Five people arrived with ailing pets. They sat quietly at the desks. One at a time, Katie called them up with their animal. Taylor sat back, arms crossed over his chest, watching. The first to stand was a woman near ninety. She carried a scruffy gray cat, which looked to be the same age. Katie’s face broke into a welcoming smile as she took the cat into her arms. “How’s General this week, Mrs. Beaumont?” “Just grand, Katie. Why, I’ve even taken him off the kidney medicine.” Katie sat on the edge of the desk and stroked the gray tomcat. “With Dr. Abram’s permission?” Mrs. Beaumont nodded, touching the pin that held her black hat at a jaunty angle on her silver hair. “I asked him—just like you told me.” A beatific smile spread over her wrinkled face. “General’s eating now, thanks to you!” “And to Dr. Abrams,” Katie reminded her, smiling. She held the cat for about a minute before handing him back to his owner. “I think that’s all he needs for now.”
