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“Oh, An Honorary Veterinarian for Christmas? That one was actually kinda controversial.”
“Really??” Maye was shocked.
“Yeah, but the story was pretty good. Chris played a guy who volunteered at an animal shelter near his house after his vision started to go and his driver’s license was revoked. He ended up meeting a former seeing-eye dog, and the two hit it off. Pretty sweet story.”
“So where does the whole honorary vet part come into play?”
“His character also fell in love with and married the veterinarian at the shelter.”
“Ah. That makes sense. Well, that doesn’t sound too bad, right? I could volunteer at an animal shelter. That checks a lot of boxes. Movie plot, trying something new, helping the animals. I think that’s the one. I’m going to text Chris.”
“It’s just not very festive,” Tracy whined.
“Everything can’t be festive, Tracy!”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Tracy said as she shot Maye a look of warning before changing the subject. “So how cool is this? You out here hobnobbing with Christmas movie royalty? Me as your essential helper through it all? This is kind of a dream come true for me.”
When Maye heard this, she wondered if this could count as Tracy’s Christmas gift.
“And no,” Tracy said. “This does not count as my Christmas present. This is separate.”
Over the next few days, Maye exchanged emails with various people at the Greenville Animal Shelter and arranged a volunteer shift for herself. As soon as she added it to her calendar, she texted Chris.
Maye:
Hi Chris, it’s Maye. Just wanted to let you know I have fully embraced the movie-plot-in-real-life idea and you should have your fingers crossed that I find a single veterinarian!
Her phone chimed with a video call from Chris almost instantly. Panic surged through her body. She felt unprepared for a video chat. Had the humidity wreaked havoc on her curls? She thought of the other times she had seen Chris and how he looked different every time. He was always playing a different role. So Maye decided that she could just play the role of someone who wasn’t expecting a video call, and this idea put her at ease. Maye answered the call and didn’t think twice about it.
“You’re trying to nab a veterinarian, are ya?” Chris said with a giant smile an old school Hartford Whalers cap on his head.
“Yup, I fully expect to lock eyes with my soul mate as soon as I open the door at the animal shelter.”
“Well, hmm,” Chris paused to think. “If I recall, that’s not quite how it happened in the movie. And my character’s vision was failing so you talking about locking eyes like that is a bit insensitive.”
“Oh, is that right?” Maye responded playfully. “Well,” Maye pointed to her eye, “I am very sorry.” She offered an exaggerated wink as Chris reached for his heart.
“So what’s this animal shelter gig you have lined up?” Chris asked.
“I emailed our local animal shelter here in Greenville and asked if there were any volunteer opportunities available, and now I’m scheduled for a shift this weekend. Any advice you can offer?”
“If we are sticking to the movie plot,” Chris began, “you’ll need to knock over a box of dog treats as soon as you walk in so a whole group of dogs rushes over. And then one of them will inevitably connect with you, you’ll bond with each other, help lift each other’s spirits, the dog will use its special training to keep you from stepping into things since your vision is on the fritz. You’ll notice the dog is a bit sluggish one day, so you’ll take him to the vet on staff. The vet will see what a big heart you have, fall in love with you, and within a couple weeks the dog will be off his antibiotics and trotting down the aisle with your rings tied around his neck. And you’ll all live happily ever after. In Manhattan, I believe.”
“The dog was the ring bearer?” Maye asked.
“That’s the part you have questions about?” Chris said.
“Okay, I have to go now,” Maye said. “I am at the bakery. I told myself that when I followed through on the volunteer thing I would treat myself to a very large cookie.”
She had gotten pretty good at the bargaining phase and might have to extend it. For mental health purposes, of course.
“Let me know how the shelter gig goes!” Chris said.
“Will do!” Maye hung up as she stepped inside the bakery.
- 9 -
A Walk in the Park
