Chapter 2 #3
Knowing him, he’d started his day in Durham, practicing with their minor league team.
Then, because Josh couldn’t go home like a normal human being after hours of practice, he’d probably swung by a farm to check on a few animals and now was at the clinic to go through whatever needed managing.
Why have one identity crisis when you can have three?
He’d said no to being recruited by scouts while the clinic was being built—responsible, grounded, very noble.
But one particular scout kept pushing, apparently impressed with how Josh handled himself as a catcher in his league, and eventually he agreed to give it a season with the guy’s feeder team in the minors.
Just to see if he could make it with kids ten years younger than him.
Okay, “agreed” was doing a lot of heavy lifting there.
Erika kicked him out of the house and told him to go chase his dream or he’d never see his baby once he was born.
Motivation comes in many forms. Fear of lifelong regret.
Passion for the game. Erika’s kick in the ass.
Josh and I stared at each other, the space between us going tight, like something was about to snap and neither of us wanted to be the one holding it when it did.
Finally, I said, “Gia McClary…Stevens?”
His face tightened, but not with surprise. “Kind of figured that was going to be an issue.”
The way he said it—too calm, too prepared—scraped something raw inside me. “How long has a McClary been filling in?”
“She’s not a McClary anymore.” We held each other’s gaze, neither one giving an inch. “She’s been here over a month. Look—”
“You didn’t think to mention it?”
Josh exhaled once through his nose. “I figured this would happen.”
“You figured wrong if you thought I’d be fine with it.”
His eyes hardened. “Careful.”
The word landed quiet, but solid.
“Gia Stevens hasn’t been a McClary for years,” Josh said. “She’s fresh off a divorce and back here for reasons that have nothing to do with the land or the lawsuit.”
“Convenient.” I folded my arms. “She shows up right when we get served, and nobody thinks it’s worth a conversation?”
“You really think she’s here to spy on us?”
“I think timing matters.”
Josh’s jaw shifted. “You’re reaching.”
“You let me walk in blind today.”
He didn’t even look at me. Just kept going, words pushing through like he refused to let me derail him.
“She does primarily large animal work. She takes overnight calls without complaining. She can switch to small animals when we’re slammed in the ER.
She’s flexible. And she’s good at her job.
Like really good. Do you have any idea what that adds up to in my world?
” His eyes finally connected with mine. “A sparkly unicorn veterinarian. She’s a godsend wrapped up as a Christmas present with Erika about to go out on maternity leave. ”
I heard his words. They were practical and reasonable. But they twisted everything inside me, like he’d already decided where he stood…and it wasn’t with me or the family.
“Do you think Erika is actually going to take time off after having a baby?” I heard myself say it before I could stop. Mean. Precise. The kind of hit I only made when I was losing control.
Josh’s head snapped toward me, his expression tight. “She will if I say she will.”
There was no weight behind the words. No real authority.
Just a man trying to convince himself he had control over something when he absolutely did not.
We both knew better. If Erika wanted to be back here a week after giving birth, she would be—baby strapped to her chest, scrubbing into surgery like nothing had changed.
“Force of nature” didn’t even begin to cover it.
And Josh—
Josh wouldn’t fight her about it. He might fracture inside, but he’d hold it together, unlike me. It was all in the way he stood there, braced between everything—his wife, his job, me—and somehow still chose to hold the line for all of it…even if it meant I ended up on the other side.
“Dad’s here,” Josh said. “He wants you to take his truck home. He’ll get yours detailed to clean up the blood.
Mom will pick up Sofia and bring her home.
I’ll bring Buck back later. You’ve got that production consult at the dairy in an hour.
Andy flew in from Michigan and we’re paying him a fortune for the evaluation. ”
“I know.” I blinked hard, once, twice, like I could force everything back into place if I focused hard enough. I had places to be today and two businesses to hold together. The dairy was doing okay but could be better, which is why we were investing in the consultation.
“Buck will be fine. This kind of shit happens.” Josh’s voice dipped, quieter now. Careful. “Dad mentioned Milly. She—”
“Yep, got it.” The words came out fast, too fast. I cut him off before he could finish and open a can of worms I wasn’t willing to discuss right now.
I dragged a hand down my face. I didn’t want another lecture about how stupid I’d been to get involved with Milly.
I knew. “I’ll head out. It’s handled. Every goddamned thing will be handled. ”