CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Rori hung up the phone and saved the appointment entry on her computer screen. Between phone calls and appointments, it had been a busy morning for a Wednesday.
“Do you have plans for lunch?”
Lee’s voice had her looking up with a smile, then his words sank in. “Lunch?”
He nodded. “I told Carisa I’d come by and look at the puppies. I thought you might like to go with me.”
“Is she okay with that?”
Rori still wasn’t sure what to make about Carisa. She was friendly and talkative with Lee, but she was also that way with the other guys. Not really flirting, but edging in on it.
Maybe it was just that Rori couldn’t imagine a woman not wanting to get close to Lee. He was amazing. So she struggled to trust what Carisa was showing to them.
Carisa could be like her, hiding how she truly felt out of fear of rejection. Although, Rori doubted that was the case. Something told her that Carisa got what Carisa wanted, and she wasn’t the sort to worry about someone rejecting her.
It was more likely that Carisa was biding her time.
“I have no idea.” Lee frowned as he leaned against the counter in front of Rori. “But it doesn’t matter. If you want to go with me, I’ll take you.”
“I’d like to go.” Rori said the words without thinking, but she wasn’t going to take them back.
Lee smiled, his eyes lighting up. “Great! I’ll let Alys know we might be gone for a bit longer than just the hour. It’s essentially part of work, so it won’t be a problem.”
“Even for me?”
“Yes. Even for you, so don’t worry about it. Alys will take care of anyone that comes in before we get back.”
The final appointment for the morning walked in, and since Lee knew them, he took them and their pet to the back.
Rori looked at the clock in the corner of her computer screen. Half an hour. She could wait that long… hopefully.
They left right at noon, taking Lee’s car. A masculine scent hung lightly in the air, and being surrounded by that was how she imagined it would feel to be hugged by the man.
“Has Carisa found people to adopt the other puppies?”
“I’m not sure. You can ask her while we’re there. Have you changed your mind about taking one?”
“It’s tempting. It was so nice petting Elsa the other day. Very therapeutic.”
“So you’re resisting the puppy cuteness?”
“Just barely.”
“You can come spend time with Elsa whenever you want,” Lee said.
Those moments at the park had been so peaceful. The weight of her small body on Rori’s legs. Running her fingers through Elsa’s long, silky fur. Lee at her side. It had been so relaxing.
Her mind wandered to what it might be like to have a small dog in her lap at the end of the day while she sat reading a book. Except, in her imagination, Lee was also there.
Rori blinked as she came out of her musings.
“…pizza night on Friday. Hope you can be there.”
That was an invitation? She sure hoped so.
“Are they making the pizzas in their oven again?”
“I think so. Did you like them?”
“I did,” Rori said. “How about you all?”
“I didn’t hear anyone complaining, so I assume everyone liked it. Maybe they’ll get more topping varieties next time.”
“Do you like something different?”
“Not really, but Will likes ham and pineapple.”
“I do too.”
“Oh no,” Lee said. “We can’t be friends now.”
Though those words would normally have made her heart race out of fear of losing his friendship, this time they didn’t. She could hear the teasing note in his voice, and somehow, she just knew that he would never end a friendship over something like that.
And strangely enough, she had a growing certainty in her heart that he wouldn’t end their friendship… at all.
“So you’re not friends with Will anymore?”
“Well, I have to accept him since he married my sister. So, while I can appreciate his taste in women, his taste in pizza is beyond questionable.”
As she’d listened to the siblings tease back and forth, Rori had wondered if her half-siblings had grown to have relationships like that. She’d lived off and on with both sets, but she didn’t recall them having much of a lighthearted relationship with each other. Or maybe that had just been because she was around.
If they hadn’t had that type of relationship with one another, she actually felt kind of bad for them. And for herself, as well. Had she not met the Halversons, she might have ended up thinking that most siblings simply tolerated each other but weren’t friends.
As they pulled up to Carisa’s house, the size of it was even more evident in the daylight. What she appreciated the most, which she hadn’t really been able to see when they’d come at night, was the beautiful landscaping. There were vibrantly colored flowers in beds in front of the house as well as in different areas of the expansive manicured yard.
Rori wished that she could take pictures of it all.
Together, they left the car and walked up the wide stone steps to the large front door. Lee pressed the doorbell, then they stood back and waited for someone to answer it. Lee had his black bag with him, since this was an official vet visit.
“Hey, guys!” Carisa greeted them with a big smile.
The woman wore a pair of white shorts that showed off long, tanned legs, and a bright pink T-shirt. She had bare feet, and her toenails were painted a pink that matched her shirt. Her hair was gathered into a high ponytail.
“C’mon in.” She stepped back, opening the door wider, and gestured for them to join her in the large foyer.
Lee placed a hand on Rori’s back and guided her into the house.
“Thanks so much for coming,” Carisa said as she shut the door behind them. “I think the puppies are all doing well, but I’d like you to confirm that for me.”
Carisa led them from the foyer, but instead of going in the same direction as last time, she took them into a large, bright sunroom. Plants filled the room, surrounding what looked to be comfortable furniture.
