Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Matilda stared at the letter in her hands. She inhaled a long, slow breath in an attempt to calm her racing heart. This couldn’t be happening. She refolded the letter and calmly slid it back into the envelope marked with the veterinary clinic’s address.
She was being sued.
It didn’t make sense. She looked blankly out the car window, willing herself to remember.
The letter stated it was a white Pomeranian going through kidney failure.
Then it came to her. It’d happened about three months earlier.
The dog didn’t really stand a chance, but the owners wanted Matilda to do everything she could to save it.
So she had, but to no avail. And now they’d notified her of a lawsuit against her and the clinic.
Her eyes squeezed shut, and she breathed deeply.
Everything seemed to be going wrong lately.
Despite the huge renovation to the clinic last year, she’d recently had to replace all of the pipes after discovering several leaks beneath the floorboards.
She was so busy that she barely had time to see her husband most days.
And now this lawsuit? She wasn’t sure how much more she could handle.
The anxiety was starting to get to her. It squeezed around her heart and made her head light.
The clinic was profitable, and that was the only reason she was able to keep going.
Thankfully, she’d managed to pay for the plumbing repairs without too much difficulty, although her corporate account had gotten a bit low, what with all the salaries and the mortgage payment.
Still, she’d gritted her teeth and made it through, and now it might all be for nothing.
She tried to remember what her insurance said about lawsuits and couldn’t.
She’d have to make a call to her lawyer to find out about her coverage.
Just another expense to worry about. It was never-ending.
She thought back fondly to the days in Australia when she showed up for work each day, did her job, went home, and received a paycheque every two weeks.
It’d been a simple life, one she missed terribly.
Although she loved being married to Ryan, the distance from her family back in Australia, along with her friends, the beach, Brisbane, her house…
everything about her life back home… thinking of it caused an ache in her heart and made her want to cry.
But she couldn’t cry. She had to hold it together, drive home, and tell Ryan about the lawsuit.
He’d done so much to help her build and grow this business, the least she could do was give him the bad news without falling apart.
She set the envelope on the passenger seat, wiped her eyes with her fingertips, and started the car.
She could do this. It was all part of being a business owner.
She couldn’t take it personally. This was why she had an insurance policy.
She nodded firmly as though to put an end to the inner conversation and headed for home.
By the time she got home, she’d realised that the lawyer she knew specialised in real estate, and she’d have to find another one who could handle a lawsuit.
What kind of lawyer did that? A lawsuit lawyer?
She didn’t even know if that was a real thing.
The ball of anxiety in her throat grew larger and threatened to steal her breath away.
She pulled the car into the driveway of their newly renovated lake house and ran inside, gasping for air.
Her heart hammered against her rib cage and she launched herself onto the couch, then stared at the ceiling, counting backward from one hundred in the hopes that it would help calm her down.
Her chest constricted, her head spun, and her breathing was shallow and rapid.
“Are you okay?” Ryan leaned around the doorway to look at her, a tea towel slung over one shoulder and his brow creased with concern.
He took one look at her face and crossed the floor in two long strides to kneel beside her. “What’s going on, Matilda?”
He rarely called her Matilda. It was always “baby,” or “honey,” or her favourite, “sugar pie.” He was worried—she could tell. She was a little concerned herself at this point.
“I’m not sure. I think I’m having a heart attack or something.”
“Pain in your arm?”
She lifted both arms and shook them. Nope. No pain. “Just tightness in my chest, and my head is spinning.”
“Slow down your breathing, baby. Did something happen to upset you?”
Matilda focused on taking slower breaths. Gradually, she began to feel a little better and sat up. Ryan sat beside her on the couch, held both her hands, and gazed into her eyes.
“Talk to me, baby.”
She swallowed hard. “I’m being sued.” And then she burst into tears and leaned against his shoulder to cry.
He cupped her head to his shoulder and stroked her hair until she calmed down and her sobbing faded.
“I’m sorry—I wasn’t going to cry. But you were looking at me so kindly, and I’m worried I’m going to lose the clinic.
You’ve put so much into it…” Tears threatened again, so she drew a deep breath to stem the flow.
He grunted. “Don’t worry about me, or how much I’ve put into the clinic. I did it for you. But what’s this lawsuit about?”
She told him all about it, and he sat with her.
His words were comforting. He was making steak for dinner, he said.
She should have a shower and sit outside, since the weather was so nice.
He’d bring her a glass of wine. He said they’d deal with whatever happened together, and it was all going to be okay.
She followed his instructions as though in a kind of trance.
