Page 34 of Curious Hearts (The Healing Hearts #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“Easy, girl,” Ali murmured, keeping her movements slow and deliberate as she approached the trembling spaniel cowering in the corner of the examination room.

The dog—Penny, according to her intake form—had been among the twelve cats and two dogs rescued when their elderly owner passed away.

It was estimated that the body had lain undiscovered for over a week. “No one’s going to hurt you here.”

Kristi looked up from examining a matted tabby on the metal table, her gloved hands gentle as she checked for injuries. “How’s our girl doing?”

“Terrified,” Ali replied, settling cross-legged on the floor several feet from the dog. “Classic fear response. I’m going to let her come to me in her own time.”

The rescue center smelled of antiseptic and damp fur, the fluorescent lights harsh against the painted concrete walls.

Ali had spent the morning helping assess the behavioral issues of the newly rescued animals, while Kristi volunteered her veterinary skills to address their physical needs.

It was grueling, heartbreaking work, but necessary if these animals stood any chance of rehabilitation.

“Well, this little guy is severely malnourished, but I’m not seeing any major health concerns otherwise,” Kristi said, gently stroking the tabby. “How many do you think will be suitable for your therapy program?”

Ali considered, watching as Penny’s ears flickered with interest despite her fear.

“The golden retriever mix has excellent temperament. He’s a natural.

One of the two cats I’ve seen so far is a definite with some work.

Penny here...” She smiled as the spaniel inched forward, nose twitching.

“She’s got potential if we can build her confidence. ”

Working methodically through the morning, they examined, treated, and assessed each animal.

Ali kept detailed notes on behavioral patterns, noting which animals might be suitable for the Healing Paws program and which would need significant rehabilitation before being adoptable.

She was grateful that none of the animals from this intake were beyond help.

When that happened, her job was truly soul-crushing.

“Coffee break?” Kristi suggested after they’d finished with the last cat—a stone-deaf calico with a surprising affinity for people despite her initial nervousness at being touched.

Ali glanced at her watch, surprised to see it was already past noon. “God, yes. I’m running on fumes here.”

They washed up and headed to the small break room, where a coffee maker that had seen better days gurgled out something approximating caffeine. Ali collapsed into a plastic chair while Kristi doctored two cups with the powdered creamer that was the best the shelter could offer.

“Here,” Kristi said, sliding a mug across the table. “It’s terrible, but it’s hot.”

“My standards have drastically lowered since working in the nonprofit sector,” Ali replied with a tired smile, wrapping her hands around the mug.

As she reached for the sugar, the sleeve of her sweater pulled back, revealing the silver charm bracelet catching the fluorescent light. Kristi’s eyes widened, her coffee forgotten.

“Whoa, what is that?” she asked, grabbing Ali’s wrist before she could pull it back. “This is new.”

Ali couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face as Kristi examined the bracelet. “Jessica gave it to me last night.”

“Ali, this is...” Kristi turned her wrist gently, studying the detailed charms. “This isn’t some mall kiosk bracelet. This is serious jewelry.”

Ali nodded, her chest warming at the memory of Jessica fastening it around her wrist, those elegant fingers lingering on her pulse point.

“She had it custom-made. Look.” She pointed to each charm in turn.

“That’s Mr. Darcy—see how his tail is up?

And that’s Empress. Here’s Ernest with his six toes. ”

“She’s even managed to capture Waffle’s goofy smile.” Kristi touched the charm of the retriever, giving a low whistle before releasing Ali’s wrist to pick up her coffee. “Girl, this is ‘I’m in love with you’ jewelry. This isn’t casual dating territory.”

“I know,” Ali said, tracing the heart-shaped tag with her fingertip. “The inscription says ‘With love, J.’”

“See? That settles it.” Kristi leaned back in her chair, studying Ali with a knowing look.

Ali’s smile faltered slightly as she remembered Jessica’s strange behavior the night before. “Maybe...”

Kristi’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that face for?”

Ali sighed, wrapping her hands around her coffee mug again. “It was just weird. She gave me this amazing present but then she was just… weird. Like distant. Last night when I went over, I overheard her on the phone with Vikram.”

“Vikram?”

“The guy her parents are trying to set her up with. He was at that awful dinner with her parents, remember? The one where Mr. Darcy knocked over the wine?”

Kristi’s eyebrows shot up. “She’s talking to the guy her parents want her to date? While she’s with you?”

“It’s not like that,” Ali said quickly. “They’re friends from college. But she was saying something about not knowing what she was going to do, and then when she saw me, she got all flustered and finished the call. Like she had been caught red-handed doing something she shouldn’t have.”

“Did you ask her what was going on?”

“Of course I did. She said it was just work stuff, and she needed to think it through on her own first.”

Kristi frowned. “But she was discussing it with him?”

“Exactly.” Ali pushed her coffee aside, frustrated. “And when I mentioned needing donors for the foundation since we don’t have Vivian’s contribution this year, she didn’t offer to help. She offered before but now…” Ali shrugged. “It’s like she’s pulling away, but I can’t figure out why.”

“Wait, back up,” Kristi said, leaning forward. “Do her parents know about you two? About your relationship?”

Ali shook her head. “I don’t think so. We haven’t exactly had that conversation. It’s only been a few months.”

“So apart from that dinner party, when you were there, theoretically, to look after the cats, who else in her life have you met?”

