Frenemies

Immy was home.

I grabbed my keys and phone and ran over there and hammered on the door.

It swung open. Immy was the other side, and her eyes widened when she saw Dolly in my arms. “Holy shit, what happened?”

“I must have left the cupboard door open and she got at some chocolate. My car is in the shop. Can you take me to the nearest vet?”

“Oh, my God, of course. Hold on, let me get my keys.” She darted inside. “I’ll be back later, Grandma, there’s an emergency, I’ll call you soon!”

She ran back out to me with a blanket.

“Thanks,” I said, moving Dolly so Immy could wrap her up.

“Let’s go.” She unlocked the car and both climbed in. “Here, call Hannah and put it on speaker.”

I took the phone she shoved at me. I barely had time to hit ‘dial’ and put my seatbelt on before she reversed out of the driveway at lightning speed.

“Hello?” said a voice from the phone.

“Are you home?” Immy replied.

“Yeah, why?”

“Is Isaac working tonight or is he home?”

“He was just leaving when I got home from work. He’s on call at the clinic all night. Why?”

“Neighbor emergency, I’ll text you later. Thanks.” She reached over to my lap and hit the ‘end call’ button, then her blinker stink. “That was Hannah. Isaac is her neighbor and he works at a clinic on Main Street. He’s a great vet.”

He’d have to be to save Dolly.

I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid.

The next twenty minutes were all a blur. Immy stepped in and explained the situation to the receptionist, and I could speak only to say that I couldn’t remember exactly how much chocolate was left, but it was less than half a bar.

We were quickly swept into a back room with a vet in a plaid shirt and a stethoscope around his neck.

“Isaac,” he introduced himself, and his British accent made me blink as he immediately got to work checking Dolly over. “You’re Hannah’s cousin?”

Immy nodded. “Imogen. This is Mason, my neighbor, and that’s Dolly.”

“All right, Dolly, let’s give you a good look over. You said it was only a little amount of chocolate?” He directed that question to me.

“Less than half a bar of Hershey’s. Maybe even less than a quarter.” I made a rough shape with my hands so he had some idea.

“How old is she?”

“Eleven weeks, according to the shelter.”

“Right.” He rolled her over and held the stethoscope to her chest. “Do you know when she ate it?”

I shook my head.

“Any vomit?”

“I didn’t see it, but I smelled it in my bedroom, and it definitely wasn’t there this morning.”

“All right.” He pulled the things out of his ears and scratched Dolly beneath the ear. “She seems to be okay, but just a little out of sorts. Vomiting is always the go-to for a dog who fancies some sweets, and since she’s done that already, I’m going to say she’ll probably be okay. But since she is lethargic and not totally with us, I want to keep her in overnight where we can keep an eye on her and get some fluids in her so she doesn’t get dehydrated. That way, if she hasn’t gotten it all out of her system yet, we can do something about it. Does that sound good?”

“Yes. Please. Whatever it takes.” I rubbed my hand down my face and reached to smooth Dolly.

“Okay. Don’t worry, I promise she’s in good hands.” Isaac smiled as he scooped her up and held her against his chest lovingly. “Go and see Kate at the front desk and she’ll get all your information for you. I’ll call you in the morning with an update at around seven-thirty.”

“That’s great, thanks.” I gave Dolly one last scratch goodbye and watched him take her through a door to the back.

“Come on.” Immy wrapped her hand around my elbow and guided me out to the front desk.

I was shaking and almost dropped the pen when Kate handed it to me. Immy took it straight off me and began filling out the form—she knew my full name, date of birth, address.

Of course she did.

Why wouldn’t she?

The only thing she asked for was my phone number, which I dutifully relayed to her, then froze.

“What? What’s wrong?” She looked at me with panic shining in her eyes.

“I didn’t lock my front door,” I replied. “I don’t even have my keys.”

“Oh, Jesus, I thought you needed the hospital next. Here you go, Kate.” She slid the clipboard back to Kate who looked it all over.

“That’s all good, Mr. Black. I just need you to sign this form and pay a deposit toward the overnight stay.” Kate handed me a form and another pen which, thankfully, I was able to hold this time. “And one more,” she added. “This is the basic cost breakdown for the treatment Isaac said she needs tonight.”