For the Love of Joy: A Coastal Hearts Novel by Janet W. Ferguson

Author:Janet W. Ferguson [Ferguson, Janet W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Southern Sun Press LLC
Published: 2021-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

The woman must be really upset to trust Hankie to him and Rivers for an outing so easily. “Are you sure we should leave you by yourself?” Davis stood in the bedroom doorway to check on Joy once more.

“I’d like to take a nap.” Slumping back against the pillow, Joy shut her eyes.

This felt like a trap. Or the lingering effects of anesthesia messing with Joy. “Okay, but you have my number if you need anything. Or if you want to check in on us. The vet’s office isn’t far.”

“As long as you or Rivers holds onto Hankie, he’ll be okay.” Joy’s voice was soft and held none of its usual sass.

Weird, but he missed hearing that feistiness. Seemed he preferred the spitfire Joy over the gloomy one. Oh, man, he definitely had some issues.

“Be back soon then.” He paused and scuffed his shoe against the floor. In all the earlier fiasco, he hadn’t told her about the wait on her vehicle. Maybe she wouldn’t freak out. “Oh, by the way, we’re in a loaner Toyota until yours is repaired, but I moved the car seat over.”

Her eyes popped open. “You sure you got everything hooked up right?”

“Looked up the instructions on the internet to be certain.” He bobbed his head, working to appear more confident than he actually felt. “Rivers is buckling Hankie in as we speak, and I’ll double-check the straps. She’s going to sit in the back, though, in case there are any escape attempts.”

“Okay.” And her eyes closed again.

Wow. Okay, then.

Still staring, Davis walked backward out of the doorway. Sure didn’t seem like the woman he’d married—letting go of control so easily.

They needed to get on the road to have the cat checked. The quicker they left, the quicker they’d be back.

Outside, Rivers was already seated beside Hankie in the back seat, so Davis stopped at the boy’s door to check all the buckles. A nice ocean breeze eased some of the sun’s warmth bearing down on his neck. What he wouldn’t give for a long beach walk right about now.

But that wouldn’t happen for a couple of weeks. When life went back to normal. He rounded the car, perched in his seat, and started the motor. One more peek in the rearview mirror showed Hankie steadily chatting with Rivers and the cat. Life without the boy would be quieter for sure.

Something twisted inside him at the thought of saying good-bye to the little fella.

Yep. His brain was at least a brick shy of a load. They’d better scoot on to their destination.

The two-mile ride to the clinic passed quickly, filled with the sounds of Hankie trying to comfort the crying kitten with sweet words of consolation.

Inside the vet’s office, Davis filled out paperwork and explained the situation. After a few minutes’ wait, a short brunette in scrubs called them back.

“I’m Dr. Ellis.” She smiled at Hankie in Davis’s arms. “I hear you found a kitten. Let’s see how much he weighs.” They stopped at a scale, and the doctor reached toward the box Rivers held.

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