Read Online A Gift to Remember by Melissa Hill - Free Book Online Page A

what she was trying to say. So Aidan Harris’s condition was stable, but he was disorientated, so not quite out of the woods? Still she guessed
that she’d learned just about as much as she could at that point.
    ‘Thank you, and yes, I completely appreciate your position,’ she said, playing along. ‘Just something else in general. If there are items – pets, for example – left
behind at the scene of an accident, how does the hospital usually reunite them with patients?’
    ‘I’d imagine the care of such animals would be given over to family members or next of kin.’
    ‘So there’s no chance of my giving the dog back to Mr—’
    ‘No chance whatsoever.’ The receptionist’s tone was firm but kind. ‘Animals are not allowed in hospitals, sweetie.’
    ‘OK.’ Darcy thought hard. ‘Well then, is it possible to leave a message letting the patient in question or their families know that the dog is in safe hands, and is ready to be
returned to them as soon as possible?’ She guessed Aidan’s family would have been contacted by now and would surely be worried about Bailey and anxious to get him back. ‘May I
leave you my number and they can call me? And Mr Harris too – I’m sure he’ll be anxious to find Bailey as soon as he’s back on his feet. I mean . . .’ She trailed off,
kicking herself at her unfortunate choice of words.
    ‘Sure, I’ll arrange to have the information passed on,’ the woman replied, but Darcy could tell she was becoming anxious about the line of people beginning to form behind
her.
    ‘Thank you, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your kindness,’ Darcy said, writing down her mobile phone number on a piece of paper.
    ‘You’re welcome,’ said the receptionist. ‘Have a great day and happy holidays.’
    ‘Same to you.’ Darcy smiled, buoyed by the news that her victim seemed to be recovering, and Bailey would be back with his family in no time. It felt as if a huge weight had been
lifted off her shoulders, to know that she hadn’t caused any lasting damage.
    Her day was finally starting to look up. Aidan Harris would be a chance encounter, a quirky story to tell now and then over drinks, a cautionary lesson before life returned to normal once
again.

Chapter 6
    Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read
. Groucho Marx
    As Darcy exited the hospital, going through the double sliding doors again, the winter chill cut through her jubilant mood and brought her back to reality. What exactly, she
wondered, was she supposed to do with Bailey in the meantime until his family called to take him back?
    She was exhausted by now, and all she wanted to do was go home, take a bath, curl up with a book and try to put the morning’s dramas behind her. But she could hardly drag both Bailey and
the bike all the way downtown, not when her legs were just about ready to collapse from under her.
    He was much too big for public transportation and in any case would need to be in a carrier for the bus or the subway. What she was supposed to do?
    There was only one thing for it: she’d try to nab a cab driver who’d be willing to take a dog Bailey’s size, and hope for the best. She wasn’t permitted to keep pets in
her building, but she figured it would be easy enough to sneak him in for just a couple of hours.
    ‘Good news, Bailey; it looks like Aidan is OK,’ she said, untangling his leash and her bike from where they waited outside. Bailey looked up sharply, and she realised it was the
first time she’d mentioned his owner’s name in the dog’s presence. ‘You can go home soon.’
    At the mention of the word ‘home’, Bailey’s ears perked up even more, and a small whine emitted from the back of his throat. Darcy frowned as a feeling of sadness crept up on
her. Never mind her own concerns, the dog must be really confused about what was happening and why his owner had seemingly abandoned him for some weird