Vetted

by K'Anne Meinel

  “You don’t like school?” she took another bite of her sandwich.

  “I like it well enough when I am in the courses I want to take.”

  “What do you like?”

  Allyssa hesitated, not really wanting to tell her, but at the same time they were sharing confidences and she didn’t have that many friends she did that with. “I too like the sciences, and I even took an animal husbandry course.” She smiled as she said it, obviously enthralled by the class. “My father is going to be furious when he finds out I didn’t drop it.”

  Fiona’s eyes narrowed. A lot more was being said here than the young woman meant to reveal. She had so much support from her grandparents and father, even if her stepmother resented any of the time her father gave her. “What classes does he want you to take?”

  “He and my mother decided I should take anything business-related, so I can go work for him after college.”

  “Do you want to work for your father after college?”

  Allyssa suddenly felt trapped. No one had asked her that question before. She knew she didn’t really want to do the work that her father did. Working with him probably would be stressful. “I…I don’t know,” she stuttered.

  “You don’t sound too enthused,” she teased.

  Allyssa smiled wryly. “You don’t know what it’s like. They expect things from me.”

  “Like what?” she asked, wondering if they expected her to work at the clinic and that was why Allyssa was doing it.

  “Good grades, a good career, and obedience.”

  “Obedience?” her eyebrow cocked and she stopped eating to see if the woman was serious. Sadly, she was. “Are you a dog?” she tried teasing.

  “Sometimes I think I’m just there to be ordered about,” she confided miserably.

  Gently, as the conversation had turned a little sad and she wanted to cheer up her new friend, she asked, “What do you want, Allyssa?”

  The way that Fiona said her name gave Allyssa chills. She didn’t know why, but it was almost like a caress. She looked up at the older woman thoughtfully. No one had asked her that question either. She looked around at the examination area they were in, some of the dogs in the cages were looking hopefully at their sandwiches. She smiled at the beggars in them. A few were rather clever about it, looking away, pretending she didn’t see their optimistic looks.

  What did she want? Then it hit her. She had never been happier than she was right here. This was the first job she had truly enjoyed. Even the job at the recreation center, while fun with the kids, always had her parents and sister degrading it. For some reason, their censure hadn’t bothered her here. Maybe she was growing up. “I’d like a little hobby farm,” she confessed, remembering her childhood dreams suddenly. “A few dogs, a few cats, maybe a llama,’ she laughed at herself, imagining herself with a llama.

  Surprised, Fiona smiled at her friend’s enthusiasm. “Have you ever been around animals before this job?”

  The blonde shook her head. “My mother wouldn’t have allowed the mess,” she wrinkled her nose at the word, laughing as she did so, “in her home.”

  Fiona laughed, wondering at the parents of her friend. She looked around at the menagerie of animals in cages for various reasons. “I couldn’t imagine not having pets.”

  “Well, growing up on a ranch, I imagine not. I bet you have a ton of pets at home,” Allyssa teased as she finished her sandwich and soda.

  “Actually, I don’t have time for them, so these,” her hands spread to encompass the animals of the clinic, “are my pet family.”

  “Are you one of those people that calls herself the dog’s ‘mom’ when she has a dog?”

  Wrinkling her own nose, Fiona shook her head and laughed some more. “I’m not a bitch.”

  They were both laughing at the double entendre and finished up their meal, closer for their shared confidences.

  * * * * *

  Bob Webster had his wife Helen phone their daughter at the clinic the next day to remind her to come home to pick up her new car. Allyssa had momentarily forgotten the ugly green station wagon. She wasn’t looking forward to it in the least. She wanted her money to go towards something she wanted, something her long legs fit in, something she could enjoy. Her mother must have sensed her reluctance as she added, “Daddy is taking valuable time out of his schedule for you. I hope you appreciate it.”

  “Yes, Mother. I’ll be there,” she promised. She’d arranged with the new girl to work a couple of her hours so that she could go from school to home, but she didn’t like the reminder that she should be grateful. As she hung up she wondered when they would start treating her like an adult.

