Chapter Nine

I paused at the gate. Grey's house was small, a cape cod with a white picket fence. Classic. A swinging sign read 'Fortin Animal Clinic.' The front door swung open, revealing a petite woman, her blonde hair pulled up in a messy bun. She wore a white jacket, a vet's jacket. "Oh my!" she exclaimed, quickly scanning me, the frog, and Grey. "Who've you brought home?"

"Alice. She has a wounded frog that needs some help." Grey smiled. The lady stepped confidently toward me and gently took the frog from my hands. "I'm Dr. Fortin. Grey's mother." I wiped the frog juice off on my hand onto my jeans and introduced myself. "Come on in," she invited as she turned toward the door.

I gave up on my doubts and headed inside. Grey followed. I glanced around the room. It was neat, tidy. Beautifully decorated, I felt as if I was in a shore house, vacationing. A stack of magazines rested on a coffe table. Grey inturupted my thoughts, "Doubles as a waiting room on weekdays," I nodded my head knowingly. Dr. Fortin turned to a brown door on the right. A sign reading, 'Patients This Way!' I glimpsed an examining room. She turned around, halfway through the door. "Oh, there's a phone on your left, why don't you give you're mum a call? I don't want her worried."

"Um, sure," I mumbled. I glanced around, spotted the phone.

"Hello? Mum?"

"Alice? Where are you?"

"Urm," I glanced at Grey, "a friend's." Grey raised his eyebrows.