Page 61 of Until Joy

“I’m serious.”

“Joy. What’s wrong?” Graham’s voice was sharp. “Tell me. Did someone send you flowers and freak you out?”

I guess I wasn’t hiding my distress all that well. “Yes.” I answered.

July and Kayan were watching me closely.

“Did Graham send you the flowers?” Kayan asked.

“No, he didn’t,” I answered. “I told you he didn’t write that card.”

“Who are you talking to, Joy?” Graham wanted to know.

“It’s Kayan.” Dammit, my voice was shaky again.

“Put me on speaker.”

I did as he asked.

“Kayan, it’s me, Graham,” he announced.

“I know. July’s with me. Joy got a humongous and beautiful bouquet of flowers and it’s freaking her the fuck out. She didn’t think it was from you after she read the card, but I told her to call you just to make sure.”

“That was good thinking, Kayan. Joy, what did the card say?”

I looked over at July who was holding the card. She tried to hand it to me, but I held up my hands to stop her and shook my head. There was no way that I was going to touch that thing again. Just thinking about it made my skin crawl.

“She doesn’t want to touch it, Graham,” July said. “I’ll read it to you.” July read the note aloud to Graham. I hated having to listen to it again. When July was finished, Graham spoke up.

“Fuck, that’s whacked. No wonder you’re freaked, Joy.”

I literally jumped when something cracked against the front door of the veterinary clinic. My pulse spiked like a gunshot had gone off.

All three of our heads turned to look out the glass front door. Glenda stood there, and it felt like she was staring at me. Then I realized she was holding a cat carrier.

My gut clenched. I wasn’t up to talk to anyone, but I started to the door anyway. July stopped me. “Stay here and talk to Graham. I’ll go see what’s wrong with Rosebud.”

“What’s going on?” Graham asked.

“It’s Glenda, she’s here with her cat,” I told him. “Graham, don’t worry, I knew you would never write anything like that. I know you better than that,” I assured him.

July and Glenda walked up to us. July was holding Glenda’s kitten in her arms.

“Yeah, she said it was a madman who wrote the note,” Kayan assured Graham.

“There’s a madman?” Glenda asked. She turned and looked at me. “Joy, you look pale, are you all right?” She reached out and squeezed my shoulder. I shivered and shook my head.

“So, is that a yes, or a no?” I didn’t want to talk. I looked over at July, who caught on to my distress.

“It’s a long story,” July gave Glenda a professional smile. “Let’s get you and Rosebud back to an exam room, and we’ll see what’s wrong with her, shall we?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing really bad. I was thinking that if she got a chance to visit with some of the other cats…” Glenda’s voice trailed off.

“No,” July said firmly. “If Rosebud isn’t feeling well, she might have something contagious, and we can’t have her back there with the other cats. I have to tell you, Glenda, I’m a little worried. She seems to have lost some weight since I last saw her. Let’s go on back.”

“Thanks for your concern, July.”

“That’s just who she is,” Kayan smiled.