Free Heaven Sent Rain by Lauraine Snelling Page B

Mommy said to tell you thank you and she, not Mommy but Mutt, can stand up now and she licked my face and…” He stopped to catch a breath. “And Mr. Hal is really nice. We’re getting pizza for supper.”
    Dinah restrained the groan. She knew Hal did not like pizza; but then he did not have to eat it, just buy it. “You tell him thank you for me, too, please.”
    “I will, but how will you get past those people? Dr. G has a TV on in the waiting room and we saw on the TV out in front of your building.”
    “You let Mr. Hal and me worry about that. I will get you to the vet tomorrow.”
    “Thank you, and D-Mutt thanks you, too. Oh, and Mrs. Miller said to tell you— er, I mean the other Dr. Miller. Dr. G wasn’t there but she says he will be in in the morning to sign the papers so we can bring Mutt home.”
    Dinah felt tired just listening to his enthusiasm. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “Here is Mr. Hal.”
    “He is some boy,” Hal said.
    “I told you.”
    “By the way, I have a plan for the morning.”
    “I thought the crowd had all but left, but then recruits pulled up.”
    “They’ll find something else to do eventually. I’ll pick you up at the back entrance about nine forty-five. Jonah’s mother said she’ll call the school to let them know he’ll be out for the day, so never fear.”
    “And Food for Life?”
    “They will all go to work and you won’t, at least not until later. The boss can surely be tardy once.”
    Surely. The prisoner in her own home sighed and hung up.
      
    The next morning all went as Hal had planned. He was not driving his Beemer today. He had a big Ford Something this morning, and Jonah already sat belted into the back seat, grinning widely. She and Jonah walked into the clinic and immediately a dog in back started barking.
    “That’s Mutt. She knows I’m here.”
    “You sure?”
    He nodded and broke into a smile. “Dr. G, you’re here.” He ran to the man and threw his arms around him.
    “Good morning.” He hugged Jonah and did not smile at Dinah; it was a grimace disguised as a smile. She knew the difference. “Miz Taylor.”
    “Dr. Miller.” Why the sudden coolness? “Good morning. Thank you for taking care of Mutt.” Manners covered a multitude of misgivings.
    “My pleasure.” He left off freezing and smiled at Jonah, warm as sunshine.
    How’d he do that? She watched as Dr. G pulled a cardboard tube from behind the reception desk and opened it.
    “I have your picture done, Jonah. I hope you like it.” He unrolled the paper and held it up.
    “D-d-Mutt and me.” He stared up at the man. “It looks just ’zactly like us.” He turned and held the drawing at arm’s length. “Look, Dinah!”
    “A very good likeness, Jonah.” Dinah closed her eyes, but only briefly. There it was again. What had happened to the oxygen in the room?
    She’d never been a fan of cartoons or caricature, but the picture of Jonah and Mutt—why was it different? The eyes, that’s what it was. How did he draw with such power that she felt she was looking into the child’s soul? All with Magic Markers? Well, maybe they were a better brand than that, but still…
    Dr. Miller rolled the drawing and slipped it back into the tube. “Let’s go get Mutt.”
    Elated, the little boy bounded off through the double doors.
    “I’ll wait for you out here.” She crossed to the reception desk. “You have the bill ready?”
    “I do.” The receptionist reached low beside her desk as a printer down there stopped zipping, and laid out the itemized bill. “We had to do a lot to—”
    “I understand. The poor dog was near death. Jonah’s mother, Jonah, and I all appreciate the care your staff has lavished on Mutt and Jonah both. I understand that you are not usually open on Sundays, and yet you allowed—”
    “There is someone here every day, of course, to check the animals and care for them.” The receptionist smiled. “And we do whatever is best for our patients.