  * * * * *

  As she drove in the driveway she saw her father’s Mercedes already in the driveway. The garage door was shut, so she didn’t know if her mother was home or out. She parked the Volvo in Juanita’s customary spot and went inside. As she walked through the foyer and into the kitchen, she heard a noise coming from beside the laundry room. Frowning, she went to see what it was and was shocked to see her father entreating Juanita.

  “Come on, a little kiss won’t hurt,” he was saying.

  “Mr. Webster,” she protested, pushing at his arms that were trying to encircle her, “you are a married man!”

  “Daddy?” Allyssa gasped and saw him stiffen. Turning slowly, Bob Webster straightened his suit. He looked shocked to see his youngest daughter standing there.

  “Well, it’s about time you got home,” he started, sounding angry.

  “How long has this been going on?” she gasped again, glancing at Juanita who was shaking her head.

  “What’s been going on?” Bob asked as Juanita answered at the same time, “No, never.”

  Allyssa understood immediately. Apparently, her father had tried something new, and on their long-serving housekeeper, of all people. Juanita hadn’t been a willing participant from what she could see and her father was going to pretend that nothing had happened. She sent a sad look at the now terrified Juanita and followed her father as he brushed by her.

  “Let’s get going and pick up that Volvo,” her father ordered brusquely.

  Allyssa sent another sad look at Juanita to see if she was really okay, but the woman made shooing motions for her to follow her father. Dutifully, Allyssa followed, but she was even more reluctant now to go with him.

  As they drove his Mercedes to the garage where the older Volvo was being fixed, the silence was ominous in the expensive car. He was rather abrupt to the repair man despite the excellent job their insurance had paid for. You couldn’t tell the fender had ever been damaged, he had even matched the old and faded paint so it looked normal. He’d taken the time to buff and polish the old car and it looked fabulous. As Allyssa got in the familiar old vehicle she looked curiously at the box on the passenger seat and saw what must be everything and anything that had ever been sitting in the old Volvo. They had even detailed the interior for her father. He could have been a little more grateful. She followed his Mercedes to the car lot and to her ugly, old, green station wagon. As she parked, she saw her father had already gone inside the little building that was the lot office. She reluctantly followed along.

  “What do you mean you sold it?” her father was demanding angrily of the salesman he had dealt with before, a friend of Derek’s.

  “I mean, my boss didn’t know I was holding it for you and sold it. It was a good deal and you didn’t put down a deposit, so how could he know?”

  “You didn’t tell me I had to put down a deposit!”

  “Look, I’m sorry, but the vehicle you wanted is gone,” he returned, just as exasperated as Bob was.

  “Daddy, I’m sure there must be something else on the lot we could look at?” Allyssa asked, trying to defuse the situation.

  “Yes, I’m sure there is,” the salesman jumped in, enthused. “We will give you an excellent deal for the trouble,” he assured them.

  Bob was not happy, but then he had come onto
the lot unhappy. Sighing gustily, he turned and saw his daughter who was looking at him worriedly. He felt instantly guilty. She had seen him behaving inappropriately with Juanita. That had never happened before and he didn’t know why he had acted on the impulse. The guilt had put him in a very bad mood. “Let’s see what they have,” he gestured to the lot and for Allyssa to walk out ahead of him.

  That was how Allyssa ended up with a Jeep Cherokee. She’d spied it on the lot and never thought she could have such a vehicle. It had four-wheel drive that could be activated from inside the cab with the flick of a button. It also had a sun roof that slid back to reveal a luggage rack on top of the silver vehicle, tinted windows, cruise control, and a radio that was not factory installed and had big speakers in the doors. She knew he didn’t really want her to have such a vehicle, but she capitalized on his guilt and generous nature. Between the trade-in, her down payment, and the small monthly payments she would be making, Allyssa now had established credit.

  “Thank you, Daddy. It’s just what I wanted,” she assured him, for the first time in a long time getting exactly what she wanted. It drove like a dream too with optional stick or automatic.

