Before I can ask Fernando more questions, it’s our turn to order.
“Fernando! What are you doing here?” the guy inside the food truck asks. “You didn’t have to wait in line. You’re a VIP. You should’ve come around back and had Gemma or me get you whatever you wanted.”
“Part of the food truck experience is about waiting in line.” He leans casually against the window ledge. The sun hits Fernando’s hair, highlighting a few golden streaks among the brown. “Besides, if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to chat with the talented Dr. Brown.” He winks.
“Hi Dr. Brown.” The man leans out the window as far as he can. He’s in a Lucky Dog Diner shirt, and has a hairnet over his brown hair and a baseball tattoo on his arm. “It’s good to see you outside the vet’s office.”
“Likewise,” I say, trying to play it cool. I’ve never met them before. They were Dylan’s clients, but now, I guess they’re mine. I hold up my hand in a meek wave. I glance to Fernando for help.
“This is Tim, Robin’s cat daddy.”
“That’s me. Thanks for everything you did for her. My girlfriend and I really appreciate it. I swear, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say Robin is secretly a mutant cat. She always seems to teleport her way outside. I should’ve named her Nightcrawler.”
I relax, and we shake hands. I have no clue who Nightcrawler is, but I remember what Fernando mentioned the other day about his friend loving comic books.
“Gemma is working the pickup window. She’ll want to say thanks too.” Tim nods toward the opposite end of the truck. “Now, what can I get you guys?”
“I’ll have the cherry cobbler and a coffee. Dr. B?”
“The apple pie and a coffee for me.”
“Great.” Tim hits a few buttons on the register.
“What do I owe you for my half?” I ask.
He waves me off. “You’ve got the friends and family discount. It’s on the house. Gem will call your order number when it’s ready.” He hands Fernando a receipt, and his eyes dart between the pair of us. “Enjoy, you two.”
“Did he just wink at us?”
“Yes. Just ignore him. I do.”
Does Tim know something I don’t? This is only the second time I’ve ever met Fernando. We didn’t even plan to meet here. It just happened.
“So, Dr. B, I’m curious. What’s your first name?”
We head over toward the pickup window to wait for our number to be called.
“It’s Ava.”
“Ava,” he repeats. “That’s a very pretty name.”
My cheeks warm. “Thank my parents.”
He chuckles. “Do you mind if I call you that instead of Dr. B?”
“No, I’d prefer it. It’s my only day off, and I’d rather just be a normal person today.”
“You work on Sundays?” He blinks in surprise.
“Not always, but I am this week. I do a low-cost vaccination clinic for cats and dogs once a month.”
“That’s kind of you,” he says.
“Vet care is expensive.” I glance away with a shrug. “I’ve made itmy mission to make it as accessible to as many people as I can. Pets are members of the family.” In a perfect world, I’d do stuff for free, but unfortunately, I have staff and bills to pay.
“How many pets do you normally see when you do a clinic?”
“It depends on how fast word spreads.” I lift my chin and rub the back of my neck. “Sometimes we get five or six people, sometimes we get fifty.”
