Chapter 20 June
JUNE
The veterinary clinic had a peaceful atmosphere that June was beginning to find soothing.
She’d spent the morning helping Lacey organize supplies and learning the basics of animal care, finding the work both challenging and rewarding.
The rescued rabbits from yesterday’s fire were doing well in their makeshift nursery, and June felt a sense of accomplishment watching them thrive.
She was checking on the baby rabbits when Zoe and Becky burst through the clinic’s back door, practically vibrating with excitement from their errand to deliver the thank-you baskets Lacey had prepared for Holt and Chief Morrison.
“Gran, you won’t believe what we saw at the police station,” Zoe announced breathlessly, her eyes wide with the thrill of unexpected drama.
“What happened, sweetheart?” Lacey asked, looking up from the medication chart she was updating.
“We saw Director Dillinger and Mrs. Morrison kissing,” Becky said, the words tumbling out in a rush. “Right there in the police station hallway, and she was organizing a dinner date with him. They were planning when she should have her fancy French chef cook for him at her house.”
June felt the blood drain from her face, though she kept her expression carefully neutral. Her hands stilled on the rabbit cage as the girls continued their animated account.
“They didn’t even seem to care they were in the hallway for everyone to see,” Zoe added with teenage fascination. They stood there really kissing. And then Mrs. Morrison was talking about her French chef and everything.”
“I wonder how Chief Morrison is going to take that news,” Becky mused. “Do you think he knows his ex-wife is dating Director Dillinger?”
June was profoundly grateful when Lacey stepped in with gentle but firm authority.
“Girls, maybe we shouldn’t be talking about this,” Lacey said quietly. “Gossip can hurt people, even when we don’t mean for it to.”
“But Gran, we saw it with our own eyes,” Zoe protested logically. “So it’s not gossip, it’s news. And we weren’t the only ones who saw them. I bet everyone else in the police station will be buzzing with the news too.”
June had to hide a smile despite her emotional turmoil. The girl would make an excellent attorney someday with that kind of reasoning.
“No, sweetheart, that’s still gossip and none of our business,” Lacey pointed out firmly.
“But Gran…” Zoe began, only to have Lacey stop her.
“Zoe, my dear darling girl,” she said with love in her voice and the patience of a saint. “What did I teach you about other people’s business?”
“That it was exactly that,” Zoe repeated her grandmother’s words. “Their business.”
“That’s right,” Lacey said with a warm smile.
“Now, if you two are going to help out here, you need to go change into your work clothes. Those dog pens won’t clean themselves.
” She raised her brows. “And I don’t want to hear either of you talking about this again.
” Her eyes moved from Becky to Zoe. “Is that clear?”
“Yes, Gran,” Zoe answered alongside Becky’s, “Yes, Lacey.”
“Now go, attend to your duties,” Lacey gently shooed them off. “We’ll go to Margo’s for ice cream when we’re finished today.”
“Okay,” both girls said in unison, rushing off toward the supply room where Lacey kept spare coveralls for volunteers.
Once they were out of earshot, Lacey turned to June with concerned eyes. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”
June forced a bright smile and straightened her shoulders. “Of course I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because of what you just heard and because the two of you have just met again after thirty-eight years.” Lacey studied her friend’s face for a moment before speaking carefully.
“I probably should have mentioned this before, but Victoria and Holt did date briefly when they were teenagers. That was about a year before your family first started coming to Sandpiper Shores.”
“I know,” June lied smoothly, though her heart was pounding.
She silently berated herself for caring about something that had happened so long ago, especially when it had no bearing on her current situation.
And she was angry that it hurt that Holt had never mentioned that to her in all the years they were together.
“They were long over by the time of your first summer here,” Lacey continued, apparently not noticing June’s distress. “Victoria moved on to dating Alvin Frost pretty quickly after that. She always seemed to gravitate toward whoever had the most money or status.”
June barely heard the rest of Lacey’s explanation as her mind flashed back thirty-eight years to one of the most painful moments of her life.
Two days after Holt had walked out of their apartment and their marriage for good, she’d picked up the phone to call him.
She’d been ready to apologize, to tell him she didn’t care where they lived and that she’d give up her plans to rebuild her father’s law firm in Miami.
She’d wanted to go with him to Virginia.
Her jaw tensed as the memory brought a slice of pain so intense that she felt transported back to that moment.
Standing in their empty apartment, her heart pounding as she’d been put through to the hotel room where Holt was staying, only to have Lillian answer the phone.
Lillian had been there at that early hour of the morning, answering Holt’s phone as if she belonged there.
Just two days after he’d walked out of June’s life, he’d already run back into the arms of another childhood friend.
“June?” Lacey’s concerned voice cut through her memories. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m fine,” June said, snapping back to the present. “I’ve just got a bit of a headache coming on.”
“Then you need to go sit down,” Lacey ordered with the authority of someone accustomed to caring for both animals and people. “Go use my office. There’s aspirin in the desk drawer.”
“Thank you,” June said gratefully, not even trying to argue. She needed a few minutes to collect herself and push these unwelcome memories back where they belonged.
June settled into Lacey’s comfortable office chair and took two aspirin, then leaned back and closed her eyes. Her head was genuinely pounding now, and she allowed herself to drift back to that devastating day thirty-eight years ago.