  “I’ll put it on the family insurance so that we can get multiple-family discounts,” he assured her, pleased that he had made her happy. Something about the transaction nagged at him, something didn’t feel right, but he had no idea she had manipulated him.

  “You bought her what?” Helen was fuming as she saw the vehicle that Allyssa was driving. “A young girl doesn’t need a car like that!”

  “Mother, with the winters we have in Denver it actually makes sense,” Allyssa defended the Jeep. She didn’t understand her mother’s anger, but she didn’t know that Juanita had packed up all her belongings in the Volvo, taken them somewhere, and then returned in the Volvo only to resign her position on the spot with no warning and no notice of two weeks. As she had just been paid, she turned over her keys to the house and the car then left by walking down to the bus outside the gates of Regal Crest Gardens.

  “It’s such a frivolous expense for a girl her age,” Helen spouted at Bob, infuriated that he hadn’t gone along with the plan for the station wagon that they had agreed upon.

  Seeing that this conversation was going nowhere and knowing she had promised to return to work as soon as her family matter was finished, Allyssa made her goodbyes, kissing her father dutifully on the cheek, thanking him again, and waving her mother off when the woman would have turned her guilt trip on her.

  Driving back to the clinic, Allyssa had never felt so wonderful. She owned this car, along with her Daddy who had co-signed, but it was hers. For the first time in a long time, other than the job at the clinic, she was happy over something. She carefully drove it across town and parked it next to one of the vet trucks, locking it with her remote alarm. She hugged herself happily. It was hers. It was used, but it was hers!

  “Did you win the lottery or something?” Babette asked as Allyssa came in smiling.

  “Nope, just having a good day,” she responded. “Thank you for staying!” she said sincerely, still smiling.

  “Well, whatever happened to you I hope I get sprinkled by the goodwill fairy too!” she teased as she gathered her things and left.

  Allyssa settled in, occasionally answering the phone and realizing that smiling into the phone changed the whole tone of the conversation. She made appointments, answered a few questions, and even arranged for someone to come in that evening before they closed. Dr. Bruce saw the emergency consultation and one of the vet techs they had on staff assisted him. Allyssa looked on, wondering if maybe she should become a vet tech. She realized she would be pushing her luck if she tried to use her father’s guilt again. That thought led to the reason for that guilt … she had caught him trying to press himself on their housekeeper. She wondered if her father had ever done that before, but she didn’t really want to know.

  It was right before they closed for the evening when, of all people, Carmen walked in.

  “Well, hello,” Allyssa greeted her, surprised to see her. “To what do we owe the honor of your esteemed presence,” she tried to kid with her.

  “That’s not very professional,” she shot back, quelling Allyssa’s impetuous good feelings by her look as well as her tone.

  “I was just joking around, and you aren’t a regular client,” she pointed out testily. She knew it—the good feeling she had been enjoying couldn’t last, someone had to ruin it. Furthermore, just as she had realized how good she was feeling about her life, her job, and her new vehicle, her sister had to come in to put her in her place.

  “I came here because Mother asked me to check this place out,” she informed her haughtily, looking around the place as though she was about to pull out white gloves and give it a once-over.

  “I saw Mother a few hours ago. She could have told me or asked me,” she answered, now feeling a bit defensive.

  “Well she called me and she was upset about Juanita,” Carmen informed her, not appreciating her little sister’s tone as she looked around the waiting room.

  “What about Juanita?” she asked, her gut tightening at what her sister or mother might know.

  “Oh, you didn’t hear?” she asked, her tone indicating she was superior because she had knowledge that Allyssa did not.

  Worried that her mother had somehow found out about her father coming on to their housekeeper and fired her for it, she mutely shook her head.

  “After all those years of working for Mother and Father, she quit. She gave no notice. That’s gratitude for you,” she said with a sneering, disparaging tone.

  Slightly relieved that her mother hadn’t found out the truth, she defended their long-time housekeeper. “You don’t know why she quit,” she pointed out.

  “Do you?”

