“Is he bleeding?”
“No, but he’s not moving.”
“Pick him up very carefully and settle him in the back seat,” the woman advised.
“Okay. Thank you.”
Lauren glanced at the clock on the phone. It was almost eleven and the drive wouldn’t take longer than fifteen minutes. There was no sense disturbing Billy twice, so she sat on the step next to him and waited, hoping he’d miraculously come around, but Billy didn’t stir. At eleven thirty, she picked up the puppy and carried him to her car, settling him in the back seat. He whimpered but never opened his eyes and put a paw over his face as if to block out the light.
“We’ll be there very soon,” Lauren told him as she got in the driver’s seat and put the key in the ignition. “You’ll be all right. You’ll see.”
Lauren drove to the vet’s office, parked, and carried Billy inside. The young woman at reception looked even younger than she’d sounded on the phone. She had to still be in her teens. She checked them in, took down Billy’s medical history, since in her agitation Lauren had forgotten to bring along his medical records, and asked Lauren to have a seat.
There was no one else in the waiting room, so Lauren looked around, studying the framed prints on the walls. Some of the prints were black and white, and the light made the subjects leap off the paper, particularly a photo of a lighthouse in a gathering storm.
“The doctor usually takes lunch at twelve,” said the young woman, whose name plate proclaimed her to be Merielle Kelly. “But he could never leave an animal in pain.”
“That’s very kind,” Lauren said, wondering if Merielle was the doctor’s wife or daughter. Daughter, most likely.
“He’s really sweet,” she said, nodding toward Billy. “I’m more of a cat person myself, but I can appreciate a cute puppy. Oh, you can go in. First door on the left,” she said when a woman with a French bulldog came out into the reception area and approached the desk.
Lauren cuddled Billy as she followed the corridor to an examining room. The doctor smiled as she walked in and asked her to place Billy on the examining table. He appeared to be in his mid-to-late thirties, with unruly dark-brown hair that brushed the collar of his doctor’s coat at the nape, and dark green eyes, so like Merielle’s. He was tall and fit with strong, capable hands, Lauren noted as he pulled on a pair of latex gloves and bent over Billy.
“Hello, little guy,” he said gently. “Let’s see what’s wrong with you.”
Lauren waited anxiously while Dr. Kelly examined Billy. He was thorough and didn’t waste time on small talk, but asked several questions, which Lauren answered to the best of her ability. Billy, displeased at being prodded, opened his eyes and glared at the doctor, who took the opportunity to shine a light into his eyes, making him growl.
“I’m sorry, Billy,” Dr. Kelly said as he shut off the light. “I know that’s bright.”
Billy relaxed once the offending light had been switched off and rested his head on his paws, lying quietly and watching the doctor with obvious suspicion.
“Will he be all right?” Lauren asked anxiously.
“He’ll be just fine. Nothing is broken. He’s bruised and has a mild concussion. He’s scared himself silly more than anything,” Dr. Kelly said, pulling off the gloves.
“Concussion? What should I do?”
“Nothing. Allow him to set his own pace. He might be a little lethargic for a few days and will probably be in some pain from the bruises, but he’s young and strong, and his body will heal itself. I’d like to see him in about three days to make sure he’s recovering.”
Lauren nodded, relieved Billy hadn’t broken anything or suffered serious brain damage. “Thank you for seeing him. And giving up your lunch hour.”
Dr. Kelly shook his head. “Merielle talks too much,” he said with an indulgent smile. “So, you moved into Holland House?” he asked, his surprise evident.
“Are you going to warn me that it’s haunted?” Lauren quipped, noting the amusement in his eyes.
“No. Is it?” he asked, smiling down at her.
“I couldn’t say. I’ve only just arrived.”
“I’ve heard the stories, of course, but I was always more interested in Hog Island myself.” He pointed to one of the pictures on the wall. The island was nothing more than a heavily forested clump of land rising from the sea, with nothing on it to attract attention.
“Did you take these photos?” Lauren asked.
“Yes. I love photography and history, so I spend my free time photographing places of historical interest. Or at least I used to,” he amended.
“You’re very good,” Lauren said, suddenly realizing that one of the photographs behind him was of Holland House. “So, what’s so special about Hog Island?”
He was about to reply when the intercom buzzed and Merielle’s voice announced that his next patient had arrived. It seemed Dr. Kelly didn’t take long lunches.
“Thanks, Merielle.” He laid a gentle hand on Billy’s head. “Don’t hesitate to call me if you have any concerns, and I’ll see you in a few days. Bye, Billy.”
Lauren thanked him and carried Billy back to the waiting room, where she paid for the visit and made a follow-up appointment. She stole another peek at the wall, noting that there was a picture of Hog Island in the reception area as well, taken from a slightly different angle, which didn’t make the island any more photogenic.
Having returned to the house, Lauren settled Billy on his bed in the living room and sat down on the sofa, watching him sleep. She’d picked up a breakfast sandwich on the way from Boston early that morning but hadn’t had anything since, and she was getting hungry. The plan had been to run out to the grocery store and pick up some supplies after she unpacked. There was nothing to eat in the house except for the bag of dog food she’d brought for Billy. Lauren went to the kitchen, shook some puppy chow into a bowl, refreshed Billy’s water, then returned to the living room. Billy was still asleep.
“I’ll be back soon,” she said softly, and left him to rest.
She drove to the nearest supermarket, stocked up on the basics, and returned to the house. She’d expected Billy to start barking when she unlocked the door, but he still lay on his bed, his gaze brightening when he saw her. Lauren glanced at his bowl as she came into the kitchen. He hadn’t eaten or drunk any water.
Not a great first day, Lauren thought as she put away the groceries. With Billy so quiet, the house was silent around her, and she suddenly wished she had a TV to keep her company. At home in Boston, there was always noise. She could hear the hum of conversation from neighboring apartments, the blare of a TV from across the hall, and the traffic beneath her windows, but here, it was eerily quiet.
She looked out the window, her attention fixing on the island in the distance. Was that the same island she’d seen a photograph of in Dr. Kelly’s office? Hog Island, he’d called it. She really couldn’t understand the fascination, so she filled a pot with water and set it to boil, took out some chicken, and began to slice celery and carrots. She’d make a big pot of chicken noodle soup, she decided. She needed comfort food but didn’t want to have anything too heavy like mac and cheese, or fried chicken. Soup would do her very nicely.