9. Ollie

Seeingthat smile on Paisley's face, I can't help but grin back. What in the ever-lovin'-fuck am I thinking spouting out, without even thinking, that I'll take all these cats? I don't even have my own place. Fuck, don't even know if I'm staying here, going back to Cali with Onyx, or where I'll eventually end up. Talk about not thinking before you talk. Something about that cute vet has me in knots in a good way. Paisley. She's so petite but fierce and sweet at the same time. And damn, does she have some mad skills in regard to her care for animals. You could see it in the way she treated the ones we brought in. Just because they were strays didn't matter. What was bothering me was wondering how she got those scars on her face. One across the very top of her forehead that goes into her hair, and the other on one side from mid-cheek, again that disappeared into her hair. There's a story there I'm guessing. I'd like to find the asshole who's responsible for them and educate him on how to treat a woman. Then I just about fall out of my wheelchair with that thought in my head.

As I give a quick look around, everyone seems as shocked as me at my statement of wanting the cats. Hearing what Stud Muffin just said, he's totally right. But the thought of these cats going into a humane society and hoping to be taken care of —maybe adopted—separated, or worst-case scenario, being put down. Fuck, I just can't handle that thought. Damn, I think King, my shrink, would have a lot to say about that. Paisley clears her throat.

"Ollie, that's a wonderful idea but, and I don't mean to pry, but being in a wheelchair, would you be able to take care of this whole family? Because the ultimate goal is to get them all healthy and find them forever homes. If you think that this is something you want and can do, say it now. Or maybe it's your way to save them from a shelter?"

Her raised eyebrows look my way. I give it a minute's thought, and yeah that's part of it, but not the entire reason why. Being that I found them, as stupid as it sounds, I feel responsible for the entire pack of cats and don't want to let them down by giving them up to a shelter or splitting up their family. Just thinking that, I figure these feelings have something to do with my PTSD, not to mention my depression too. What doesn't make sense is why the fuck the thought of never seeing them again is tearing me apart. They're stray fucking cats and I haven't even held any of them. Must be losing my mind, for God's sake. Or need more medication, who the hell knows?

"Here's a thought, Ollie. The shelter I was thinking of taking them to is mine. I run a little one outside of town on my farm. I have volunteers who help with the day-to-day stuff. So, if you feel a connection here, why don't you let me take them home and you could come out and volunteer to help take care of them. What do you think, sound good?"

Then as an afterthought, she throws out there.

"Oh shit, you don't drive, do you? Well, maybe someone can give you a lift. Sorry about that, didn't mean to be rude. It's been a long day, that's all."

Her face turns a very cute ruby red color, and her eyes are looking at the floor. I almost forgot we're not alone when I hear a noise, only to see Stud Muffin smirking and Bridget grinning with big eyes, while they both looked my way.

"Well, fuck, dude, um sorry, Doc. Ya know one of us can always drop you there after you're PT sessions. We're driving you around anyway. I'm sure Mack won't mind at all. All settled, let's pay this lady and let her get home. I'm sure she's beyond exhausted. And sounds like she's got more to do when she gets there."

Paisley turns to the reception desk and sits behind her computer. As she's working on the bill, I sit up and reach for my wallet to pull my credit card out. Bridget gently touches my shoulder, shaking her head. In her hand is a black corporate AMEX card that she goes and places on the counter. Oh, hell no, these folks are doing enough for me. Before I can say a thing, Paisley looks up at all of us smiling.

"Now since y'all are a returning client, the momma and kittens are strays, and you're doing a good deed, the discounts just about handle the bill for today. Let's call it an even hundred dollars."

The three of us drop our mouths. I think to myself, is she batshit crazy? She was closing but stayed late, which means after-hours fees and emergency charges, then took us in and examined and treated five cats, including setting a broken bone, stitches, and feeding the kittens. And momma is in ICU on an IV. No way in hell.

"Paisley, I appreciate the thought but you've gotta eat too. Here, charge what the bill is supposed to be, please? We appreciate your kindness, but we can't do that to you as you've been too kind already."

As we semi argue back and forth, Bridget whistles to get our attention.

"Okay, this is getting us nowhere. Ollie, let me pay the bill with the company card, per Mack—and hold up, big boy—you give a donation either to the clinic or Paisley's home shelter. That way we accomplished some good today and we can let her close up and get on home. Sound good?"

Everyone nods, so as Paisley takes the black AMEX card for the transaction, I pull my Visa card out and place it on the counter. When the first bill is taken care of Paisley looks my way, an unasked question in her eyes.

"My donation is five hundred dollars, so go ahead and charge it, Paisley. Thanks for staying late tonight for us."

She hesitates for just a minute then goes ahead to process the charge. I look over my shoulder to see Stud Muffin grinning like a clown, while Bridget is looking between Paisley and myself, a weird expression on her face that I can't read.

"Here you go, Ollie, please sign the bottom. And thank you so very much, this will go a long way, I promise. I'll give you my address and if you can find a way out, I'd be—oh I mean—we'd be glad to have your help. Don't worry, these guys are in good hands, promise. They will stay here for tonight and we have a person come in overnight so they won't be alone. George starts his shift at ten o'clock."

Sitting in Bridget's car,heading back to the beach house, we're all quiet. Everyone is in their own heads. For me, I'm wondering what the hell is wrong with me. Thank God Paisley stepped up to the plate with the cats. I'll talk to Donovan because I would like to keep them, but we'll see. For some unknown reason the thought of taking care of them brings me a sense of peace, and that's something I've been missing since Bahrain.

"Hey, Ollie, that was really sweet of you to offer to take all the cats. Do you like animals or have you had a cat before?"

Knowing Bridget is curious, as none of them know much about me, I fill her in.

"Yeah, love animals, grew up on a ranch in Montana. My folks still have it, and my four brothers help them run it besides their own homesteads. Got three sisters too. One you met, Onyx, who's friends with Sam, and the other two are still in Montana. So, growing up all of us kids would bring injured critters home all the time. Momma actually gave us part of one of the barns growing up for our own little orphans' hospital. We had all kinds of animals including barn cats back then, but something about these ones touched me, as stupid as that sounds. Think this has something to do with the damn shit in my head I'm trying to deal with 'cause I've never done anything like this before. Especially since I'm literally homeless and need to have a conversation with Nova, like tomorrow, to get his input. I hope he understands where I'm coming from and is okay with me keeping them. I'll pay a deposit if that would help."

They both laugh, telling me Nova is pretty cool. This starts a conversation in the car that covers everything from pets to places we've all been, and our dream state that we would have our forever homes, as Bridget calls it. Starting to feel the exhaustion settling in, I lean back and just listen to Stud Muffin and Bridget continue to talk. Not trying to be anti-social, just enjoying the comfortable back-and-forth, which is very calming for me, almost like white noise. Before I know it, my eyes are drifting closed and I'm off to dreamland. Finally I'm at peace while I sleep.