Page 6 of Saving Her Heart
My phone rings. Valerie.
"Ms. Greene, the emergency board meeting is scheduled for five PM. I trust you'll have your resignation letter prepared."
The line goes dead before I can respond. I stand in the hallway, holding my damaged shoes, and wonder if there's a city ordinance against property managers having nervous breakdowns.
Probably. And Jax would probably know the exact ordinance number.
I have nine hours to figure out how to save my job, help Mrs. Parsons, and somehow navigate the mountain of violations I'm about to be buried under. Nine hours to maintain some semblance of control over a situation that's gone completely off the rails.
My phone buzzes again. A text from an unknown number, though I recognize the official format.
Unknown: Case #HH-2847392. Report required within 24 hours. The station opens at 9 AM. - Officer J. Masterson
Professional. Distant. Exactly what I should have expected.
I slip on my damaged shoes and head for Mrs. Parsons' apartment. The elderly woman is sitting on her sofa, looking at a photo of Harold.
"They took Gertie," she breathes. "Harold will be so disappointed."
I sit beside her, forgetting about property damage and violations for a moment. "Mrs. Parsons, when did Harold bring Gertie home?"
"Yesterday. Or was it last week?" The confusion in her eyes is heartbreaking. "He said I needed company. I get lonely when he's at work."
"Mrs. Parsons, do you have any family I could call?"
"My niece. Sarah. She lives in... oh, where does she live? Harold knows."
I gently take the photo from her hands, noting the date on the back—five years ago. Long before Harold's death. This is more than just confusion. This is something that needs real help, not citations and HOA meetings.
"How about I help you find Sarah's number?"
As I help Mrs. Parsons look through her address book, my phone buzzes again. Another complaint. Then another. The code enforcement officer needs access to the damaged areas. Valerie wants documentation of everything for the board meeting.
Mrs. Parsons pats my hand. "You're such a sweet girl. Harold always said so."
I glance at the clock. Eight-fifteen. I have less than nine hours to somehow fix all of this, and I'm sitting here with goat-damaged shoes and my heart still racing from seeing Jax.
My phone buzzes once more. This time it's Charli.
Charli: Heard about the goat. Are you okay?
I start to type back, but Mrs. Parsons needs me to read her the numbers in the address book—her eyes aren't what they used to be. The code enforcement guy is probably already measuring violations by the pool. Valerie's definitely drafting my termination recommendation. And somewhere in town, Jax is filing a report with my name all over it.
Mrs. Parsons squints at the page. "I think that's a seven. Or maybe a one?"
Everything else will have to wait.
Chapter 2
Jax
The dispatch call comes through as I'm finishing my second cup of coffee at the station. "Unit 14, we have a 10-54 at Hibiscus Point Condominiums. Possible livestock disturbance."
Declan looks up from his paperwork. "Did she just say livestock?"
"That's what it sounded like." I set down my mug and grab my keys. The morning has been quiet—too quiet for a Sunday in Hibiscus Harbor. Should've known it wouldn't last.
"Multiple complaints coming in," dispatch continues. "Caller reports assault by a farm animal. Requesting immediate response."
