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Twenty minutes later, Lewis had signed my contract, agreed on a fantastic rate, and scheduled Archie’s first appointment.

After one more cup of tea, he led me to the door.

“I have to say, you don’t look like a tarot card reader,” he said. “Or at least, you’re not what I’d expect one to look like.”

“Oh yeah? What does a tarot card reader look like?”

He rubbed his chin with his hand. “Long robes, long hair, long fingernails. Something like that.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his cliché description. “So basically, everything needs to be long?”

“Well, I’ve never met a tarot card reader in real life. All I have to go on are movies,” he said with an amused look on his face. “Which, I now realize, are hardly representative of real life.”

“I could read Archie’s cards and clear some things up for you,” I said, hoping he would say yes.

His caramel-colored eyes locked with mine, and I almost tumbled down his porch stairs. “That would be nice, Olive. You can read his cards.”

“You know what? I’ll even make some predictions for you as well,” I said.

“Oh?”

I nodded, pretending to be thinking. “I wouldn’t be surprised if your first appointments at Pine Paw Prints include a parrot singing off-key and a lazy turtle in need of some exercise.”

“Huh, that’s oddly specific,” he said with a surprised look on his face.

“What can I say? I’m good at what I do. Just wait and see.”

He smiled at me. “If the parrot and the turtle do end up at the clinic, I’ll let you know. Oh, and Olive?”

“Yes?”

“Will you?”

“Will I what?”

“Show me around town?”

The corners of my mouth lifted into a smile. “I’d be happy to. Just give me a call to set it up.”

Chapter Six

Lewis

Friday rolled around faster than expected, and everyone was ready to go by eight in the morning. Lori, my receptionist, and Darren, my technical assistant, were happy to see the clinic reopen. They hadn’t technically been unemployed, but the transfer between Alexander and I had taken up several weeks, meaning both of them were out of work for almost a month.

I had put an ad out for an extra vet on Thursday. With my plans to expand the clinic, I needed additional personnel, and I decided I might as well get a head start on finding suitable candidates.

“All set for today?” I asked Lori, who had offered to come in early to take client calls.

She nodded. “The phone hasn’t stopped ringing for over an hour. I guess three weeks without a vet clinic was hard on some people.”

“Didn’t Dr. Kline advise them to go to a vet in the neighboring town if need be?”

“You know how people are, they don’t like change.”

The phone rang again. “Sorry, Doctor Grant, I’ve got to take that call. Was there anything else you wanted to ask me?”

I shook my head. “I’m all set. Thank you, Lori.”