Chapter 26
26
L ila woke to the insistent beeping of her alarm clock, the red numbers flashing 8:30 AM. She groaned and rubbed her eyes, feeling the weight of sleepless hours pressing down on her. Camille had already left for school, leaving the house eerily quiet.
Lila sighed and swung her legs over the side of the bed, wincing as her bare feet touched the cold floor. She’d been up all night, her mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions.
Whit Calloway had a girlfriend. The words echoed in her mind, a bitter reminder of how foolish she'd been. She’d only known Whit for a short time, yet she’d let herself get carried away, opening her heart to a man she barely knew. What had she been thinking? She had no business entertaining feelings for someone so soon after meeting.
After tossing and turning, she’d finally given up on sleep and driven to her favorite lookout spot. The place where she felt closest to her late husband, where she could pour out her heart and find a semblance of peace. She had talked to him again, her words carried away by the cool night breeze, her tears blending with the mist that hung over the mountains.
She’d told Aaron everything and admitted what a fool she’d been. Confessing her regret had been cathartic, eliminating some of her self-pity.
She didn’t need a man—especially one with a secret girlfriend.
Now, in the harsh light of morning, she felt nothing but determination. She needed to focus on her daughter, on her schooling. Soon, she’d be a certified large animal vet, and that would open up more opportunities.
She’d always thought she’d remain in Thunder Mountain forever, but maybe it was time to consider employment in nearby Jackson. She certainly couldn’t remain working for Whit Calloway, not when he’d proven himself untrustworthy.
For years, she had worked for Doc Tillman, enduring his constant belittling. She had thought that taking over the clinic would be her chance to finally prove herself. But now, with Whit in charge, that dream seemed more distant than ever. It was time she put herself first. Enough was enough.
Dragging herself out of bed, Lila dressed quickly, her movements mechanical. She avoided the mirror, not wanting to see the evidence of her sleepless night reflected back at her. By the time she arrived at the clinic, it was already 9:00 AM, an hour later than usual.
The clinic was bustling with activity, the waiting room filled with concerned pet owners and their furry companions. Lila took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, pushing her emotions aside. She had a job to do.
“Morning, Lila,” Carla, the new receptionist, greeted her with a bright smile. “Rough night?”
“You could say that,” Lila replied, forcing a smile. “What’s on the schedule for today?”
“Well, we’ve got some regular pet checkups this morning and a couple of surgeries later this afternoon. Dr. Calloway wanted to go over some new protocols with you. He’s in his office.”
Lila nodded, her stomach tightening at the thought of facing Whit. She thanked Carla and headed down the hall, her steps heavy. She didn’t have to like working with Lover Boy, she simply had to endure it.
She knocked lightly on Whit’s office door.
“Come in,” his voice called out.
Lila pushed the door open and stepped inside. Whit looked up from his desk, a mixture of surprise and concern crossing his face. “Lila, you’re late. Everything okay?”
“I’m fine,” she replied curtly. “Just had a rough night. What did you want to discuss?”
Whit leaned back in his chair, studying her. “I wanted to go over some changes in our procedures, but that can wait. Are you sure you’re okay? You look exhausted.”
“I said I’m fine,” Lila snapped, immediately regretting her tone. She took a deep breath and softened her voice. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be short. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”
Whit nodded, his expression unreadable. “I understand. If you need some time, we can handle things here. You don’t have to push yourself.”
“I’m here to work,” Lila replied firmly. “Let’s get on with it.”
Whit hesitated for a moment before nodding. He handed her a stack of papers, letting his fingers linger as their hands met. “These are the new protocols I’ve been working on. Take a look and let me know what you think. I really want your input before moving forward with these ideas.”
Lila took the papers, her hands trembling slightly. She nodded and left his office, retreating to the small break room at the back of the clinic. She sank into a chair and stared at the documents, the words blurring together.
Lila took a deep breath. All she needed was to get through this day, and then she’d figure out her next steps—with the focus on her daughter, her schooling, and her future. She couldn’t afford to let her emotions get in the way.
There was a light rap at the door. “Lila?”
She groaned. Why couldn’t Whit just leave her alone?
The door pushed open slightly and he peeked his head inside. “Can we talk?”
