Page 121 of When in December

Oz was still wandering around the yard. When he spotted Sarah, his head snapped back, and he rushed toward us through the snow.

I huffed. “They’re going fine.”

“So, terrible?” she clarified for me even though I didn’t reply. “You don’t need to run away.”

“I’m not running away,” I grumbled.

“Yes, you are.” She could contradict me all she wanted; I wasn’t having this conversation with her. “I mean, you don’t see Poppy running away just because she finished one of her largest projects and, apparently, it still wasn’t enough. In my opinion, that company’s becoming too big for themselves. Who do they think they are, HGTV?”

Wait.

“She didn’t get the job?” I asked.

Sarah narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t know?”’

“Sarah,” I warned.

“No, not that I know of unless something changed. I wrote a high-praise letter to the company on her behalf. I got a response, letting me know my thoughts were considered, however, the other candidate was promoted. From what I heard, it seemed unfair, considering they had a bigger leg up to begin with but?—”

“Poppy didn’t get the promotion.”

“Are you really going to make me repeat myself?” Sarah raised her brows.

Why didn’t Poppy call? Why didn’t she tell me?

Probably because I told her that it was over and I’d be fine for her to go.

“I’m glad I came over and got to tell you,” said Sarah. “Though I did have ulterior motives.”

“I would’ve never guessed your impromptu visit wasn’t about picking up a child-sized sweater,” I replied sarcastically.

“I also came to see if you would reconsider coming home with me to celebrate the new year with us.”

“Don’t you have some fancy corporate party to go out to?”

“Not this year.” My sister shook her head. “Staying in with the family. I wondered if maybe you wanted to see them a littlemore too. Since, didn’t you have another doctor’s appointment yesterday?”

I had.

“How did it go? Get your sign-off, like you wanted?” Sarah asked.

Oz pressed up against me, grumbling at me until I petted his hips.

I’d arrived at the doctor’s office, a sleek, modern building in the heart of the city. After I checked in at the front desk, a nurse led me to an exam room, where I waited for a few minutes. Finally, my doctor breezed in, glancing through my file as he asked me a few quick questions.

He barely looked up from his notes before giving me the all-clear and slapping my back with a casual, “Take care out there, serving your country, son.”

And just like that, my appointment had been over in less than fifteen minutes.

The other doctor who had looked me over first the other week was right—I’d have no problem finding a doctor to sign off on me if that was what I wanted. And I had.

I looked down at Oz. He didn’t move away from leaning against me, panting from his exertion in the snow. He adjusted his leg to find a better position, trying to find his own comfort and balance in a way that didn’t strain him. His bent, torn-up ear flopped to one side when he peered around to look at me.

I raised my eyebrows. I shit you not, I was sure he raised his right back.

When would I start to feel relieved? My whole goal since I’d gotten home was to leave it. My entire purpose was to be back in the military. There I belonged. I was doing something meaningful—worthwhile even.

But then Poppy came into my life, making me feel valuable from the day she’d laid eyes on me. And I cherished everymoment—from her first bickering at me to finally yelling back whenever I got in the way of her rebuilding the cabin into a home just like my ancestors had almost a hundred years ago. For the first time, I didn’t mind being stuck here.

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