Page 9 of Lee

They chatted a bit more before the other adults in the household showed up. Will walked in with Janessa, and a few minutes later, Blake arrived and came into the kitchen, his gaze immediately seeking out his wife.

He greeted her with a kiss and a lingering hug, then turned to Lee and came to greet Shiloh. “I’m going to take a shower, then I’ll be back to take her.”

Things got noisy as everyone pitched in to help get supper on the table. Once he was done showering, Blake took Shiloh from Lee and nuzzled her close.

Lee hadn’t known Blake at all when everything had gone down with him and Charli years earlier. However, he’d gotten to know him over the past couple of months, and he’d come to appreciate the man. He was a stable support for Charli and had seemed to take to the role of father to three girls with very little effort.

If his focus hadn’t been on discovering his past, he might have more actively sought out a serious girlfriend after observing his sisters with their husbands and kids. Regardless, he was happy for them and enjoyed being a part of their world. It made not having that for himself a little easier, along with giving him the patience to wait until the time was right for him.

As they settled around the table, Lee was reminded of one of the reasons he’d returned to Serenity. Family.

Another was to fulfill the childhood dream he’d had of working in the veterinary clinic in Serenity. He’d volunteered there as a teen, much like Rachel was doing in the shelter, and he’d told himself that one day, he’d be back there working alongside Dr. Carl.

It was basically in God’s hands now, whether he was back to stay for good or just temporarily. Lee was doing his best at the job, so if Dr. Carl chose not to keep him, it was because God was guiding him to end Lee’s probation.

CHAPTER THREE

“They’re back in three days,” Rori remarked as she sat at the island counter, watching as Essie chopped some carrots.

The older woman glanced at her. “How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t know.” Rori grimaced as she folded her hands together and leaned forward to prop her chin on them. “I hadn’t thought I’d like being here so much. I came because I had the time, and it seemed like it might be a nice way to visit somewhere new without having to cover the cost of travel and accommodation.”

“You didn’t come because you love cats?”

The question made Rori chuckled. “You know, I was prepared to love this cat, but she wasn’t interested in even hanging out with me.”

As if she knew they were talking about her, Queenie prowled into the kitchen with slow steps, her tail held high. Rori and Essie both stared at the cat.

She made her way over to where her food and water bowls were. The fancy light pink ceramic bowls sat in an elegant wrought iron stand. Only the best for Queen Charlotte.

After taking a few dainty licks at the water, the cat turned and left the kitchen. Though she’d continued to not purr, Rori hadn’t taken her back to the vet after that initial visit over a week earlier.

Letting out a huff of laughter, Rori said, “Can’t say I’ll miss her. Can’t miss what you never had.”

Essie returned to chopping the carrots on the board in front of her. “Have you had any success with your applications?”

Rori frowned. “Nope.”

“Even if you can’t find a job now, would you be interested if I hear of anything?”

Would she? Ever since their conversation, the idea of moving to Serenity had really settled into her mind.

Without a job, she had no real attachment to Denver. Her dad lived there, but she rarely saw or spoke to him. He was busy with his career and his family. Of which she wasn’t a part.

He probably wouldn’t have any sort of feelings one way or another if she moved. Someone else might assume the move was motivated by the desire to be closer to her mom. However, neither her dad nor her siblings would think that.

If she had a different sort of relationship with her mom, she might have asked if she could stay with her for a bit to see if she could find a job. However, she was pretty sure her mom would flat out tell her no.

But still…

“Yes. I think I’d like to know. Nothing might come of it, but then again, something might.”

Over the past few days, she’d worked on her budget a bit, so she knew what she needed salary-wise. She’d also found a few apartments that might work within her budget. Nothing fancy, but she thought that she could make anything into a home.

Since the apartment she rented in Denver was fully furnished, she’d have to buy furniture. But she didn’t have to buy everything right away. All she’d really need to start with was a bed.

But she was getting ahead of herself.

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