Page 32 of Tom's Chance
“Correct. When I got to the meeting, the couple wasn’t there. It was just their fathers, then another man entered. He happened to be the lawyer for the couple.”
“Oh god, what happened?”
“They sat me down and we discussed the original contract line for line. They were open and honestwith me and asked me what I liked or didn’t like about what they were offering. When it came to the section about pay, I again asked them how I would get paid. I told them that the way the contract currently read, then the owners of the horses would pay the couple for vet and farrier services. When I did the service, then how was I supposed to be paid for the work I did? If they collected the fees, and I did the work…” she said as she left the sentence hanging. “It was the lawyer that understood what I was trying to say. He took fifteen minutes to explain it, and when they finally realized what I was getting at, things started rolling.” She chuckled and grinned. “All in my favor. Oh, I don’t know whether I told you this or not, but because of the exclusivity clause, they wanted me to live in a foreman’s cabin on the property of one of the stables, then travel to the other two to do upkeep and maintenance on the horses. I was responsible for everything, they even wanted me to pay rent as well as my own utilities.”
“On top of not paying you for your services?”
“Correct.”
“Jesus, no wonder you walked away. I would have. But if you worked there, then you didn’t walk away, did you? Did you hire your own lawyer?”
“Not at first, negotiations went back and forth for the next couple of weeks. When we got to the results that I wanted and agreed to, I told them I would talk with my lawyer while they talked to their children.They were not in the contract talks. My lawyer was there when we all signed on the dotted line. I was given a cabin to live in, however, the couple wouldn’t budge on it being rent free or free utilities. We agreed upon an amount, and technically, though it was a low amount, I paid my own rent and utilities. I told them I couldn’t work for free because I had student loans to pay, and becoming a doctor wasn’t cheap.”
“You’re right there. I know it’s none of my business, but what happened with the vet and farrier fees?”
“First, I had to purchase my own furniture for the cabin, appliances, bedding, and groceries. When I moved, I went to them with receipts and told them if they wanted the appliances to stay, then they had to purchase them from me. For the price I paid for, I wouldn’t allow them to pay less because of depreciation.”
“Smart move, did they?”
“Yes, but the furniture I took since they looked down their noses when they saw what I had purchased. They politely informed me that they wouldn’t pay for anything that cheap looking.” She giggled and shook her head. “That cheap looking furniture is currently in my living room in the house where I am now. As for the fees, we came up with the agreement that they would not include them in the boarding costs, that if services were needed, I would bill the owner of the horse directly. That was writteninto the contract they signed with the owners. I was also given a salary by the owners because they wanted me to be exclusive to them, and I would be solely responsible for up to one hundred and fifty horses if the stables were completely full. I got out when the going was good, because we re-negotiated the contract every year. The time of the current contract was approaching fast when everything with Mom selling her business went down. In the weeks leading up to the new contract deals, I met Duane, who introduced me to Erin, and after meeting her, I couldn’t pass up what she had to offer me. I love that I’m not exclusive to anyone anymore. I know it might sound funny, but I feel freer.” She smiled and shook her head. “I had had a lifelong dream of one day moving to the wild west to live and work on a ranch. I feel like that dream has come true.”
“I can totally understand that,” Tom said as he reached over and took her hand in his. He held it like that, rubbing his thumb on the back of that for the rest of the drive to the hospital. Each of them were lost in their own thoughts.
CHAPTER 13
Tom parkedin the visitor parking lot at the hospital, turned off the truck and turned to Lorissa. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, and I don’t know what to expect. You don’t have to go in with me if you don’t want to.”
“I’ll go in. I don’t know Mrs. Bickers, but I know you. I don’t expect to be able to see her. I am there for you. I know this might be hard on you, and I’ll lend you moral support.”
“Thank you,” Tom said as he exited and when he saw her reach for the door handle, he frowned and shook his head at her. He came around to open her door, and help her down. Once the vehicle was locked, they walked toward the entrance. At the front desk, he stated who he was, and who he was there to see. They had to wait for about fifteen minutes before someone came to get them. On the way totheir destination, the man who had introduced himself as Dr. Henry paused to turn to them.
“I’m sorry, but remind me again exactly why you are here.”
“I’m Dr. Thomas Stolls, and this is Dr. Lorissa Gibson. We are both veterinarians. I’ve known Mrs. Bickers for the last six or seven years. She doesn’t have any human children, but she treats her dog and cat like her own children. I know this might be a long shot, but I thought if I could tell her that her animals were alive and safe, then she might unconsciously relax enough to heal. I might only be an animal doctor, but I believe that unconscious patients know when someone talks to them. I also have some news I’d like to give her regarding her husband.” Tom looked at the concern on the other doctor’s face and held up his hand to stop him.
“I believe it’s good news. I don’t know if you know all that happened?”
“I don’t.”
Tom took the next ten minutes to tell Dr. Henry everything he had learned and the condition of the pets when Lorissa first got ahold of them, to how they were now. It had been almost two weeks since the incident.
“Wow, okay, first, I believe the same thing you do about unconscious people knowing when someone is talking to them. Before I approve, what informationdo you have about her husband? I want to hear it first, I won’t have her upset.”
“He’s in jail, and denied bail.”
“Good, okay, I’ll agree to you telling her that, along with the condition of her pets. Could you tell her about her husband first? You know, start with the bad and end with the good, that her babies are alive and well.”
“I can.”
“Good, now because of the severity of her injuries, you won’t be allowed in her room. We have set it up that you can talk on the phone with her. I have a nurse in the room that will hold the phone to her ear. You won’t be able to see her either, but I can tell you that she’s out cold, unconscious, but she came in that way. We believe it is due to her head injury. She is on some heavy-duty pain meds, and her entire body is wrapped in gauze that we have to remove along with the skin debris every day.”
“I understand,” Tom said and gripped Lorissa’s hand.
“Let me take you to where you can get set up, and I’ll go tell the nurse you’ll be calling. I’m going to be in the room to monitor her vitals. I don’t expect to see instant results, but if she gets fluttering heartbeats when you tell her the bad, then the good news, then we know there are active brain waves. At least I hope so.”
Tom nodded because he couldn’t talk around the lump in his throat. It wasn’t like he had any romantic feelings for Mrs. Bickers, it was that she was Lorissa’s patients’ owner and he knew how much she loved Baby and Rose. When they were directed to a small room to wait for instructions, Tom frowned at Lorissa when she grabbed a box of tissues off a desk as they walked by. She only shrugged, without saying a word.
Tom and Lorissa had to wait for almost ten minutes before a nurse knocked on the door, and opened it. She pointed to the phone on the wall and said when he was ready to pick it up, and dial the three numbers she gave him. She explained it was the phone beside her bed, a nurse would pick it up, then tell him when to talk.
