The days pass. The monotony nearly kills her. Every morning Alysanne opens up the clinic. She puts Supriya to cleaning and making treats. “I promise, it’s not forever.”
Alysanne allows in the patients one at a time, sometimes two at a time, letting them look around at the surroundings, waiting till she sees that telltale smile that this is a really nice-looking vet clinic. Then she comes in and treats the pets and every time she tells the animals that each is a good pet.
Five star review by five star review, she builds up the clinic rating.
Every night she goes home exhausted, forces herself to make sure Summer, Balerion, and Rhaenys are taken care of, before she falls back in bed dead tired.
Finally one day, it happens.
“Check Yelp,” Supriya shouts from the lab.
“OMG.”
“Quick. Hire two more vets!”
Alysanne grabs her phone and is startled to see Sidney Egan available for hire. She makes the call and also hires a guy named Sam. They’ll both need training and supervision, but since she’s got her five-star rating there will be time for that.
It’s at that moment that Nehemiah brings Loki by. “What’s going on?”
“I’m done,” Alysanne says weakly. She takes care of poor Loki who’s got a raging case of Slurry Fur.
When the dog goes in search of the pet bowl, he asks, “Is it too late for us? I was an ass,” Nehemiah tells her. “I should have been more understanding. I should have gotten that this was your thing and it needed to be your thing. There hasn’t been an hour when I haven’t thought of you.”
Alysanne falls into Nehemiah’s arms.
Several times.
“Not that I don’t mind free champagne,” Supriya says as everyone is inexplicably gathered around the fish tank, “but maybe we could have a real party.”
“That is a great idea,” Alysanne says.
That night she calls a few people over to celebrate.
“I could not have done this without you,” she tells Supriya.
“You finally did it?” Cory asks as he walks into the house.
Alysanne proudly shows him the five-star Yelp rating.
Maybe it’s not a glamorous party, but everyone seems to be having a great time.
Sidney apologizes again. “I was at a bad place in my life. I’m glad it all worked out for you.”
They’re all digging into some homemade butternut squash soup when Nehemiah catches her eye. Cory is sitting between them, but Alysanne sees the words he’s mouthing: Will you marry me?
“Yes.”