“Rori, I’d like to introduce you to my parents. Edward and Donna Montgomery. Momma and Daddy, you remember Lee Halverson from church, right? And this is Rori. She also works at the clinic.”
The two people in the sunroom got to their feet. Though dressed casually, the pair had a very elegant bearing. They were what Rori imagined Hudson and Kayleigh would be like at that age.
The man still had a full head of gray hair that was perfectly styled. The woman was the spitting image of Carisa. Or maybe Carisa was the spitting image of her. The two could probably pass for sisters. But where Carisa was bright and bubbly, her mom exuded an air of sadness and fragility.
Still, the woman gave her a warm smile as she held out her hand to Rori. “It’s lovely to meet you, Rori, and to see you again, Lee.”
The greeting from Carisa’s dad was just as warm and friendly, though his words were spoken with a British accent. “Welcome to our home. Have you come to see the pups?”
“Yep,” Lee said as he shook Edward’s hand. “Just going to do a quick check on them.”
“They are very adorable,” Donna said. “I’m tempted to keep one for myself.”
“You should, Momma. Spend some time with them and see if there’s one that vibes with you.”
“Do we really want to become a three-dog family?” Edward asked.
“Yep, Daddy. We do.” She went to him and gave him a hug, which he returned.
Though Carisa was tall, her dad was taller still, and he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “We’ll see, my girl. We’ll see.”
Seeing the way Carisa interacted with her parents sent a pang of longing through Rori’s heart. What made her so different from Carisa that she wasn’t good enough to have loving parents like Carisa had?
With a grin, Carisa came back over to where Lee and Rori stood. “Let’s go see the puppies we’re probably going to end up keeping.”
Carisa led them out of the sunroom and down another hall to the laundry room. Rori heard the soft yipping of the puppies even before they stepped into the room.
“Oh, they’re so cute,” Rori said when she peered over the fence to see the squirmy puppies. “Are their eyes still closed?”
“Yes,” Lee said as he bent over to pet Penelope where she lay in the pen. “They’ll probably open in a couple of days.”
He lifted the mama dog out of the pen and spent a few minutes checking her over. “How is she eating and drinking?”
Rori kept watching the tiny squirmy puppies while Lee and Carisa discussed what had been happening with Penelope and the puppies. Penelope’s instincts in birthing and caring for her babies still amazed Rori.
Surely something like that hadn’t developed by accident. Like Lee had said the night of the delivery, it had to be by God’s design.
“I sure hope my mom decides to keep one,” Carisa said once they’d finished discussing the dogs. “I think it would do her good.”
“You said she’s been sick?” Lee asked.
Carisa stared at the puppies for a moment, though Rori got the feeling she wasn’t really seeing them. “It’s been more of a mental health issue that has led to some physical issues.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Carisa gave Lee a small smile that didn’t light up her face like her smiles usually did. “My mom has had a lot to handle over the past eighteen months. Her parents passed away within four months of each other just over a year ago. Then, her twin sister died unexpectedly six weeks ago. Being the only one left of her family has broken her.”
“My condolences on your losses,” Lee said, his voice gentle.
“Thank you. It’s been hard for all of us losing them, but it’s been so much harder for my mom. She and Aunt Darla were super, super close, and the three of us did a lot together.”
Rori realized then that even the wealth of Carisa and her parents didn’t make them immune to tragedy. Sadness touched their lives just like it touched even the poorest person’s.
Seeing the woman without the bright smiles lighting up her face made Rori’s heart hurt for her. Comfort her, please, God.
She still didn’t know if God would hear her prayer. But maybe because it wasn’t for herself, He would hear and answer it.
“I think having a puppy to take care of and train would be a good distraction for her,” Carisa said softly. “We came here because my dad thought the change of scenery might be healing.”
“Has it been?” Lee asked.
“I think so. She hadn’t been to church since my aunt died, so her going on Sunday was a welcome surprise.”
“That’s good.”
Rori thought of how she’d lost her grandmother just before she’d turned ten. She’d been the one to take care of Rori when neither of her parents had wanted that responsibility.
It had been difficult at times. She’d been a hard woman who had expected a lot of Rori, but she’d provided a stable home life with plenty of good food, clothes that were always clean and fit properly, and a bedroom with lots of books that she’d painted purple at Rori’s request.
Her death had thrown Rori’s life into chaos as she’d had to move from the stability of her grandmother’s home to the uncertainty of her parents’ homes—neither of whom wanted her around. That had persisted until she’d found a job that would support her simple lifestyle and moved out on her own.
She’d grieved alone because her dad hadn’t seemed to care that his mother had passed away. So she understood loss, though obviously not on the level that Carisa and her family had experienced.
“Well, we need to head back to the clinic,” Lee said. “Everything looks good here.”
When he got to his feet, Rori stood up as well.
“Thank you both for coming,” Carisa said. “And for including me in your group on Sunday afternoon. I left my friends behind in New York, but I’d been struggling with them anyway because they don’t really understand where I am in life at the moment. With my mom and everything. You’ve all been so wonderful to be around.”
Rori understood how she felt about the group she’d also been included in.