Ali stared at her, a sinking feeling building in the pit of her stomach. “No one. But she doesn’t have many people in her life. The only other person she mentions is her assistant, Zach, and that’s because he organizes bits of her life.”

“And this Vikram guy. You’re jealous of him?”

She sighed. There was no point in denying it.

“I know it doesn’t make sense,” she admitted.

“Jessica’s made it clear she’s not interested in him romantically.

But hearing her talk to him about something she wouldn’t discuss with me.

..” She twisted the bracelet around her wrist. “I’m never this lucky, Kristi.

To find someone like her who actually wants to be with me.

Part of me is just waiting for the other shoe to drop—and I think it’s already started. ”

Kristi reached across the table, squeezing Ali’s forearm.

“Hey. Don’t do that to yourself. Jessica has been completely crazy about you from everything you’ve told us.

And that bracelet, never mind the price, look at the care and attention she put into getting it just right.

” Her friend gave her that cocked head look of understanding that made her want to burst into tears, but she swallowed it down.

“You know, this is probably just work stress or something simple.”

“Maybe,” Ali said, unconvinced. “I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.”

“Talk to her. I mean, tell her what you’re thinking and feeling. I’d say you might be imagining it but you’re the most observant person I know, Ali… But that doesn’t mean your observations necessarily add up to the right answer.”

“I know. I tried last night, but she shut down the conversation. Said she wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.” Ali ran a hand through her hair. “And I didn’t push because I don’t want to be that person who demands to know everything. It’s her right to have private conversations. Private thoughts.”

“True, but it’s also your right to know if something’s affecting your relationship.

” Kristi took a sip of her coffee, grimacing at the taste.

“Tell her exactly what you just told me—that you’re feeling her pull away and you’re worried.

And if it’s nothing, you can stop worrying and if not,” Kristi paused and put a hand on Ali’s shoulder, “then you can deal with that too.”

“You’re right,” Ali said. “I’ll talk to her tonight. We are supposed to have dinner at her place again.”

As if on cue, her phone buzzed with an incoming text. Ali pulled it from her pocket, her heart sinking as she read the message.

“What is it?” Kristi asked, noting her expression.

“Jessica,” Ali said, turning the phone so Kristi could see the screen. “Asking for a rain check for the next couple of nights. She says she’s swamped with work.”

Kristi read the message, her frown deepening. “‘Unexpected project requiring immediate attention.’ That’s vague.”

“And convenient,” Ali added, setting her phone down with more force than necessary.

“First tells me she’s thinking about something but she isn’t ready to talk about it, then doesn’t offer to help find donors for the foundation, and now she’s canceling plans.

Add that to the secretive phone call with Vikram. ..”

“Alright, let’s not jump to conclusions,” Kristi cautioned. “There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation.”

“Like what? That she’s realized dating the messy animal doctor was a mistake? That her parents’ disapproval matters more than she thought? That Vikram is actually a better match for her?”

“Or that she genuinely has a work emergency,” Kristi countered.

“Maybe somebody’s investments are tanking, and she’s been left carrying the can?

The point is, you don’t know what the story is and you’re doing what we all do when we overthink—we make up the pieces we don’t know and add it into the story we always tell ourselves. ”

Ali slumped in her chair. “I know I’m being paranoid. It’s just... this is the happiest I’ve been in years, Kristi. What if I’m not enough? What if this is too good to be true?”

“What if you’re catastrophizing because that’s what you do when you care about something?” Kristi replied gently. “Look at that bracelet, Ali. Someone doesn’t commission custom jewelry like that and then have a sudden change of heart.”

Ali fingered the charm bracelet, taking comfort in the solid weight of it against her skin. The detailed craftsmanship of each charm screamed that Jessica cared about her—maybe even loved her.

“You’re right,” she said finally. “I need to talk to her. Not accuse her of anything, just... clear the air.”

“Good plan. And in the meantime, let’s focus on these critters. The golden retriever needs a full assessment report if you’re going to include him in the therapy program.”

Ali nodded, grateful for the return to practical matters. “I’ll text Jessica back, then we can get started on the assessments.”

She typed a quick response, trying to keep her tone light despite her concerns:

No problem. Everything okay? Let me know if you need anything. Working on potential therapy animals for the program today.

Jessica’s reply came almost immediately:

Just work chaos. Good luck with the assessments. Talk soon.

Brief. Professional. Nothing like their usual exchanges, which had grown increasingly affectionate over the weeks.

“Well?” Kristi asked, watching Ali’s face.

“Nothing alarming,” Ali said, tucking her phone away. “Just... not quite right either.”

As they returned to the examination room, Ali tried to focus on the animals who needed her expertise.

But in the back of her mind, Jessica’s strange behavior continued to nag at her, along with the growing fear that something significant was happening—something that might threaten the unexpected happiness she’d found.

The golden retriever greeted her with enthusiastic tail wags despite his recent rescue, his resilience a reminder of what she’d learned through her own recovery: strength often came from facing uncertainty head-on.

“Okay, buddy,” she said, scratching behind his ears. “Let’s see what you’re made of.”

The same, she decided, applied to her relationship with Jessica. Whatever was happening, Ali wouldn’t let fear of loss prevent her from fighting for what they were building together. She just needed to find the right moment to get behind Jessica’s armor.