Page 3 of Someday You Learn

The last thing I should feel toward my colleague is a lack of trust, especially when there are furry lives on the line. But the fact is, I don’t trust him, and if I’ve learned anything in the past few years, it’s to trust my gut.

I just turned thirty last month, but I’m already further along in my career than most vets my age, and owning my own practice in my hometown would be the icing on the career cake. I finished most of my undergrad work in high school, thanks to dual enrollment classes, which helped fast-track me through vet school. By twenty-four, I was fully certified from the Veterinary School of Medicine at UC Davis and ready to come back home to work in the community that, honestly, I hated being away from.

Dr. O’Neil’s father, who ran the practice when I was growing up, knew I planned on returning. But he passed away shortly after I left for school. Luckily, when I came home, Dr. O’Neil was eager to bring in some new blood—especially someone who knew the latest techniques, which worked out well for me.

Dr. O’Neil and I have history, you might say. And you can’t beat history.

Take that, Seth.

I have my dream job, I live in a town with front-row access to the ocean and a beautiful cove it’s named after, and—even though they drive me nuts—my entire family lives here too. Some would say I have it all. But my personal struggles continue to plague me every day. There are just some things you can’t distract yourself from—no matter how good you’ve got it.

Dr. O’Neil clears his throat, continuing his thought from before. “Although, retirement does sound nice. Maybe then my June Bug will come to visit me instead of the other way around.”

“I know that’d mean a lot to you.” My boss talks about his daughter all the time, but she’s never visited Carrington Cove. Robert only moved back here ten years ago when he inherited the practice, and he never mentions any other family. I found out from one of the receptionists early on that his wife died years ago when his daughter was younger, and not that it’s any of my business, but the man has never mentioned dating anyone in the time that I’ve known him.

He’s a lone wolf, a man who is married to his job and prefers animals to humans.

Can’t say I blame him, as I find with each passing day that solitude is my preference as well.

“You remind me a lot of my June Bug,” Dr. O’Neil continues. “Driven, passionate, and hardworking. A professional to the core. Such a shame you two haven’t met, but she’s busy taking on the big city, trying to rule the court system, and I can’t seem to get her to make time to visit her old man. I think this small town is just too quiet for someone like her.”

“Well, I imagine her caseload is hard to walk away from too.”

“Yes, I suppose, but that’s the life of a lawyer. All work and no play.”

I wave my hand around the room. “Uh, can’t say our lives are much different, Doc. I was here for fifteen hours yesterday.”

Robert chuckles as he takes a kitten out of her cage and holds her to his chest, petting her softly. “Yes, but we get to love on animals all day and get paid for it. That’s where the difference lies.”

Smiling, I scratch behind the little cat’s ears. “Yeah, I guess the job does have its perks.”

“Plus, you’re going to that dental care conference in Philadelphia next week. You’ve got to be looking forward to that.”

The truth is, I am. Poor dental hygiene in animals is the leading cause of so many preventable health problems.But it’s not like I’m going to Vegas. It’s two full days of lectures and conversations with people that do the same thing for a living that I do.

I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as a vacation, but it is still a break from the hustle and long hours I’ve been putting in at the practice lately.

I’ll take what I can get at this point.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the latest techniques in dental care, of course. I just…”

“Need to have a little fun too?” Dr. O’Neil winks at me as he places the kitten back in the cage.

“Fun is overrated, Dr. O’Neil.”

He eyes me wearily. “Parker, you’re a thirty-year-old man, and though I know you love this job, it’s important to get out and live too. Don’t end up like me,” he says with a pinch in his brow. “Maybe take an extra few days. Extend the trip and explore a bit. Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love anyway, right?”

I eye my boss, wondering if he’s been doused in rainbow dust, because I’m pretty sure I just saw one shoot out of his ass. He’s never this sentimental.

Has Seth been slipping him whatever drugs he’s on?

“I don’t need brotherly love, Doc. I have two older brothers, if you’ve forgotten. And I much prefer women for any lovin’.”

He chuckles. “You know what I mean. You don’t want to wake up one day as an old man and realize you wasted the best years of your life. Take it from me,” he says, meeting my eyes. “Tragedy can prevent you from truly living if you let it. That’s why I pushed my June to make something of herself, and I’m going to do the same for you.”

Before I can reply, Dr. O’Neil reaches in to pet Chewy just as the dog stirs awake. When the puppy blinks up at me and I seecognitive response, I know he’s going to be okay, and his family will be grateful to have him back.

And just like that, I’m reminded of why I chose this career. We don’t deserve pets. The unconditional love they show us is unmatched. They don’t give us shit like older brothers, or torture us like ex-fiancées.

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