Page 55 of Maybe in Another Life

“Welcome to Hudson, Stokes, and Johnson Pediatrics,” she says.

“Thank you,” I say. “Glad to join.”

I know he’s still working, but I find it impossible not to call Ethan.

“What’s up, buttercup?” he says. I’m surprised he answered.

“Do you have a minute?”

“Sure,” he says. “Let me just step outside.”

I can hear him walk through a door, and the background quiets down.

“What’s up?”

“You’d better not ever try to negotiate with me,” I tell him. “Because I just talked the car salesmandownfourteen hundred dollars, and I talked the human resources ladyupfour thousand. So basically, I’m a force to be reckoned with.”

Ethan laughs. “A car owner and a job... haver.”

“You’re damn right.”

“And did you find Charlemagne’s home?”

“They can’t see her until six,” I say. “So I bought the car, and now I’m headed back. I’m thinking I’ll just kill some time in the waiting room, see if the doctor doesn’t free up early.”

“Six?”

“Yeah. She’s there now. I had to leave a credit card so they’d keep her there until I get back.”

Ethan laughs again. “What, like collateral?”

“That’s exactly what I said!”

He laughs. “Listen, I’m leaving here in a half hour. What part of town are you in? I’ll come meet you.”

“Oh, that would be awesome!” I say. “I’m in West L.A. The vet is off of Sepulveda.”

“Jesus, that’s far from my house,” he says. “You took a bus there?”

“Yeah,” I say.

“With Charlemagne?”

“I may or may not have hidden her in a backpack.”

Ethan laughs. “Why don’t I come meet you and we can grab an early dinner? Find a happy hour somewhere. I know of a Mexican place close to the animal hospital. I could buy you a celebratory burrito!”

“I’m in!”

I get lost more than once on my way there. Then I try to take an alley, only to realize there is a big truck coming at me from the opposite direction. I have to reverse out slowly and blindly back onto the street and find another way. But I get there eventually. That’s me in a nutshell. I’ll get there eventually.

I pull into the parking lot of the restaurant, and Ethan is waiting for me by the entrance.

“Is this the new car?” he says dramatically. “I like it. Unexpected. I thought for sure you’d pull up in something cherry red.”

I laugh at him. “I’m way more into practical decisions nowadays,” I say. “Stable guys, full-time jobs...”

“Stray dogs,” he adds.

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