“What… uh.. what are your thoughts on Jackson?” Carisa asked, shifting her weight as she crossed her arms. “Is he a decent guy?”
“He is,” Lee said. “And even though he gives off a lighthearted attitude, he’s very serious about relationships. He’s looking for someone to marry, not just date for the short-term. I would also guess he’s several years older than you.”
Carisa waved her hand dismissively. “That’s not an issue for me. My dad is twenty years older than my mom, and they love each other very much.”
That age gap would normally give Rori pause, but it was clear that the couple was still together, so apparently it hadn’t been an issue.
“Jackson is like you,” Lee said. “He’s an only child with very loving and attentive parents.”
Carisa smiled. “I like that. And I also like how much he smiles and laughs. It makes me want to smile back.”
“Are you looking for marriage, though?” Lee asked. “You’re still… young.”
Rori wondered if he viewed her as young. She was definitely young in age, being only twenty-four, but she felt old in spirit. She’d been taking care of herself for a lot of years, which had made her feel much older than others her age probably felt.
“I’m not opposed to marriage. I’m twenty-four, and that’s the same age my mom was when she married my dad.”
“There’s one more thing,” Lee said. “Serenity is Jackson’s home. His career is working with his dad, and I’m not sure you’d ever get him to leave here. If your future plans don’t include living in Serenity, a relationship with him is probably not going to work.”
Carisa nodded. “That’s good to know.”
“I’m not trying to discourage you from pursuing something with Jackson. I’m just trying to make sure that neither of you gets your heart broken. Jackson has had enough of that.”
“I appreciate your concern,” Carisa said, her tone was sincere. “I’ll keep what you’ve shared in mind as I get to know Jackson.”
“Start as friends,” Lee told her, sending a quick glance Rori’s way. She wondered at that as he added, “I think it’s the best way to start a relationship.”
“That’s good advice,” Carisa said with a smile. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. And if you want to spend more time around Jackson, come to our pizza night on Friday.”
For a moment, Rori felt a bit sick.
The ease with which Lee extended the invitation to Carisa made her realize that when he’d done the same for her, it hadn’t meant anything special. At least not to him. To her, it had meant the world.
Rori hated not knowing where she stood with Lee. Or maybe she did know where she stood. They were friends. Hoping for something more wasn’t necessarily going to lead to what she wanted.
“I’ll send you the info for Friday, so if you decide to join us, you’ll know where to go.”
“Sounds good.”
They all walked to the front door, then said goodbye to Carisa and headed for the car. Rori wished her workday was over so that she could retreat to her apartment.
“Didn’t really see Carisa’s interest in Jackson coming.”
Swallowing against the tightness of her throat, Rori asked, “Are you going to tell him?”
“I haven’t decided. I think perhaps it would be better to just let it unfold the way they want it to.”
She had a feeling that if this was what Carisa wanted, it would work out. The woman seemed like she was used to getting what she wanted. Not in a spoiled way, necessarily. More that she would work to get what she set her mind to.
It didn’t take them long to get back to the clinic. She’d missed lunch, but honestly, she didn’t feel much like eating. Her appetite had vanished as her emotions regarding her role in Lee’s life continued on their rollercoaster.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. The clinic was decidedly quieter than the morning had been, so she spent a few minutes in the shelter, playing with the kittens and puppies. It was soothing and helped distract her from her thoughts since Rachel was there as well.
The teenager was friendly, chatting about everything going on in her life. The latest venture being her having gotten a starter for some sourdough bread. Rori had no idea what that was, but when Rachel offered to bring her some of the bread when she made it, Rori accepted without hesitation.
Lee had been called out about half an hour before closing to meet up with Dr. Carl because something was going on with a birthing at a nearby ranch. Rori and Alys closed up the clinic, then left for the day.
Once home, Rori made supper and ate it while watching a documentary on her laptop. The cleanup afterwards was quick, then she took a nice hot shower.
When she settled onto her bed afterwards, she grabbed her laptop and opened it up. She needed to figure out her plans for the next day before she fell asleep since it might change what time she set her alarm for.
She’d made an appointment at a garage to get the oil changed in her car. Knowing that she couldn’t afford another vehicle, she’d always done her best to take care of it.
They’d said she could drop it off after eight, so she needed to see how long it would take for her to walk from the garage to the clinic. Though there were a couple of garages in the town, she’d chosen the one that was closest to work.
She’d had a reliable mechanic in Denver, and she missed them now that it was time for an oil change. But that was just one more change she’d had to make after uprooting her life there.
Since it was just a simple oil change, she figured it would be okay. And how they interacted with her would determine if she’d go back or try the other one next time.
Things like taking her car in for oil changes were what she wished she had someone to help her with. She would say that she didn’t like adulting, but honestly, she’d been having to deal with stuff like that even before she was an adult.
She could do it, though. She’d proved it plenty of times before, and she’d prove it plenty of times more in the future, of that Rori was sure.
It was important that the world see that, even though she may have been rejected by those who were supposed to love her, she was surviving and strong. She could do the hard things.
She could take care of herself.