The next day, Nicole woke up early and put a little more effort into her appearance. She normally didn’t feel the urge to wear much make-up or fix her hair because she didn’t see the point. Getting more sleep time was much more important. But today, she felt a great inspiration to try these things. She stood in the bathroom and applied some eye shadow and mascara. To her surprise, it gave her a boost of confidence that she had been missing for a while. She smiled at herself in the mirror and experimented with her hair until she found the look she wanted. “Wish me luck, kitty,” she said to Salem, then headed out the door. For the first time in a long time, she was excited to start the day.
She parked in her normal spot in the small gravel lot behind the veterinary clinic. An extra dose of
