Coming Home to Seashell Harbor (Seashell Harbor #1) - Miranda Liasson Page 0,102

up a few paces. Cam crossed his arms and pasted on a friendly expression, but his muscles were twitching in readiness if Fuller moved one inch closer to her.

Gran, looking over Hadley’s shoulder, smiled and rubbed her back. “You’re doing a great job. Have you fed her yet?”

“The syringe is warming up in that bowl of water,” Hadley said, placing the puppy stomach-down on her lap. “Cam, would you mind getting it?”

Cam found a small syringe with a rubber nipple attached to the end floating in the bowl and handed it to Hadley.

“I think you should do it, Gran.” Hadley’s face was riddled with worry. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Maddy smiled a careful smile. “I’d rather watch you and be here in case you need me.”

Hadley gently held the syringe up to the puppy’s mouth.

The room had gone silent. Everyone seemed to hold their breath waiting to see if the puppy would drink.

“Point it toward her cheek,” Gran said. “And squirt in just a tiny bit.”

Milk promptly dribbled out of the puppy’s mouth. The puppy stirred then went limp. Hadley looked to her grandmother for help.

“Try again,” Maddy said. “Just squeeze out a tiny bit more.”

This time the puppy stirred but still didn’t suck. Milk dribbled down her chin and onto the towel again. But then she swallowed.

“Oh, you brilliant little girl,” Maddy whispered. “More now, Hadley. Just a little bit.”

More dribbling, but another tiny swallow.

The room’s collective sigh was audible.

“Okay, Gran.” Hadley held up the syringe. “That was a whole two cc’s.”

Maddy, who had walked over to the utility sink, clapped her hands. “A perfect first meal. You know what to do next.”

Hadley gently turned the puppy over and unwrapped the blanket. Gran handed her a washcloth she’d run under warm water.

Cam, who felt a little shaky himself, asked, “You’re going to give it a bath?”

Hadley used the washcloth to gently massage the puppy’s crotch. “Nope. I have to get it to pee and also maybe poop.”

Maddy added, “It’s the mother dog’s job to lick each puppy to get it to go to the bathroom.”

“You’re kidding,” Cam said, incredulous.

Fuller shot him a look that Cam read as stupid football player. “We’ll have to do it every two hours.”

Cam raked a hand through his hair. “Every two hours?”

“Mmm-hmm,” Maddy said, eyeing the puppy. “Every time she eats.”

He caught Hadley’s eye, and she gave him a little smile. Despite being worried, she seemed to take this all in stride. “We’ll do everything we can to save her,” she said.

Fuller, who’d gone into the pen, stepped out and pulled his stethoscope from his ears. Cam couldn’t help noticing the way he looked at Hadley. Like he was just as infatuated with her as Cam was.

Infatuated. No, Cam suddenly realized as he fought a sudden pressure in his chest, that wasn’t it at all. Even he couldn’t deny that his feelings for her had grown roots and spread deep and wide, through every part of him.

“Everybody looks good,” Fuller said, “mama dog too. Now we just have to wait and see.”

“It was kind of you to come,” Hadley said. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“My pleasure.” Fuller wound his stethoscope around his neck and leaned against the countertop. He was a tall, confident, good-looking guy, Cam thought. And the way he was looking at Hadley was making his stomach twist.

“I’ve got more milk replacer in my trunk,” Fuller said. “And do you need a pet heating pad?”

“No, thank you, Fuller,” Maddy said. “I have two of them.”

“We can take it from here,” Cam said, anxious for him to leave.

Fuller didn’t pay Cam much heed. He glanced at his watch and said to Hadley, “It’s almost six a.m. I’d like to stop by again before I go home tonight, if that’s okay?”

“Of course,” Hadley said. “Let us see you out.”

“I can take a shift for you so you don’t get exhausted,” Fuller offered.

That left Cam clenching his fists. “She’ll have plenty of help, Fuller.” Cam set the record straight once and for all. “Thanks anyway.” He scrambled to his feet and made sure he got to the door first.

As he saw the vet to the door, took the extra puppy formula, and sent him on his way, Cam couldn’t shake a sense of worry that had begun to seep in. It was watching Hadley with these dogs, finding her way, finding herself. It was crystal clear to him that she was in her element, loving every minute. Making a difference, just as she’d