One Tough Christmas Cookie - Lucy McConnell Page 0,86

entered the info into the computer. She was supposed to look at the info before going in to see the patient. More than once, she’d shown up in a room without a clue as to what she was there to treat. The owners weren’t that happy with her, and she wasn’t all that thrilled with the changes either. Irritation seemed to be her welcome-home party.

Add to that the heartbreak of losing both Caleb, her dad, and a family Christmas all in one, and she was one broken fingernail away from a complete sob fest.

No matter how she looked at it, no one needed her or trusted her enough to bring her into their world—not even her partner, who’d made all these changes while she’d been away.

She swiped at an errant tear. This was her lot in life. The sooner she accepted it, the better off she’d be. Except that there was this voice, or feeling, that came from the same place the music had touched during the sing-along that told her not to believe all that.

She wished it was louder, so it could drown out the negative thoughts she had. But it was a whisper and just as hard to grab on to.

A huge part of her ached to be in Caleb’s arms. To hold fast to his shirt while he claimed her lips and told her everything was going to be okay—that she was his world.

But that wasn’t going to happen. She hadn’t stopped in to tell Dad that she was gone. Instead, she’d sent him a text that said, I found out your secret. You should have told me. I’m going back to Grafton.

He’d sent her a dozen texts, none of which she’d read. It didn’t matter what anyone said now, because they should have said so much before.

She swiped her cheeks clean and made her way into exam room 1. She couldn’t fix her own life, but she could help this dog get better for Christmas.

Chapter 34

Caleb

Caleb felt like his skin was on fire as he and Mom walked through the rehab center to help Doc pack up and move home Christmas Eve morning. Faith was sure to be here, and he wasn’t sure what he’d say to her. Apologize a hundred times over, of course, beg her forgiveness and then beg her to stay. It wasn’t a particularly long list of things to do, but it covered the basics.

Faith had a history with the ranch; that much she’d told him when she’d opened up about her parents. He’d wounded her in the most personal way, and if he’d given it an ounce of thought, he would have been compelled to tell her before she’d found out for herself.

They entered Doc’s room to find him sitting on the made bed, wearing jeans and a flannel shirt and his cowboy hat. His bags were packed and placed at the foot of his bed.

“Where’s Faith?” Caleb blurted.

Mom put her hand on his arm and gave her head a little shake.

Caleb wasn’t about to be shushed. “Doc, where’s Faith?” He crossed the room and crouched in front of the gray-haired man, who hadn’t lifted his head off his chest. “She found out about the reindeer the other night and was mad,” he explained. “I need to talk to her.”

“She’s not answering.” Doc shoved his phone at Caleb, who fumbled but didn’t drop it. “I messed up big. God’s not gonna be happy with me.”

Mom sat on the bed next to Doc and took his hand. “Doc, God is forgiving. I’m sure He understands that family relations are difficult.”

“Bah!” Doc shook off her comforting touch. Mom blinked in surprise.

Caleb scanned the texts, starting with Doc’s latest begging Faith to call him so he could explain. He offered to share his whole life story with her. He offered her the clinic if she’d just come back. He scrolled up until he got to Faith’s text that said she was leaving town.

“She left?” He jerked his head up.

Doc nodded. “That’s why I called Anna to come get me. I needed a ride home.” He choked on the last word, and tears flowed down his wrinkled cheeks. “I’ve lost my girl. The one thing God asked me to do was bring her home, and I failed.” He covered his face with his hands and cried like a little boy.

Mom’s face filled with compassion, and she rubbed his arm. “Doc, come on. There has to be a way we can fix this. Nothing’s too big