Chapter 21 Lucy
LUCY
“I have to go meet my contractors,” Lucy said as she signed off on some papers at the front desk, where June had neatly written up the docket for Snuggles. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
“It’s a pleasure,” June assured her. “I’ll close up…”
“Is Dr. Peltz in?” Simon Stock, a local, rushed in holding a brown Labrador.
“Horace ran through some broken glass,” his son Oliver’s voice was strained with worry, “and he’s bleeding really badly.”
“Quick,” June said instantly. “Take him through to exam room three.”
“I’ll take them,” June said, leading Simon and Oliver through. “This way.”
“I’ll be right in,” Lucy told them, pulling out her phone as she started to follow, as she glanced at her watch and frowned. Lacey should have been back from her emergency call over an hour ago, and she wasn’t answering her phone.
Lucy dialed the construction foreman she was supposed to be meeting. “Hi, John, this is Dr. Tanner. I’m running about an hour late. I have a patient emergency.”
“That is perfectly fine, Dr. Tanner,” John told her. “I can be here for another two to three hours.”
“Thank you,” Lucy said, and after hanging up, she immediately called Tom, who answered after the third ring. “Hi Tom. I need to push our meeting back an hour. I have an emergency patient.”
“Hello, Lucy. That’s not a problem at all,” Tom’s voice came through clearly. “I’m actually at Margo’s, having coffee and keeping an eye on things here. Take your time.”
Lucy felt a wave of gratitude. “Thank you for watching out for her. I know she appreciates it, even if she won’t admit it.”
“It’s the least I can do,” Tom replied. “Let me know when you are on your way to the house, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Actually…” Lucy said, remembering her car was at the repair shop for service. “Would you mind if I drove with you? My car is having a service, and Lacey’s not back with her truck.”
“Sure,” Tom said. “It’s more practical anyway. Call me, and I’ll pick you up when you’re ready.”
“That’s okay, I’ll walk to Teacups,” Lucy told him. “I have to go. Thank you, Tom.”
Lucy hung up and hurried into the room where she noticed that June had already cleared Simon and Oliver out and was attending to Horace. “I think you missed your calling.” She smiled as she pulled on latex gloves.
Some time later, Lucy carefully guided the suture needle through the torn skin of the two-year-old Labrador’s front leg, grateful for June’s steady hands helping to keep the patient calm.
The curious dog had run straight through a sliding glass door, creating a clean but deep laceration that required professional attention.
“There we go, Horace,” Lucy murmured soothingly to the Labrador. “Just a few more stitches and you’ll be as good as new.”
June watched as Lucy worked. “I’ve always been amazed by what you and Lacey can do,” she said quietly. “Switching between veterinary and human medicine like it’s nothing.”
“Years of necessity,” Lucy replied with a smile, tying off another suture. “When you’re the only medical professionals in a small town, you learn to adapt. Though I have to admit, Lacey’s much better with the four-legged patients than I am.”
“You’re selling yourself short,” June observed. “Horace here seems perfectly comfortable with you.”
Lucy finished the final suture and carefully bandaged Horace’s leg. “There you are, boy. Good as new.” She scratched behind the dog’s ears affectionately before carrying him out to the waiting area.
“Siomon, Oliver,” Lucy addressed the worried man and his young son, who had been pacing the small waiting room. “Horace did beautifully. The stitches will need to stay in for about ten days. Keep the wound clean and dry, and bring him back next week so I can check his progress.”
“Thank you so much, Dr. Tanner,” Mr. Patterson said, relief evident in his voice. “I thought we might have to drive all the way to the emergency clinic in Cedar Key.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Lucy assured him. “Just watch him around glass doors for a while. Labs can be a bit... enthusiastic about their exits.”
After the Pattersons left with a much happier Horace, Lucy looked at her watch again and tried calling Lacey. The phone went straight to voicemail, and Lucy’s concern deepened.
“Still no answer?” June asked, noticing Lucy’s expression.
“Nothing,” Lucy said, ending the call. “She went out to the Hendrick’s farm to check on their mare that’s been having trouble foaling. That was over two hours ago.”
