“Mia? Mia?” Parker was saying repeatedly, I realized finally.
“I’m sorry, Starbucks Hero,” I said softly as to not wake the puppy who had gone back to sleep. “I was lost in the view.”
“I don’t blame you,” Parker said “That’s why I come in here so early in the morning when I’m here.”
“You don’t live here?” I asked “I’m confused. Did you tell me that already?”
“No, I have a place in the city, but I’ll be here for another week to help Dad with a hospital issue,” Parker said.
“Oh no, I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was ill,” I said “He seemed pretty good last night. Is it surgery?”
His soft laughter was like a warm blanket.
“No, he’s fine,” Parker explained. “Dad has recently become head of the hospital here, and I’m helping him while he cleans house and hires new doctors.”
“What do you do?” I asked. “Sorry, that sounds rude. I meant how are you helping him?”
“It’s not rude,” Parker said. “I could have explained better. I’m a doctor a cardiologist actually, and he needs a cardiologist here right now. So, here I am.”
“How lucky for this little girl that she found herself a doctor,” I said cuddling the puppy closer “What a smart girl.”
“Well, I’m a people doctor not a veterinarian,” Parker corrected. “So, I would still like her to see a veterinarian for a complete checkup, and not to mention I need more mother’s milk.”
Victoria glided into the kitchen cell phone to her ear and a waft of Shalimar perfume as she passed through to grab a water bottle. She glanced over to the fireplace in the corner and waved a finger at Mia and Parker.
Just when I thought we could go back to the conversation. Victoria ended her call.
“Mia, good morning,” Victoria said, all smiles. “I see you’re also an early riser.”
“Good morning, Victoria,” I said “Yes, I usually run in the mornings, but it is way too cold.”
I failed to mention that Sophie usually got me up this early to nosh up and that I was worried about her.
“There’s a workout room in the east wing with a treadmill,” Victoria said. “Feel free to use the room anytime. Did Parker tell you he runs in the morning as well?”
“That’s perfect, thank you,” I smiled “I didn’t know that, but we had only gotten as far as finding out he is a doctor who is helping out your husband.”
“He’s being modest, Mia,” Victoria said. “My son is a brilliant doctor, and hospitals all over the country want him. He travels and assists in difficult conditions and surgeries.”
“Ah, now the comment from the train station when I called you a life saver and you said you had heard that before, now it makes sense,” I said, palm to forehead. “Saving me yesterday must have been mundane for you.”
“Mundane it was not,” Parker said. “It was, in fact, pleasurable to rescue a damsel in distress.”
“Make that two damsels in distress, isn’t that right?” I said to the puppy. “What’s her name by the way?”
“I think the puppy should be named after me because we have the same coloring.” Victoria offered
“I don’t think we should name her at all.” Parker said “What if her family already named her?
“I need to shower and go over some papers before the board members arrive for the lunch,” Parker said. “Mia, would you be available to call local veterinarians like we spoke about earlier?”
“Sure, I can Google it and make the calls,” I said, squeezing my new little friend tighter.
“That’s sweet of you to offer to help, Mia,” Victoria said. “Why don’t I take this little sweetheart with me while you get in your run, then you can help Parker with the phone calls?”
“I really appreciate how kind you’ve been already, Victoria,” I said, placing the puppy in her arms. “I’m happy to help in any way.”
“I heard Parker say he wanted a veterinarian to look her over,” Victoria said as she snuggled the puppy to her neck. “I guess you didn’t tell him you only have one year of school left before you are a veterinarian?” Then she turned and was gone from the room.