New York, Actually (From Manhattan with Love 4)

“Don’t blame yourself. You’re the best dog owner I’ve ever met.” Daniel handed Valentine over to the sta

ff from the animal hospital. Then he grabbed Molly’s hand and tugged her into the ambulance.

She didn’t pull her hand away. She needed the comfort too badly. The other she placed on Valentine’s still body, ripped apart by guilt. “I’m sorry. So sorry. I should have paid more attention to what you were eating.”

Valentine didn’t even open his eyes and she felt tears thicken her throat.

Daniel’s hand tightened on hers, and he leaned forward to talk to the driver. “Can you go any faster?” He glanced out of the window. “Don’t take a right here, there’s construction.”

When they finally pulled up outside the animal hospital Valentine still hadn’t moved and Molly was gripped by panic.

“He’s a really strong, healthy dog. He’s never really been sick before—”

“He’s going to be fine.” Daniel sounded so sure she didn’t argue. Instead she grabbed on to his optimism and held it like a lifeline as they walked into the hospital.

The vet appeared immediately. “I’m Steven Philips.”

Daniel took over. “We spoke a moment ago. Valentine here is pretty sick.”

The vet didn’t waste any time. He issued a couple of instructions to the nurse and while she was tending to Valentine he talked to Molly. “Can you give me some history?”

Molly gave him Valentine’s medical history, which was brief because he’d never been ill before.

The vet turned his attention back to Valentine. “Try not to worry. I promise you he’s in good hands.” He washed his hands, snapped on a pair of gloves and focused on Valentine. “So you think he might have eaten something. Any idea what?”

“No. He was listless when I picked him up from the dog walkers, this evening he wouldn’t eat and then suddenly he was very sick. He growled at me. He never growls, ever. And he went still. He’s so unlike himself.”

The vet was examining Valentine, his hands moving carefully. “I suspect you’re right about him eating something he shouldn’t have. Dogs are pretty indiscriminate eaters.”

“I know, which is why I’m so careful. This has never happened before.” Feeling horribly guilty, Molly swallowed. “I took him to a different part of the park this morning. I don’t normally go there. I wasn’t paying as much attention as I should.”

“Which part?” The vet carried on examining Valentine as Molly described where she’d been.

“Did you notice daffodils by any chance?” the vet asked.

“I—” She hadn’t noticed anything. She’d been thinking about Daniel. “There might have been daffodils. You think that’s it?”

“I’m not sure, but if he was well yesterday and only showed symptoms after your walk in the park, I suspect it’s some sort of poisoning. I’m going to run some tests.”

“What sort of tests?”

“I’d like to take some blood, do an X-ray and an ultrasound, and get a few samples. Given how late it is, and how sick he is, we’ll keep him overnight.”

Molly’s insides lurched. “You want to keep him here?”

“I’m going to start an IV. That way I can give him fluids and electrolytes, and if it becomes necessary to give him drugs, I already have a line in.”

Molly felt a rush of alarm at the thought of Valentine with an IV. “You think he’s going to get worse?”

The vet hesitated. “Toxic agents often target the kidneys. Flushing them out with fluid helps prevent organ damage. Often forty-eight hours of fluid replacement is enough to prevent permanent kidney damage from some toxins.”

“Kidney damage?” Molly started to shake. The tips of her fingers felt cold. “Then I’ll stay.”

The vet gave her an apologetic look. “Unfortunately we don’t have facilities for owners to stay, but if you leave your number with the reception staff we’ll get in touch if there’s even the smallest change in his condition.”

“If he’s that sick, I’m not leaving him. It’s not as if I live round the corner, and if something happens—”

“I live around the corner. She’ll be staying with me,” Daniel said. “My place is a block away. We can get here in five minutes if we need to. You have my number already.”