Lila looked up, her eyes narrowed. “What is it, Whit?”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “I can see something’s bothering you. I’d like to help if I can.” His caramel eyes held her captive as he moved closer, lifting her chin with his finger. “You can tell me.”
Lila clenched her fists, the papers crumpling slightly in her grip. “Help? Really? Because it seems like all you’ve done since you got here is make things more complicated.”
Whit frowned and stepped back. “Complicated? How?”
She stood, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. “I know about Candy Faye. Your girlfriend.” The words dripped from her mouth as sour as they sounded.
Whit’s expression shifted as he grasped the situation. “Candy Faye? Lila, she’s not my girlfriend.”
“Oh, really? Then why did she travel hundreds of miles to see you?” Lila’s voice was rising, the frustration of the past sleepless night pouring out of her.
Whit held up his hands. “Lila, listen to me. Candy Faye and I dated briefly, yes, but it’s been over for months. She showed up out of nowhere, and I had no idea she was coming. I’m sorry you found out this way.”
Lila crossed her arms, full of doubt. “If it was over, why didn’t you tell me? You had plenty of time to mention you were fresh out of a relationship. Why keep it a secret?”
Whit ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. “I didn’t think it was relevant. I didn’t want to burden you with my past, especially since I’m trying to move forward. But you’re right, I should have been honest. I’m sorry.”
Lila shook her head, the tension in her chest not easing. She was no fool. Did he really think he could just spackle over the hurt?
She forced her eyes from his. “I don’t know what to think, Whit. I need time to process all of this. I need to focus on my daughter, my schooling. We need to pause whatever this is between us.”
A ripple of sadness crossed Whit’s face, but he nodded. “I understand, Lila. Take all the time you need.”
Suddenly, Lila’s stomach lurched. She clamped a hand over her mouth and bolted for the bathroom, barely making it in time before she vomited. She leaned over the toilet, her body shaking, and started to cry.
A moment later, she felt a gentle hand on her back. Whit had followed her, his face filled with concern. He knelt beside her, holding her hair back and rubbing her back soothingly. “Are you okay?”
A fat tear clung to her eyelashes. “Camille was under the weather. I—I must’ve caught whatever my daughter had.”
She continued to cry, not caring how she looked. Not caring that Whit was watching.
“Lila, I’m so sorry,” he whispered. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand tenderly brushed the side of her face. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
Her sobs grew louder as the weight of the past few days crashed down on her. She felt Whit’s arms wrap around her, his presence steady and comforting despite everything.
For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to lean on someone else, even if just for a moment. Lila’s thoughts swirled with confusion. Sure, her life was safe—but it was also tepid.
She had spent so long building walls around her heart, convinced that she had to face the world alone, vowing to exhibit strength and independence, but in reality, it had only left her feeling isolated and vulnerable.
Now, with Whit holding her, she rewound her thoughts, realizing how exhausted she was from carrying her burdens alone. She thought about all the times she had stood at her favorite lookout spot, talking to her deceased husband, seeking solace in the memories of their love. She had believed that was the only place she could find peace.
It was terrifying to think about opening herself up again, to trust someone new, especially someone who had already caused her pain. But as she felt Whit’s steady presence beside her, she couldn’t deny that there was something genuine in his concern. His explanation about Candy Faye might not erase the doubts entirely, but his actions in this moment spoke louder than his words.
He could have left her alone, could have walked when she pushed him away, but he didn’t. He stayed, offering her comfort and understanding without expecting anything in return. It was a small gesture, but it felt monumental to Lila.
She took a deep breath, her sobs gradually subsiding into quiet sniffles. The future was still uncertain, and there were many questions left unanswered. Yet, she was beginning to understand how quick she’d been to push Whit away at the first sign of trouble.
She wasn’t ready to completely forgive and forget, but maybe, just maybe, she could begin to see a different path forward—one where she didn’t have to be alone.
In that small bathroom, with Whit by her side, Lila felt a flicker of hope. It wasn’t a promise of a perfect future, but it was a start.
As she leaned against Whit, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing, she made a silent promise to herself. She would take the time she needed to heal, to think, and to decide what she truly wanted.
No matter what, she wouldn’t settle for anything less than what she deserved.