  Allyssa was never so grateful as she was just then for the phone to ring. “Robinson Clinic, how may I direct your call?” She took notes for a new appointment for a client and by the time she was done she could see Carmen was fidgeting to get away.

  “What time do you get off?” Carmen asked, sniffing as though there was an odor she didn’t like in the clinic.

  To Allyssa the place smelled of antiseptic and good, healthy, and natural smells. The animals that visited stayed for a while and moved on. “I have school work, but I’ll be answering the phones and then cleaning up for a bit.” She didn’t dare tell Carmen that she lived there; she’d never hear the end of it.

  “Oh, so you can’t go for coffee?” She actually sounded disappointed.

  “You know I don’t drink that,” she answered suspiciously, wondering why her sister was being so friendly. It was unprecedented.

  Just then Fiona walked in carrying some of the tools she had used that day in a stainless-steel tray. They didn’t smell good and they certainly didn’t look respectable. “Hey, Allyssa. Could you put these in the sterilizer? I have to get a second load out of the truck.”

  “Sure thing, Doctor Herriot,” she answered, reaching for the tray.

  “I’m sorry. Were you here first?” she apologized to Carmen.

  “No, this is my sister. Carmen, this is Doctor Herriot, one of the doctors here at the clinic.”

  “Oh, hello,” Fiona said cheerfully, holding out her hand to shake Carmen’s.

  Carmen looked from the disgusting-smelling tray to Fiona’s hand as though they were both unsanitary.

  Allyssa was mortified, she could see the puzzled look on the doctor’s face as she held out her hand and it wasn’t returned.

  As Fiona realized Carmen wasn’t going to shake her hand, she laughed it off. “I’ll just go get that other tray,” she said to Allyssa and hurried back outside.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Allyssa hissed at Carmen.

  “She was carrying that,” she looked disdainfully at the tray, “and she wanted me to touch her?”

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake,” her younger sister exclaimed.

  “You sho
uldn’t talk like that,” Carmen said prissily.

  “I have work to do,” she answered pointedly, looking down at the tray.

  “Can I see it in back?”

  She couldn’t think of a reason why her sister couldn’t see the back room, so she nodded woodenly and hoped the door to the room where her cot was located wasn’t open. She went out of the office and met Carmen on the other side of the door, quickly walking over to the sterilizer to dump the tools inside and wash them. She set the timer and then put the tray in a sink and started the water flowing. She saw Carmen looking around avidly.

  “Here is the other tray, Allyssa. It’s been a messy day,” Fiona said with a grin that they shared.

  “I’ll put these in the other sterilizer and wash that tray too,” she answered as she took it from the doctor.

  “Thank ya kindly,” she said in an exaggerated tone. She saluted as she quickly grabbed some things from the stock drawers and cabinets, noted them on a paper, and then headed out to her truck to restock it.

  “Your boss is a bit of a cowgirl, isn’t she?” Carmen asked as she watched Allyssa perform her duties.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I was waiting for her to say, ‘Aw shucks, ma’am,’” she teased in a snobby voice.

  “She’s got more brains than most people out there,” Allyssa gestured with the rag she was using on one of the trays. She quickly slipped the tray into their industrial dishwasher before attacking the other one. “She’s highly educated and a vet, that takes something,” she pointed out.

  “Jeez, take it easy. I was only teasing,” she commented, alarmed at Allyssa’s defense of the woman.

  “You seem to enjoy putting people down. That’s not teasing,” she felt confident enough to point out.

  “Well, someone’s testy tonight. Maybe I should go. I only stopped because Mother was worried about where you worked and I promised I’d check it out.”

  “Maybe you should go,” Allyssa answered, slipping the second tray into the pull-out drawer of the dishwasher and closing it with a bang. Quickly, she dried her hands on a towel. She escorted Carmen to the front door, waved as she made her way to the Jaguar she drove, and then watched as Fiona filled and locked the boxes on the side of the vet truck. The woman had a natural grace about her that showed off her muscles from a lifetime of working with animals. Carmen went to Pilates and did yoga three times a week and even she didn’t look that toned.