A Curve in the Road(40)

I run to him and drop to my knees on the cement floor. He doesn’t open his eyes.

I place my fingers under his nose to check his airways, and I touch his belly. He’s still breathing, but he feels feverish.

“Winston!” I shout.

He opens his eyes at last and blinks a few times, but he still doesn’t lift his head.

“What’s wrong, baby?” I ask in a gentler voice. “You don’t feel so good?”

I roll him gently onto his back to check his incision. There’s redness and swelling around the stitches, which, together with the fever, is a clear sign of infection.

“Shit.” I blame myself for being so distracted over the past twenty-four hours. I should have made sure someone was keeping a closer eye on him today.

Stroking his silky fur, I bend down to kiss his cheek.

I can’t lose this dog.

“I’m going to call the vet,” I tell him. “You stay right here. I’ll be back.”

I rush upstairs to get my cell phone, which has the vet’s number listed in my contacts. Mom and Carla watch me with alarm as I skid past the dinner table.

“Is he okay?” Carla asks.

“His incision is infected.” I pick up my phone and scroll through my list of contacts. “I’m calling the vet right now.”

As soon as I find Dr. Payne’s number, I hit the call button and run back down to the basement.

The receptionist answers. “Oceanview Animal Hospital. Ruby speaking.”

“Hi, Ruby. This is Abbie MacIntyre. Winston’s mom.”

“Oh yes,” she cheerfully replies. “How’s he doing?”

“Not good, actually.” I speak calmly and give her the information she needs. “His incision is infected, and he has a fever.”

“Oh dear,” she replies. “Stay on the line. I’ll connect you with Dr. Payne.”

There’s a click, followed by elevator music. I pace around the chilly basement corridor, chewing my thumbnail while I wait for him to answer.

“Hello, Abbie?”

“Yes. I’m here.”

“What’s going on?”

I kneel next to Winston, sit back on my heels, and pat him. “I went out for a while this afternoon, and I just got home to find Winston asleep and lethargic. He has a fever, and his incision is showing signs of infection.”

“Is he conscious?” Dr. Payne asks.

“Yes, but lethargic. He opened his eyes when I shouted his name, but he barely lifted his head. He’s very weak.”

Before giving Dr. Payne a chance to reply, I begin to ramble. “Please, you have to help me. We can’t lose him, not after everything we’ve been through. Seriously, I need him to be okay.”

“Don’t worry, Abbie. Can you bring him in right now?” Dr. Payne asks.

I quickly consider the logistics. “I’ll have to carry him to the car. My son’s not here, but I’m sure I can get my sister to help me.”

“No, no . . . don’t do that,” Dr. Payne replies. “Just stay put. Don’t move him. I’ll come over.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s no problem. Tell me your address?”

I give it to him, and he promises to be here in ten minutes.

Dr. Payne arrives wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and carrying an old-fashioned-looking black leather doctor’s bag.

I show him downstairs to the basement, and he follows me to where Winston is curled up under the table. Dr. Payne kneels beside him and lays a hand on his belly. “Hey, buddy, how are you doing?”

Winston’s eyes open at the sound of Dr. Payne’s voice, and his nose twitches as he sniffs the air. I hope he’s not frightened.

Dr. Payne pulls a penlight out of his bag and uses it to examine Winston’s incision. He then withdraws a stethoscope and listens to his heart. He presses on his belly to check for pain or swelling.

Dr. Payne looks up at me. “There’s definitely some infection around the incision, and you’re right—he has a fever. I’m going to give him some antibiotics, but I’d like to take him to the clinic for the night, maybe cut a couple of stitches to let the wound drain, do some blood work and an x-ray, and keep an eye on him. Is that okay with you?”

“Of course,” I reply, even though I can’t bear the thought of being separated from him again. “I just don’t want him to be uncomfortable or in pain. Please don’t let him suffer.”

I realize I’m preparing myself for the worst. It seems impossible to think positive thoughts when everything good in my life has fallen straight into the crapper over the past few days. I’m not sure how much more I can take.

Dr. Payne frowns at me with concern. “Are you okay, Abbie?”

Suddenly, the room is spinning. There’s a tingling in my head that mutates into a heavy fog. I feel an overwhelming desire to close my eyes.

The next thing I know, I’m on the floor, blinking up at Dr. Payne, who is leaning over me, cradling my head in his hand. “Just relax. Take a few deep breaths.”

I stare up at him, confused. “Oh God. Did I just pass out?”

“Yes, you fainted.”

He must have caught me on the way down.

“This is so embarrassing.” I move to sit up, but I’m feeling weak and groggy, so I lay my head back down on the cement floor. “How long was I out?”