To Love Someone (Baytown Boys #14) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,8
shook his head. “Sam, I’m sorry.”
“Tom, I don’t know what you’re sorry for. I don’t know how to help or what to do unless you tell me what you’re doing and why the hell you’re doing it.”
His eyes shifted to the side, staring out one of the large windows in the front of the clinic. He swallowed audibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, catching her attention for some inexplicable reason.
“I got a call last week that my father wasn’t doing well. I didn’t mention it because I thought there was time to figure out what I was going to do. I got another call yesterday that let me know that I was needed back in Boston. After I got packed up today, I was going to sit down and tell you all of this, but you showed up in the middle of me trying to get everything taken care of.”
Her anger fled but frustration simply filled the empty space. “Okay. I’m sorry. I can see that you’re upset about your father, and I understand.” Sucking in a deep breath, she let it out slowly. “What I don’t understand is what you’re doing right now.”
“I’ve got to go back to Boston and deal with my family. I have no idea how long it’s going to be, so I made the decision late yesterday to simply move back.”
“Temporarily?”
“No, Sam. I’m leaving the Eastern Shore.”
She blinked, her gaze jerking around the room. “But… but… the clinic? The business is growing. We talked about hiring another vet so there’d be three of us! You’re in the process of getting a vet intern!”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” He sighed heavily again. “I just don’t have any choice. But you’re going to be taken care of. I called my attorney yesterday evening, and he’s already drawn up all the paperwork. I’m leaving the business to you—”
“You can’t do that!”
“I can, and I did. It’s solvent, I promise. The books are good, the staff will stay the same, and the new intern will be here soon. I know it’s going to be hard on you, and you’ll be spread thin, but you can hire a new vet almost immediately if he wants to stay. And if not, it’s spring, and new veterinarians will be graduating soon.”
“This wasn’t what I wanted,” she said, her heart pounding and her stomach churning. She had been lured to the rural area in need of a vet, excited for the chance to practice medicine for an established clinic. Going to small farms, getting to know the residents and their pets, helping out at the shelter. After the years in the military, the ease of being a shore-life veterinarian was easy on her soul. The notion of running the clinic held no appeal. “I don’t know that I can handle the pressure of trying to run this place by myself for a while.”
“Sam, truly, I’m sorry. But I have no choice. I have to leave.”
She stood unmoving for a moment, but no reply was forthcoming. Feet like lead, she stepped to the side, watching as he gathered the box from the floor and walked out the door. Her mind was whirling with the changes that had struck like lightning in the last fifteen minutes.
Tom walked inside again, and for once didn’t head back into his office. Instead, he stopped right in front of her. She looked up and saw what appeared to be regret slashing across his face. Her emotions were churning, frustration warring with anger, and a large dose of fear mixed with disbelief. She had no idea what he observed staring at her. Probably the mess that I’m feeling inside.
There were no words to stop Tom from leaving considering it was a family crisis that was taking him away. Still unable to think of anything to say, she simply held his gaze.
“Sam, you’re going to be fine. You’re smart, competent, and caring. I know it’s going to be rough until you can get help, but I left instructions for the staff. The new vet intern starts next week and can cover a lot of the smaller jobs.”
She nodded, the motion more automatic than an indication of agreement.
He reached his hand out, and she hesitated only a second before grasping it in return. The professional handshake seemed incongruent with the loss of a colleague, but he surprised her when he bent and kissed the top of her head, mumbling, “Sam, I’m sorry. For… everything.”
With that, he hustled around her and moved out the