website where they exploit the cats by showing their photos and telling sad stories about how they are ill or have no food to eat. People donate money to help the kitties without knowing that it’s actually a scam. There are cats in need and there are certainly legitimate organizations using the Internet to help cats, but I’ll bet my bottom dollar the money these people are collecting isn’t going toward the cats’ care. Did you see that giant TV in that room?”
“And the classy new car in the driveway,” Savannah added. “Oh my gosh, what a terrible situation. We have to report them, Auntie.”
“From what Dora says, the authorities know about them and are planning to close them down,” Margaret said. “I just hope it’s sooner rather than later. Just to be sure they follow through, I’m going to make a few calls when we get home.”
The two rode quietly for a few minutes when Margaret spoke up. “Where do you suppose they got all those cats? Do you think hoarders go out and steal cats? I guess they might if they’re running a scam and they’re not taking proper care of the cats,” she reasoned.
Savannah thought for a moment before saying, “Yeah, if they run out of cats, they would certainly need more to photograph.” She shook her head. “Gosh, that’s just sick!”
Suddenly, Margaret lurched forward in her seat. “What time is it? Uh-oh, it’s after two,” she said, looking at the clock embedded in the dashboard. “We need to get over to the vet’s office.”
“Okay,” Savannah said. “How are you doing with that foot? You haven’t been keeping it up much today.”
“Haven’t had a chance. But I rest it on my purse as we drive. Actually, it’s pretty good. I don’t feel so vulnerable since I got the cast.”
“But you don’t want that foot to swell inside the cast, lady!”
Margaret waved her hand in the air. “Oh, you sound just like some kind of nagging doctor.”
“If you didn’t want a nagging doctor here this week, you should have invited my mother or how about Uncle Ray?”
“Okay, you got me. I’ll take the nagging doctor any day,” Margaret acquiesced.
***
“Turn right at the next stop sign,” Margaret instructed. “It’s that building on the left.” And then she faced Savannah and said, “Now, when you see this vet, I don’t want your eyes popping out of your head.”
“What? What’s wrong with him?” Savannah wanted to know.
“Oh, you’ll see,” she responded in a teasing tone.
Savannah parked the car, glanced over at her aunt and let out a shallow sigh. Now what? she wondered. Indeed, hanging out with Aunt Marg is already proving to be anything but an ordinary vacation.
She had gladly taken time off when she heard that her aunt needed help. She felt as though she had dug herself into a rut. Ruts are for retired people , she thought. So she wasn’t exactly thrilled with the way her life was going. She was working too much, spending too much time volunteering at the shelter. And, although she hadn’t admitted it out loud, the residue from her breakup with Travis a few months earlier was still affecting her. She needed a distraction—but now she wondered if she was swimming against the tide.
Margaret’s voice brought Savannah back to the here and now. “Would you get that little carrier out of the back, Vannie? Thanks.”
“Hello, Scarlett.”
The freckle-faced brunette of twenty-five looked up and then rushed from behind the counter in the veterinarian’s office. “What happened to you, Ms. Forster?” She put her hand on Margaret’s back and walked her toward the closest chair. “Here, sit down.” She then moved a small table over for her to rest her casted foot on. “Are you all right?”
“Sure—just broke a bone in my foot. My niece is here to help me out for a while. Vannie, this is Scarlett. Scarlett, Savannah. We came to pick up the neuters you did for Max Sheridan.”
“Right on, Ms. Forster. Dr. Ivey will be with
“And the classy new car in the driveway,” Savannah added. “Oh my gosh, what a terrible situation. We have to report them, Auntie.”
“From what Dora says, the authorities know about them and are planning to close them down,” Margaret said. “I just hope it’s sooner rather than later. Just to be sure they follow through, I’m going to make a few calls when we get home.”
The two rode quietly for a few minutes when Margaret spoke up. “Where do you suppose they got all those cats? Do you think hoarders go out and steal cats? I guess they might if they’re running a scam and they’re not taking proper care of the cats,” she reasoned.
Savannah thought for a moment before saying, “Yeah, if they run out of cats, they would certainly need more to photograph.” She shook her head. “Gosh, that’s just sick!”
Suddenly, Margaret lurched forward in her seat. “What time is it? Uh-oh, it’s after two,” she said, looking at the clock embedded in the dashboard. “We need to get over to the vet’s office.”
“Okay,” Savannah said. “How are you doing with that foot? You haven’t been keeping it up much today.”
“Haven’t had a chance. But I rest it on my purse as we drive. Actually, it’s pretty good. I don’t feel so vulnerable since I got the cast.”
“But you don’t want that foot to swell inside the cast, lady!”
Margaret waved her hand in the air. “Oh, you sound just like some kind of nagging doctor.”
“If you didn’t want a nagging doctor here this week, you should have invited my mother or how about Uncle Ray?”
“Okay, you got me. I’ll take the nagging doctor any day,” Margaret acquiesced.
***
“Turn right at the next stop sign,” Margaret instructed. “It’s that building on the left.” And then she faced Savannah and said, “Now, when you see this vet, I don’t want your eyes popping out of your head.”
“What? What’s wrong with him?” Savannah wanted to know.
“Oh, you’ll see,” she responded in a teasing tone.
Savannah parked the car, glanced over at her aunt and let out a shallow sigh. Now what? she wondered. Indeed, hanging out with Aunt Marg is already proving to be anything but an ordinary vacation.
She had gladly taken time off when she heard that her aunt needed help. She felt as though she had dug herself into a rut. Ruts are for retired people , she thought. So she wasn’t exactly thrilled with the way her life was going. She was working too much, spending too much time volunteering at the shelter. And, although she hadn’t admitted it out loud, the residue from her breakup with Travis a few months earlier was still affecting her. She needed a distraction—but now she wondered if she was swimming against the tide.
Margaret’s voice brought Savannah back to the here and now. “Would you get that little carrier out of the back, Vannie? Thanks.”
“Hello, Scarlett.”
The freckle-faced brunette of twenty-five looked up and then rushed from behind the counter in the veterinarian’s office. “What happened to you, Ms. Forster?” She put her hand on Margaret’s back and walked her toward the closest chair. “Here, sit down.” She then moved a small table over for her to rest her casted foot on. “Are you all right?”
“Sure—just broke a bone in my foot. My niece is here to help me out for a while. Vannie, this is Scarlett. Scarlett, Savannah. We came to pick up the neuters you did for Max Sheridan.”
“Right on, Ms. Forster. Dr. Ivey will be with
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