She didn’t know what to do, so having someone hand her a step-by-step plan of action was exactly what she needed in that moment.
As she dried off after her shower, fatigue overcame her.
She hadn’t comprehended just how tired she was — it seemed to go deep into her very bones.
She pulled on a floral summery dress that fell to her knees and had spaghetti straps.
It was one of Ryan’s favourites. He said the blue brought out the colour of her eyes.
Outside, she wandered down to the lake’s edge and dipped her toes into the water.
It was cool, but she quickly grew accustomed to it.
She played for a few moments, swirling the water around with one hand and watching the bugs skate across its reflective surface.
Then she sat in one of the grey Adirondack chairs Ryan had placed side by side under the shelter of the roof that jutted from one side of the boathouse.
She hugged her knees to her chest, letting her damp feet rest gently on the chair.
Her chin found its place on top of her knees.
She sat there quietly, staring out across the water.
The lake always helped to calm her frayed nerves.
Whenever she was feeling anxious, she liked to come out here and spend time in peaceful nature.
Just so long as there weren’t any jet skis breaking the no-wake rule.
Today there wasn’t a sound in any direction other than the gentle lapping of water against the shoreline and the distant hum of car engines.
A door slammed. Matilda spun about and fixed one hand over her eyes to cut the glare of the setting sun.
She saw Julie striding across the back lawn of Rita’s lake house wearing a pair of white pants, a blue halter top, and white sandals.
Her brown hair was pulled into a low ponytail.
She waved at Matilda as she made her way over to see her.
“Hey there. Care for some company?”
Matilda patted the chair beside her. “I’d love company.”
Julie groaned as she lowered herself into the chair. “I worked out too hard yesterday at the gym. Too many squats. I’m paying for it today.”
Matilda laughed. “I wish that was my problem. I haven’t been to the gym in months.”
“Busy?”
“Far too busy, I’m afraid. I can’t remember what it’s like to have downtime. I’m sitting here thinking about all the things on my to-do list and feeling guilty about relaxing for five minutes.”
Julie shook her head. “That’s not good. Something’s going to have to change.”
“I think you’re right.”
“Hey, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Okay…”
“As you know, I’m getting married at the end of the year. I was hoping you’d be my bridesmaid. Not that I want to add to your to-do list...”
Matilda was speechless for several long moments. She blinked, her heart squeezing. “I… wow… I would love to do that. That would be so special. Thank you for asking me.”
“I know we’re not actually sisters, but it kind of feels like we are in a way.”
Matilda smiled through a blur of unshed tears. “I feel the same.” The two of them embraced. Matilda missed Stella. She missed the warmth of a sister, someone to talk to, laugh with. Julie reminded her what it was like.
The door flew open again, and Tyler strode out.
Matilda had met him at her own wedding when he flew in briefly for a training op somewhere in southern Georgia.
And she’d heard through Rita that he was back.
He looked the same as he had at the wedding — tall, muscular, short hair.
He was little intimidating, but a nice guy. He jogged toward them.
“Hey, Julie. What do you want for dinner? Mom sent me out to ask. Oh, hi, Matilda.”
“Hi, Tyler. How are you settling in?”
He shrugged. “It’s strange to be back.”
“It’ll probably take a little while to get used to everything. I’m sure it’s much different from being in the military.”
“Yeah, I kinda feel like I’m on vacation.”
“Do you have any idea what you want to do next?”
“Not a clue. I’m probably going to take a little break before I get too worried about figuring it all out. I haven’t had a real vacation in a minute.”
Matilda smiled. “That sounds like a good idea. I’m sure you’ll be refreshed in no time.”
After Tyler left, Julie stood to her feet. “I’m going in.” She stretched her arms over her head. “Thanks for the catch up.”
Matilda stood as well and gave Julie a hug. She whispered in her ear. “Thanks for asking me to be your bridesmaid.”
Julie hugged her back. “You’re so welcome.”
They stepped apart. Matilda squeezed her hand. “We have a connection that no one else will ever fully understand.”
Julie nodded, her eyes glistening. “I know I wasn’t exactly happy about you coming here at first. And everything you uncovered really messed me up for a while. I’m still processing it all. But I can honestly say that I’m glad you came.”
Matilda inhaled a sharp breath to keep her tears at bay. Julie’s words had touched her heart in a way she hadn’t expected. “Thanks, Julie. I really appreciate that. I’ve wondered so many times if I did the right thing, or if I’d just made everything worse.”
“It’s been hard, but the truth is always the best approach. Right?”
“Right,” Matilda replied with a wry smile.