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Chapter four

Gianni

I t’s nearly three in the morning by the time we’re done at the vet, and my pretty girl seems to be doing better already, though she still refuses to walk. That’s not really anything new though. She’s always loved to be held, and I can’t say I blame her. I’d like to be held sometimes too.

I approach the checkout counter, getting ready to pay for what I imagine will inevitably be a couple-thousand-dollar visit, when I see Betty hurrying around the desk to her seat. “Hi, Mr. De Laurentiis. I’m happy to see things are okay with Pickles.” She beams at me, holding a finger up as she says, “Give me just one second while I pull up the bill.”

“Not a problem. Take your time,” I tell her.

“Okay, so your bill will be two hundred and thirty-three dollars. Cash or card?”

My brows pinch, and I finally stammer, “Are you sure that’s the right price? We did X-rays, too, and gave her a shot for nausea. Could you just double-check the bill, please?” There’s literally no way that’s right, but it’s late, so she probably just hadn’t input it yet.

She smiles at me sheepishly. “The price is correct. We don’t overcharge like the other emergency vets. It’s important that pets receive quality care, especially in emergencies, so we pride ourselves in offering those services at an affordable price.”

I’m honestly taken aback by that. I’ve never left a standard veterinary clinic without paying at least three hundred dollars just for vaccines, let alone an emergency appointment. It’s nice to know that whoever owns this place has their heart in it. I could tell that based on who works here. Betty and Dr. Hughes have been really great.

I look around the waiting room, seeing several people with their sick pets waiting to be seen before turning back to look at her. “Um, okay. Well, I was expecting to pay at least two thousand, so let me pay you that anyway, and you can put the excess toward covering the costs for anyone else you guys see here tonight. Is that okay? I don’t want to overcomplicate anything for you.” It's the least I can do. I have the money, and you never know what someone else is going through. Pickles has become my whole world these last few months, and without her, I'm not sure I’d bother waking up at all. If there's something I can do to make it even a little easier for someone in here to take care of their furry family, I'm more than willing to.

Her eyes widen slightly as her mouth pops open. “That’s so generous of you,” she rushes to say, waving a hand in my face. “And it’s not complicated at all, thank you. ”

I nod at her. My social battery is officially drained. I just want to pay and take Pickles home to sleep for the next twelve hours. I hand her my card, approve the payment, and give her the best smile I can manage before thanking her and heading out into the cool air.