Page 98 of Call it Fate

As I stood on my balcony and watched people come and go, I realized there were no kids playing outside. There wasn’t even a place for kids to play. No wonder Iain got bored here. He was like a wild pony; he needed the space to run and play without having to watch for traffic.

I saw a man walking a golden retriever and wondered how Harrison Connelly was getting along with Sam. I wondered if Mrs. Seymour had “Beverly-ed” someone into taking my place as the grand marshal for Derby Day or if Hans would spike the punch again. I wanted to try Em’s cupcakes she told me about. I wanted that beer with Reid we’d never gotten around to having.

I wanted to go home.

That town had grown on me when I wasn’t looking. But there was nothing for me to do there now that Harold was back. I thought about what Clay had said last night. He was wrong, I wasn’t sure what to do, but he was right about Emalee and Iain, and hell, the whole town.

I’d enjoyed working shorter hours and having a say in running the clinic. I even missed Doc Claypool and his grumpy ass and wondered how he was getting along. I wondered if he read the notes that I left for a couple of the animals I thought could be helped with some new treatments. As well developed as the clinic was, I knew there were things he could do there that weren’t currently being done.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, an idea began to form.

I grabbed my phone and began to make some calls.

CHAPTER44

Emalee

“Mom, don’t you think this looks cute on Callie?”

Iain crossed the kitchen and presented me with a none-too-happy cat dressed in a dark red, velvet, wide-brimmed hat scaled to size. Her ears poked out through little slits at the top, the damaged one totally hidden under a large, sheer bow that matched the same shade of red. Somewhere, he’d found a collar that was adorned with two rows of silver studs and a crystal heart that hung in the front. It was truly cute until you saw the feline scowl beneath.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Poor Callie deserved to win just for keeping it on her head. Maybe it was her way of thanking us because, unlike other cats I’d known, she was very attached to us, especially Iain. Maybe she’d known we were the only ones who wanted her.

“She looks adorable, honey. I don’t know how you got her to keep it on, but I hope she still does when it comes time for the parade.”

“I wish Dad could see her.”

I did my best to keep my smile light. “We’ll take a picture. I’m sure he’d be here if he could. But he’ll be back soon. You can have Callie model it for him then, okay?”

He nodded, but some of the light had still gone out of his eyes. “I have a hat all picked out for Milo. Gramma helped me.”

“I’m sure he’ll look great. Now, go get ready. I’ve got to run across the street to the park and make sure everything is getting set up right. Grandma will bring you over soon.”

I grabbed my notebook and headed across to the park. The weather had cooperated perfectly with mild temperatures and clear skies. Spring flowers decorated the grandstand, and banquet tables on loan from one of the churches were lined up waiting for the pie-eating and judging contests. The judges were gathered to go over the qualifications for the “best hat” categories, and vendors were already set up along the streets that framed the park, ready to sell their various specialties.

I sighed in relief as I checked off my lists.

I headed over to the stand for Blissful Confections, where Megan was setting up pretty displays of her chocolates. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself. Looks like all your organization is paying off. Everything looks great.” She handed me a chocolate bonbon, which I immediately popped into my mouth.

“Oh, god. This is sinful. What is it?”

“A mint julep bourbon ball. I’ve been playing around with it for a few weeks. You really think it’s good?”

I tossed my head. “You should really market your chocolates nationally.”

“I’m trying to talk my parents into it, but they’re slow to want to make changes. You’re lucky your mom trusts you with your family business.”

She was right. I still cleared my ideas with my mom, but she always listened and rarely countered my suggestions.

“How are you, other than this? Have you heard from Zach?”

“Not since a few nights ago. He calls Iain every night, but I don’t always talk to him. I’ve been busy getting ready for this,”—I waved my hand to the park behind me—“and baking all those cupcakes.”

“Ah. So, basically, you’re avoiding Zach.”

“That’s not true. You know I’ve been busy.”

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