Chapter 2: The One Where Delphine Is A Hot Vet
"So, Babu is a mixed breed and a rescue?"
Delphine slowly reaches out a hand for dog on the table to sniff, introducing herself, then ever so gently rubs the back of his ear. Babu, her latest patient, is suffering a bad case of mange. The poor boy has it all over his back, his joints, and on his forehead. His white and brown coat is barely noticeable. The dog is also obviously malnourished. He was brought in by an older woman, probably irish judging by her accent, and an eight year old girl. They were in the emergency room where the dog is connected to an IV.
"Yes. Our neighbors recently moved out. We were surprised to hear howling earlier. The poor boy was hungry, thirsty, and crying when we found him. He was tied to his dog house in the back yard."
The irish woman answers, looking at the dog with sadness and concern.
"They left him there. They're not nice people."
The child almost whispers, upset that anyone would leave a poor dog like that, but soothingly rubbing the dog's torso. Delphine tucks a blonde curly lock behind her ear, bends down a little with her hands on her knees so she could address the child at eye-level.
"Oui, cherie. They are not good people. Thank you for bringing him here."
The doctor smiles at the child and puts a hand on her head. She then looks at the older woman and the older woman smiles back at her.
"Come on now, chicken. Let s go home. We'll come back to visit Babu again and we'll take him home when he's all better."
The older woman tells the child and the child nods in response. The two say their goodbyes and take their leave, but not until they both give the rescue dog a few loving pats and a boop to the nose.
Delphine walks them out of her clinic, nods to the older woman and waves them good bye. The french doctor was familiar with them because she has seen them around the neighborhood her clinic was in, the few times she could walk out to grab lunch or when she would take a quick jog at the nearest park. She'd learned that the woman was called Mrs. S. and the child was Kira, her granddaughter.
Delphine turns to her assistant at the lobby desk behind her.
"Gracie, do we have any more patients waiting?"
Her assistant had fiery curly red hair that was a contrast to the meek and innocent air about her. But, the blonde believes that there is more under the surface. Gracie has only been with her for a few months but the redhead was hardworking and kind to all the animals and made friends with most of her clients. She wears a scrubs uniform because she also doubles as a nurse at the clinic.
"No, Dr. Cormier. There aren't any. Although, Dr. Leekie did call to see if you wanted to have dinner..?"
Gracie's lip twitches up at the end of that statement and ends it as a question at her boss. Delphine gives her and eye roll and a bemused scoff.
"Ugh. That creepy old man has been like that since I was his student in Vet-Med school."
Her assistant chuckles a bit and she starts to take off her lab coat. She heads into her office and Gracie follows.
Delphine's office is a small space but it was designed to look and feel spacious. The walls are white and shades of gray, with one painting hung on each wall and an indoor plant situated at the corner. Her desk is occupied by a computer, a calendar, memo pad, a prescription pad, and a mug of different kinds of pens. A small bathroom meant for her use only is located at the back.
"Just keep telling him I'm busy and I don't have time for dinner. Or lunch. Or breakfast. Or him."
Gracie does not bother hiding her giggle at her boss's disgust at Dr. Leekie.
"Of course, don t tell him I said that-" Delphine grabs the gym bag she keeps in her office as she tries to clarify her statement
"Yes, Dr. Cormier. Noted."
Gracie cuts her off and the french doctor turns to her and gives her a genuine smile.
"You are a great assistant."
Gracie returns the smile with one of her one.
"Thank you, Ma'am. And while you're out jogging, I ll hold the fort down for you, call you if there s any emergency and make sure the groomers do their job."
Delphine touches Gracie's arm as a show of gratitude.
"I'll be back in a few."
With that, the doctor shoulders her gym bag and heads to her bathroom to change.
Delphine jogs at a leisurely pace around the dog park, unable to resist smiling at some of the cute and furry pets she sees. She is wearing a gray sports bra with matching gray leggings and black and white runners as her running outfit. The park is wide enough for the residents of the neighborhood to enjoy, with the grass always green and kept. There is only a few people there this afternoon.
"Heeey, Dr. Delphine!"
Krystal Goderitch, the ditzy but funny blonde calls out to the french woman. Krystal is one of her regular clients at the vet clinic, just happens to also be jogging and walking her fabulous chihuahua named Queen Kylie who is wearing matching pink doggie wrist bands on all four legs. She looks very much like Reese Witherspoon from Legally Blonde, out for a jog.
"Bonjour, Krystal."
Delphine says, catching her breath. She turns around and slows her jog until she is walking side by side with the other blonde. She bends down to greet the chihuahua with a pet on the head.
"Oh, and bonjour to you, too, Queen Kylie."
"You look like... pretty hot today, Doc. Like, you have a pretty rockin' bod... like, mine."
Krystal eyes the doctor from head to toe with her lips pursed then nods her approval. Delphine laughs with her hand on her chest
"Oh, Krystal, if you weren't so straight, I'd think you were making a pass at me."
Krystal also laughs at that.
"I know, right? Anyways-"
Krystal is cut off by Delphine's phone ringing. The doctor signals for Krystal to give her a moment, raising her hand while answering her phone. The ditzy blonde tells her that she was going anyway, and waves goodbye at Delphine. Krystal then carries Queen Kylie and makes a waving motion with the dog's paw. Delphine smiles and waves back.
"Oui? Is there something wrong?"
Gracie's voice comes through the speakers.
"Doctor Cormier, we have a four month old golden retriever/chow-chow puppy who has diarrhea and is vomiting."
"Okay. I will be there in two minutes."
Before Delphine hangs up, she hears another voice in the background that sounded clearly upset.
Is that the doctor? Is she coming now? Pancho needs medical attention!
"Gracie, is that the owner?"
"Yes, Doc. She is worried and upset that it might be parvo. Don't worry miss, the doctor will be here in a few minutes."
Gracie directs the last part at the upset owner. Delphine hangs up the call and jogs to the direction of her clinic, picking up the pace after a few steps.
Author's Note: Chapter 2 as promised! Krystal wasn't supposed to be in there but I had the funny image of her with a chihuahua a la Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde.
Babu the rescue was inspired by my dog Babu who passed away last year. I love him so much. I adopted him and he was also malnourished and had a bad skin disease. He died last year of unknown causes. I was busy with work and he died the evening before my day off when I was scheduled to take him to the vet. Yes, I was a bad owner.
Queen Kylie was a figment of my imagination. It seemed fitting that Krystal would name her dog that. Chapter 3 may take a few days. Please like, comment, and share with other OB and Cophine fans!
