Page 59 of Kiwi

"How do you feel about me becoming your mentor? When you finish with your degree, you intern here at my clinic?"

"I would say yes!"

"I figured you would. Now, I know that is still some years away, but my asking you now goes with my next question."

"Next question?"

Dr. Channing nods. "My husband and I have been talking a lot over this last year about retirement and planning for the next chapter in our lives. My practice means the world to me and with retirement come having to let it go. And the only way I can do that is if it's to the right person. I believe that person is you."

I sit stunned for a minute. "What are you saying?"

"I want to help with your journey by becoming your mentor and asking if taking over my practice is something you'd be interested in doing one day?"

"Oh my god!" I jump to my feet. "Are you serious?"

"I'm completely serious," Dr. Channing chuckles.

"Yes! A thousand times, yes! It would be an honor."

I spend the remainder of the day riding my high. The afternoon only got better with four adoptions. One couple even adopted two of our dogs. The pair had been here since they were brought in at the start of the summer. A man found them in a box on the side of the road. Sadly, three of the puppies in the litter were already dead, but Duke and Oliver, who are Husky and Golden Retriever mixes, had managed to survive the New Orleans heat. Unfortunately, dog dumping is not uncommon in the city. If only people spayed and neutered their pets, the stray population wouldn't be so dire. That is also why Dr. Channing works with surrounding clinics in New Orleans to offer the procedure at low cost, making little to no profit.

"Hey, Miss Piper!" The bell above the door chimes, and in walks eight-year-old Lily Jones, holding a small cage with her guinea pig in it and her mom trailing behind.

"Hi there, Lily! How are you and Mr. Lucky doing today?" Mr. Lucky is her guinea pig's name.

"Mr. Lucky is doing much better. He finished all his medicine."

"I'm so happy to hear that, Lily. How about you and your mom go on back to room one, and Dr. Channing will be in to see you in a few minutes."

"Okay," she giggles and skips down the hall.

An hour later, after Lily and her mom have left with Mr. Lucky, who was given a clean bill of health, Dr. Channing and I are leaving for the day. "I'll see you Monday, Piper. Have a good evening."

"You too, Dr. Channing," I call out as I slide into my car and head for the garage. Tai doesn't close the shop for another hour, and when he does, we will hang out at Twisted Throttle.

Walking through one of the bay doors, I spot Tai working on a bike. I smile. "Hey."

Tai looks up, his eyes heat as he watches me get closer. Standing, he pulls a bandana from his back pocket and wipes his hands. "Hey, babe." He hugs me. "You have a good day?"

"I had the best day," I can't hold back my excitement. I've been chomping at the bits to tell him my news.

"Yeah? Tell me."

I fill Tai in on the offer Dr. Channing presented me with today. "Can you believe it! God, Tai. I can't believe she chose me."

"That's fuckin' great news, baby. Hell, yeah, I can believe it. You're amazing, Piper, and you're going to be a fuckin' awesome vet, babe." Tai picks me up and crushes me against his chest.

"I can't wait to tell everyone."

"Let's not wait. Come on. I'm going to close down so we can head over to the bar and celebrate." Tai jogs over to the bay door and starts closing the garage down. He then goes to the back and cuts out all the lights. When he returns, he pulls his keys from his pocket and grabs my hand. "Let's go, babe." Stopping at the front entrance, Tai locks the door, pulls out his phone and taps on the screen, setting the alarm. With me still firmly in his grasp, he leads me over to his bike. After Tai swings his leg over and starts the engine, I climb on behind him.

"Ready, babe?"

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I kiss his cheek and nod. "Ready."

When we arriveat the bar, I notice a couple of extra bikes parked out front; bikes I don't recognize. And when Tai leads me inside, I am surprised at who I see here. My mom. Even more surprisingly, she is sitting at the back of the bar with my dad, Uncle Abel, and her old man, Crow. I can't hold back my smile when I approach the table. My mother catches sight of me and stands.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have taken off work early."