Page 5 of Daddy's Little Matchmaker

“That’s a good point. Go ahead.”

“I don’t know if you’ve ever met her, but there’s a vet named Gwen who filled in for your mom whenever she went out of town.”

“I’ve heard the name from Mom, but we’ve never met.”

“Gwen has been going in every morning to feed the animals and check on them. I usually work Monday through Friday from noon to five, so I’ve kept those hours and added the weekends to it. We currently have three dogs, five cats, a couple of rabbits, and a snake.”

“Rabbits and a snake?” He hadn’t realized his mom took in anything other than cats and dogs.

“Your mom never turned anyone away when they brought in an animal they weren’t able to take care of anymore. She was always afraid they’d throw them in a dumpster or the river. But I haven’t taken in any new animals since, well, since that day. And I also adopted out two parakeets and a cat.”

“That’s good.” He put the last bite of sandwich in his mouth, glanced down at chips, and then set it on the bed between them. After not eating all day, his stomach rebelled at the idea of greasy chips. “I’m sorry I haven’t been more help. I probably should have stayed in her house instead of a hotel, but…”

She put a hand on his arm. “Don’t be sorry. It’s okay. I understand. We all grieve in our own way. Both of your sisters flew back home that first day, and they’ve been a great help. But neither of them want to stay in the house, either. It’s probably hard because it’s changed so much since we were young.”

“Yeah.” His childhood house no longer felt like ‘home’ once it was renovated. After a short pause he added, “I’m glad the twins have been helping.”

“I’ve enjoyed having Erin and Hannah around again, despite the circumstances.”

“Anything else I need to know?”

“You know that I’ve done your mom’s books and taxes since 2006, right?”

“I know you do them now, but I didn’t know you’d been doing them that long.”

“She was one of my first clients once I got my CPA degree, but I didn’t start working at the shelter until 2017. Anyway, I thought you should know that the shelter has never been profitable. She runs it at a loss.”

Connor frowned. “I’m sorry. What?”

“It’s not a huge loss, she almost breaks even, but I’d say on average she puts in at least a hundred dollars of her own money into the business per month.”

“I had no idea.” He was baffled by the news. “Why would she do that?”

Tessica raised one eyebrow. “Why would a retired seventy-four-year-old vet still work seven days a week when she owns her own home and has over five hundred thousand in retirement funds?”

Connor sighed and his shoulders slumped. “Because she wanted to.”

“Exactly. Because the shelter wasn’t her job. It was her calling.” Tessica gave him a tiny smirk. “And because she was stubborn as hell.”

He chuckled. “Yes, she was.”

There was a quick knock on the bedroom door before his son’s wife, Marcia, walked in.

“Oh, I didn’t realize anyone was in here,” Marcia said. “I need to change my shirt.” She pointed at the blob of mustard on her black blouse. “But I can go to the bathroom to change if you?—”

“That’s okay.” Tessica stood up. “I was done anyway.” She turned to Connor. “Unless you have any questions?”

Connor stood as well and shook his head. “I don’t think so. Not right now anyway. But I appreciate the update. And the sandwich.”

“No problem.”

Connor followed Tessica back out to the kitchen, feeling guilty that he knew so little about his mother’s business.

Monday morning, Connor sat in the conference room of the law firm his mother used. Erin and Hannah were already there, along with his mother’s lawyer, Mr. Schaffer.

Connor glanced at his watch for the third time in as many minutes.

Erin said, “Checking your watch won’t make her magically show up.”

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