Page 120 of Hold the Pickle
Dalton laughs as we exit and meet in front of the car. “I think I’ve seen this episode of Scooby Doo.”
“It’s every episode.” I watch the other couple out of the corner of my eye as we approach the front door. We haven’t even made it to the porch when it opens.
Stan Velmont, the owner, gives us a wave, motioning for his wife to come out with him.
We all shake hands.
“Nice to finally meet you,” Dalton says. “I’m Dalton, and this is Nadia.”
“He’s a doctor,” I blurt out. “For babies. He saves babies.”
I don’t miss the way Dalton tries to hide his smile. “And she rescues animals.”
Yeah, we’re pulling out all stops, just like the first time.
It’s kind of nice that we’re doing it together.
“That’s what we hear,” Stan says. “You want to turn it into an animal rescue.”
“It’s a lovely idea,” his wife Maria says. “Will you put more buildings on the property?”
The other couple walks our way. I feel like I must state our case before they can get their claws in.
“We plan to build a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic,” I tell her. “The existing buildings will be used for boarding. We think mixing pets with families with the ones up for adoption will helpall of them, plus give the needy ones more visibility among pet owners who might take them in.”
“You have experience with this?” Stan asks.
It feels like a job interview. “Of course,” I say, noticing that the other couple has paused at the edge of the porch, a good twenty feet away. Time for closing arguments.
“I have volunteered for a rescue in Boulder for years and this last year helped fund an expansion. I have put together all the seed money necessary to create a more broadly based operation, plus I have the support of an entire community of veterinaries, rescue volunteers, and my personal family, as I’ve lived in the area much of my life.”
Maria holds up a hand. “I believe you. I think you are a bright young woman. And of course, we already know about Axel and Court. The Pickles are a beloved part of the Boulder community.”
“And that hotel,” Stan says. “Fancy, fancy.”
I glance at Dalton. “It is beautiful.”
“Come on in,” Maria says. “We should sit down.”
Maria leads us into a living room. “Did you know Stan and I got married right here on the property? He carried me right over the threshold after.”
“That’s lovely.” But even as I say it, I worry. Will they be traditional? Dalton and I aren’t married. He’s only recently moved to Boulder after his internship.
He got a resident position at the Children’s Hospital in Denver in a direct swap between the two hospitals’ neonatology departments. A young woman wanted to leave her home city, and Dalton helped make it happen.
He’s been staying at an Air B&B in Denver while we looked for a rescue property. The real estate agent presented us as a couple.
And we are. I’ve spent as much time in LA as possible, and Dalton even made it to Boulder twice.
Maybe I should have stuck a ring on my finger and let them make an assumption.
Stan leads the other couple into the room as well. This is it. We’ll find out what we’re up against.
Dalton and I stand in front of the sofa but don’t sit down yet. I’m ready for battle. I start mentally preparing the arguments.
Stan turns to us. “This is Lana and Jed from the Denver Post. They wanted to do a story on the history of the property before it changed hands.”
Lana turns to me. “So you’re going to be the new owners?”
