Page 80 of Tech

Aurora is our new intern, training to be a veterinary nurse. She’s attending community college part-time, and then spends the rest of her day here to learn on the job, and that’s all in between looking after her daughter with the help of her husband, who I’ve yet to meet.

Gracie confirms, “Yeah, she and Anna are already taking care of your father’s pregnant cow for you.”

I give her a smile. “Awesome, that gives me time to settle some payments and fill out her progress report.”

Gracie gives me a tight smile. Her eyes go to my stomach quickly before she looks away, guilt flowing off her, confusing me.

“Are you okay, Gracie?” I ask, and she nods but shifts in her seat, not making eye contact.

She rasps, “I’ve put a bottle of water in your office for you.”

I nod and open my mouth again, because she’s acting weird, but the phone rings and she quickly answers it.

“Summer’s Veterinary, this Gracie. How may I help you?”

I furrow my brows as she purposely avoids making eye contact with me, and concern for her hits.

She sends me a quick smile and opens the appointment screen on the computer. I take the hint, making a mental note to speak to her, and head to my office.

Something feels off, I don’t know what, but something doesn’t feel right.

Chewing the inside of my cheek, I put my bag on my desk. My fingers itch to call James, the feeling of something being off is intensifying, but I know he’ll be here in a few hours anyway, so I brush it off.

Sighing, I sit in my chair and look at the newspaper again in my hand.

“Dr. Heart, who disappeared nearly three months ago after embezzling and stealing drugs from his workplace, and misdiagnosing patients, has been found.

His body was discovered by two dog walkers on Huntersville Mountain River. He had track marks covering his arms. It is believed Dr. Heart committed suicide…” I mumble out loud and try not to snort.

I know I should feel some compassion, but it’s hard to do so when he was willing to kill my baby for a woman who didn’t even want him.

A woman who has still not been found.

Huffing, I throw the paper in the trash and load up my computer as my phone pings. Smiling, I pick it up.

Momma Richardson: Brook, you have got to look at these cute outfits for my grandson….

Attached are several pictures of baby overalls and button-down shirts, making me chuckle.

It looks like she’s online shopping again. My phone gallery is full of pictures of clothes from Carol.

I message back.

Me: Could be a girl, you know….

Not even a minute later, my phone pings again. I laugh when I see several photos of dresses and pink overalls.

That woman.

I place my phone on my desk with a small smile.

Over the past eleven weeks, Carol has been my shadow—when Eagle doesn’t try to monopolize her time, and I can’t say I don’t like it, because I do. Heck, she even came to Shadow's memorial, holding my hand tightly—and that was before she gave me a necklace made with some of Shadow’s ashes.

She’s become like a second momma to me, and even spends time with my momma.

I know she wasn’t very supportive of my relationship with her son and tried to pay me off, but I understand now, since she’s opened up.

She was trying to protect me in a screwed-up way. Over the past eleven weeks, I’ve learned to forgive her, and managed to gain a mother-daughter relationship with her.

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