole know-it-alls, they piss me off to no end, I swear.
So, I send Ollie a text, telling him I’m stuck here and either he can go to the farm, and I’ll be there when I’m done, or we can catch up later. I’m so exhausted. We’ve been bombarded all day long and it feels likeGroundhog Day. I hate thinking this, but it was like the same kind of shit each time I entered a treatment room. Exam and vaccinations or spay/neuters needed or fights between family pets. Thank God for the vet technicians who handle the majority of it.
Hearing a knock on the door, I move that way seeing the younger woman with her mother. I hate this thought as it goes through my head, but some folks shouldn’t breed dogs, especially the difficult ones. Opening the door, they kick-push the box with the pregnant mother in it. Already they’re pissing me off as my vet tech, Tiffany, comes up from behind me, giving them a scoff, and gently lifting the box and carrying it to the back. As I wait, the two women turn like they are going to go. Whoa, wait a frigging minute, are they doing a drop and dump with a pregnant dog?
“Excuse me, ladies, where’re you going? This is probably going to take a while I understand, but before you leave there’s some paperwork and a deposit that needs to be left for us to treat your dog.”
They look at each other then back at me. In that look I can read every vile thought they’re thinking. My stomach turns as the older woman looks me dead in the eyes.
“Give her back then, no big deal. We’ll drop her somewhere else.”
Knowing what I’m about to do is gonna cost not only the clinic but me, I take a minute and hear Dr. Georges behind me.
“Just leave if that’s your intention, but no way in hell are we giving you that dog back for you to just drive down the block and dump her. What’s wrong with you both? Well, either pay or get lost, we got pups that are coming fast.”
We both watch as, without a single care, they turn and walk-waddle their asses to their van. And damn, God forgive me for this nasty thought but I have to say it. Good riddance bitches.
“Thanks, Dr. Georges, I’ll take care of the bill and pay Tiffany out of my pocket. The clinic shouldn’t have to keep swallowing these charity cases of mine. Even if I say the female is from the farm it’s still a freebie.”
Running my fingers through my hair, I reach into my vet coat, pulling a hair scrunchy out and throwing my hair up in a messy bun, as I know this is going to be a late one. Then the man in front of me shocks me out of my shoes.
“Paisley don’t worry about it. I knew when I bought in what type of clinic this was, that’s why I was interested in the first place. Remember, as veterinarians we aren’t in it for the money, obviously. I’m sure Dr. Greene would agree, so put her on the books we’ll all take care of it. All I ask is to get at least one of the first picks of the litter. Do you need me to stay and give a hand?”
We walk toward the exam room to get a look at what’s going on and I’m so proud of my clinic and who I decided to partner with. Both Dr. Georges and Dr. Greene fit in perfectly here. What I’m thinking of doing now makes sense because I have two of the best folks as my partners in this business.
* * *
Tiffany grabs the next fat male puppy, putting him down in the sterile area. That makes what… nine or ten. How many more are in there? We thought on the exam it was seven. I have full trust that by now my vet tech has already removed the clamp and has sutured the double knot in its place. I see her rubbing him down the entire length of his body, so she also suctioned his mouth and throat. She has the most patience with this. Because of the C-section, it takes more time to revive them due to the drugs. As I go to the next lump the amniotic fluid looks cloudy, so I carefully cut it open and pull the puppy out. It’s gray and lifeless so I remove the sac, put a metal clamp on, and hand it off to Dr. Georges, who starts the process, which sadly I don’t think is going to help that little female. Finally, I’m at the last one. After pulling it out, another female but her color is good, and when I hand off to Tiffany, she shakes her head at me which tells me the boy probably isn’t reviving. But Dr. Georges is one of the best at bringing them back. He once rubbed a pup for twelve minutes and he got it to come back, so fingers crossed. If I counted right, there are eleven or twelve puppies. Holy shit, momma’s gonna get a workout. I work on removing the placenta, flushing everything, and checking the female’s organs. I decide at that moment to spay her, so I finish the procedure and start to close her up when I hear pounding from the front. Well, whoever is there will have to wait. We literally have our hands full.
Hearing Tiffany calling her daughter from the break room, she tells her not to open the door but see who’s there. As we finish with momma and place her in a warming/birthing box, which is a large box with a heating pad and some towels, I tell Tiffany to start giving me the puppies. As she hands them to me, I place them on a nipple on momma in the box so they can get the all-important mother’s milk. When I’ve counted eleven, I turn to see Dr. Georges with the pup against his chest still rubbing. Got to say he’s dedicated, and with that thought I hear a very small whine. Well holy shit, I’ll be, he pulled the puppy through.
Not waiting to see him continue working on the girl, I remove my gloves and head to the front where Tiffany’s girl said a really tall, handsome man was standing at the door but waved her off, motioning her not to open it. I know instantly who it is, so I head toward the door and see Ollie leaning on the window, arms crossed at his chest. I unlock the three locks and push, getting his attention.
“Hey, Pixie, damn ya look exhausted. Can I come in, need some help?”
As I open the door wider, he walks in with the walker straight toward the back. Damn, I just got an instant déjà vu. Except this time Ollie is walking instead of in that fancy wheelchair. Watching his back as he makes it to the rear something figuratively hits me upside the head, and I realize at that moment how much Ollie has come to mean to me in such a short time. Scary as the thought is, I would give or do anything to keep this growing between us. Anything.