She remembered their final fight with painful clarity.
It hadn’t been about moving to Virginia for Holt’s FBI career.
June had understood that requirement and would have supported it after the initial shock of giving up her dreams in Miami.
The real issue had been Holt’s sudden decision that they should wait to start a family.
They’d both agreed they wanted children before they turned twenty-five, wanting to be young enough to truly enjoy their kids and grandchildren.
But Holt had gone back on that agreement, asking her to wait five more years while he established his career.
That was the one thing June couldn’t compromise on, the issue that had made her realize she had to let him go.
Holt needed to become the person he was meant to be, and June had loved him too much to hold him back from his destiny.
The old saying echoed in her mind: if you love someone, set them free; if they come back, they’re yours; if they don’t, they never were.
Holt had never come back, and within two days, he’d moved on to Lillian.
Now it seemed he was moving on to another old sweetheart—Victoria Morrison.
“June,” Lacey’s voice gently pulled her from the light doze she’d fallen into. “Sorry to startle you,” she said apologetically. “I have to go out on an emergency call. Do you mind keeping an eye on the practice and watching Zoe and Becky for me?”
“Yes, of course,” June said, standing and shaking off the last vestiges of painful memory. “Go and be careful.”
“I will,” Lacey promised, gathering her emergency bag. “The girls know what they’re doing, and I should be back within an hour.”
After Lacey left, June took a deep breath and deliberately pushed the past back where it belonged. She got up and went to check on the teenagers, who were efficiently cleaning dog pens and chatting about their summer plans.
She was about to close the front door and join them in the back when a woman around Willa’s age rushed toward the clinic carrying a large pet carrier that contained what appeared to be a large white Persian cat.
“Where is Dr. Peltz?” the woman demanded abruptly, not bothering with pleasantries. “Snuggles is not well and needs to be seen immediately.”
June was taken aback by the woman’s rudeness but maintained her professional composure. “I’m sorry, but Dr. Peltz just left on an emergency call. She should be back in about an hour or so.”
“Call her back right now,” the woman commanded, holding the carrier as if it contained precious cargo. “Snuggles is a very expensive cat and requires her immediate attention.”
“I’ll take a look at Snuggles, Sienna,” Lucy’s voice came from behind June as she stepped into the clinic, making the rude woman spin around and look at Lucy as if she were something unpleasant she’d stepped in.
“You?” Sienna sneered with obvious disdain. “What could you possibly know about animals?”
“Quite a lot, actually,” Lucy replied calmly, her demeanor more patient than June was feeling. “But if you’d prefer to wait for Dr. Peltz, I’m sure Snuggles can manage for another hour or so.”
Sienna hesitated, clearly torn between her dislike of Lucy and her concern for her cat. “Fine,” she said finally, thrusting the carrier toward Lucy. “Here, take her. But if anything happens to my baby, I’ll sue you.”
“If that should become necessary, make sure your attorney sends any correspondence directly to me,” June said coolly, stepping forward.
Sienna’s eyes narrowed as she focused on June for the first time. “Oh, you’re that woman. The hotshot attorney from Miami. The Fire Captain’s mother.”
“Yes, I’m that woman,” June confirmed with steel in her voice. “And yes, I’m an attorney.”
Sienna was smart enough to hear the threat in June’s tone, so she turned back to Lucy with obvious reluctance. “I’m going to get my nails done. I have a date with Ace tonight.” She shot June a smug look. “So make sure my Snuggles is properly taken care of and ready when I return.”
“That depends entirely on what’s wrong with Snuggles,” Lucy told her professionally.
Sienna turned and sauntered out the door with her head held high, as if she owned the entire town.
“Sienna…” June said, her eyes narrowing, trying to place the woman before the full realization dawned on her. “Wait, that’s Tom’s daughter, isn’t it?”
“I’m afraid so,” Lucy sighed, carrying the cat carrier toward one of the examination rooms. “And I’m apparently her enemy number one after she caught Tom and me having dinner last night.”
“Ah,” June said, understanding immediately. “Well, I believe her mother is currently busy throwing herself at Holt.”
Lucy stopped mid-stride and stared at June in shock. “What?”
June repeated what Becky and Zoe had witnessed at the police station, watching Lucy’s expression shift from disbelief to concern.
“I don’t believe it,” Lucy said, though her tone suggested she was beginning to accept the possibility. “Surely Holt wouldn’t fall for Victoria’s act.”
June shrugged, trying to appear indifferent despite the turmoil in her chest. “Well, they’re both divorced now. I suppose they’re free to move on with their lives.”
She quickly changed the subject before Lucy could see too much in her expression. “Speaking of moving on, tell me about your date with Tom. I want to hear every detail.”
As June listened to Lucy’s account of their romantic evening, she found herself genuinely happy for her friend.
She’d always suspected that Tom and Lucy might find their way back to each other eventually.
Some relationships were simply meant to be, written in the stars, despite the obstacles that might temporarily keep two people apart.
Deep in her heart, June had once believed the same thing about her and Holt. But thirty-eight years had proven that some love stories didn’t get second chances, no matter how perfect they’d seemed at the beginning.