Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
On her way home from work, Matilda pondered the events of the day.
She’d finished her shift with an emergency — a Labrador retriever had eaten a bone that got stuck in his gut and perforated his stomach.
She’d had to perform surgery, and even though it’d gone well, he was still critical.
But she was headed home—her staff could handle the nightshift without her. She was utterly exhausted.
Her phone rang and she glanced at the screen, but she didn’t answer.
That was the tenth missed call, but it was a number she didn’t know, and she was driving.
Also, she needed this time during her commute home to decompress so she could face the evening and her husband with a semblance of a smile on her face.
She’d thought this clinic was a dream come true, but it’d turned into a nightmare.
She couldn’t even remember what she’d liked about it.
Perhaps it was only the idea that she’d been excited for.
She certainly hadn’t understood what it would be like to run her own business.
If she’d wanted to go into business, she’d have studied that in college.
Instead, she’d wanted to spend her day treating animals, and as it was these days, she only did that for a few hours.
The rest of her long days were spent behind a computer trying to figure out staffing, managing conflicts, ordering supplies, and paying bills.
Then there was the lawsuit. The case was over, and they were waiting for the verdict to come in from the judge. The stress of it had given her a migraine for three days in a row. She was fine today, although it felt as if all the strength had left her body.
When she pulled into her driveway, the phone rang again. She parked and looked out across the lake as she answered the call. The trees had lost all of their leaves and stood like lonely sentinels guarding the water, which was still and dark beneath their branches.
“Hello?”
“Good evening. Is this Matilda?”
“That’s me.”
“Great. This is Stan. I’ve been working with the team on your case.
I’m glad I caught you. Sorry for all the phone calls, but I’m on my mobile since I’m headed out of town for the weekend.
I wanted to let you know that we won. You won’t have to pay a cent.
In fact, they’re going to have to reimburse your legal fees. ”
Matilda’s hand flew up to cover her mouth. “Really? Oh, that’s great news. Thank you for telling me.”
“I thought you’d like to know, and I’m about to lose coverage. We’re going to the mountains for the weekend.”
“Well, have a nice break.”
“Thanks.”
When she hung up the phone, she leaned back against the headrest with her eyes closed for several long moments.
Then she smiled widely and climbed out. It was over.
They’d won. She knew they had a good case—she hadn’t done anything wrong.
But still, it’d all been so uncertain and so expensive.
She’d been stressed about money, the outcome of the case, the clinic, the staff — so many things on her mind lately.
At least this one thing could be put behind her.
With her belongings gathered under her arms, she trudged to the front door of the house and then searched for her keys as she tried to balance her lunchbox, laptop case, paperwork, and water bottle.
She dropped the bottle in the mud, then grimaced as she picked it up and tried not to get the mud on her coat.
Finally, she was inside and able to put some things down on the entry table.
“Hello?” she called as she climbed the stairs to the kitchen.
“Hey, honey. Did you have a nice day?” Ryan was in the kitchen, and the scent of grilled meat wafted out to greet her.
She sighed and without answering, she slipped beneath his arm and nestled against his shirt. He kissed the top of her head, then helped her out of her coat.
“Go and get washed up. Dinner is ready, and you can tell me all about it.”
When she emerged from the bedroom, dressed in a fitted T-shirt and sweat pants, she gaped at Ryan, speechless.
“What is it?” he asked, a spatula held aloft over a pan of potatoes.
“Someone just called and offered to buy the clinic. He said that they’ve been watching ever since I bought the place.
They’re really impressed with how I’ve renovated it and changed the way we service clients.
And especially impressed with the way I handled the lawsuit.
He said the business is thriving and has really caused a stir in the veterinarian community.
He wants to purchase it and keep me on as the manager. ”
Ryan’s eyebrows arched. “Do you want to sell?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it. I didn’t think it would be an option which is silly, because I bought it, so of course it’s possible to sell. But I haven’t had it long. Is that bad? If I sell so soon after purchasing it? Is it a kind of failure, do you think?”
He finished dishing up and then returned the pan to the stovetop. “No, it’s not a failure. I think it’s a great idea.”
She was surprised. “You do?”
“You’ve tried to hide it, I know, but you’ve been so stressed.
This clinic hasn’t exactly been a good thing in our lives.
I wanted to support you, so I didn’t say anything, but I hardly see you anymore.
And when I do, you’re tired and anxious.
If it makes you happy, I won’t say another thing about it. But…”
“It’s not making me happy,” she replied with a sigh. “You’re right. I didn’t want to let you down, but I think I should sell.”
He poured red wine into a glass and handed it to her. Then he filled his own. “I’ll drink to that.”
She grinned and clinked her glass against his. “So, I’m selling the clinic.”
“Amen and hallelujah!” he said.
She laughed, then drank. “If that’s how you feel, I can’t believe you didn’t say anything.”
“Hey, it’s your thing. I wasn’t sure if I should give input.”
She wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him close. “You’re my husband. Of course you should say something. But thank you for being supportive. I don’t think I could’ve handled it this long if you were complaining as well. I’ve just been hanging on by my fingernails.”
“I’m always on your side.”
“Honestly, the idea of selling it brings me so much relief.” The thought hadn’t crossed her mind before this moment, but considering it now gave her a huge sense of peace. It was as though a huge weight had shifted from her shoulders, and she could finally see a way forward in her life again.