“Farm calls can take longer than expected,” June reasoned, helping Lucy clean up the examination room. “Especially if there were complications with the delivery. She’s probably just focused on her patient and has her phone on silent.”
Lucy nodded, though she couldn’t shake her worry. “You’re probably right. I just hate not knowing, especially after yesterday’s fire.”
They finished cleaning up the clinic, and Lucy gathered her purse. “I really need to get going. The contractors are waiting, and Tom is waiting for me.”
“Go,” June insisted. “I’ll stay here and keep trying Lacey’s phone. I’ll call you if there’s an emergency before Lacey is back.”
“Thank you. Dr. Reeves is at the clinic, so hopefully Lacey will be back soon for the vet clinic.” She hurried toward the door. “Are you sure you’re okay here on your own?” Lucy asked.
“Absolutely,” June replied firmly. “Besides, you’re already doing double duty running both the human clinic and covering here since the other vet left. Lacey really needs to find another veterinarian soon, or you’re going to work yourself into the ground.”
“Tell me about it,” Lucy sighed. “I love helping with the animals, but this pace isn’t sustainable long-term.”
Lucy was opening the clinic door when Victoria Morrison suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her path. The woman’s expression was cold and hostile, her perfectly styled blonde hair and designer clothes making her look like she’d stepped off the pages of a magazine.
“Lacey,” Victoria said with obvious disdain. “I have a message for you to give to your pathetic sister.”
Lucy blinked in surprise but didn’t correct the mistaken identity immediately. Behind her, she sensed June stepping closer.
“Do you have to do this right now?” Lucy asked her.
“Yes, actually I do,” Victoria continued, her voice dripping with venom.
“Your sister Lucy is a pathetic person. Lucy couldn’t even wait for the ink to dry on my divorce papers before she went sniffing around my leftovers.
Tell your sister to at least have the decency to wait until I leave town before throwing herself at my husband. ”
June started to say something, but Lucy held up a subtle hand to stop her.
“Why don’t you tell Lucy this yourself?” Lucy asked calmly.
“I tried, but your sister’s not at the clinic,” Victoria replied haughtily, a nasty smile spreading across her face. “She was always scared and in awe of me growing up. She probably realized I’d find out about the little dinner date she had with my husband last night and is now hiding.”
Lucy felt June stiffen beside her and gave her friend’s hand a reassuring squeeze.
“I can assure you, Victoria,” Lucy said, maintaining perfect control over her voice, “neither my sister nor I are scared of you or in awe of you. In fact, we don’t feel anything for you and barely ever think about you.
” Something inside Lucy that had been building for forty years finally snapped.
“You see, Victoria, my sister and I went to college, earned degrees, and we work for a living. We’re not idle housewives who have time to let anyone live rent-free in our heads.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.
Unless you have an animal that needs medical attention, please leave. ”
Victoria looked genuinely stunned by Lucy’s calm but cutting response, then quickly became defensive. “Just tell your pathetic sister to stay away from my husband…”
Before she could finish her threat, June stepped forward with the quiet authority that came from years of practicing law.
“I’d be very careful about making threats against my client,” June said coolly. “And for the record, Tom is your ex-husband, so you have no right to tell anyone to stay away from him.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed as she focused on June for the first time. “I heard you were back in town,” she sneered. “Working in a veterinary office now? Couldn’t find any law firms that wanted you?”
“You need to leave, Victoria,” Lucy warned, stepping protectively closer to June. “And you should know better than to go after an attorney. June is here, helping us out, because she actually works for a living and doesn’t spend her time terrorizing the local businesses.”
Victoria’s posture stiffened, and her eyes glittered with malice as they fixed on June.
“While I have you here, you could actually make yourself useful,” she said with false sweetness, raising a perfectly groomed eyebrow.
“Since I’m having Holt over for dinner soon, you can let me know if he’s allergic to anything.
I wouldn’t want our romantic evening spoiled by an unexpected allergic reaction. ”
Lucy felt June’s entire body go rigid beside her and quickly stepped in before her friend could respond.
“I think the only thing anyone in this town would be allergic to is your venom, Victoria,” Lucy said sharply. She hated being cruel to anyone, but this woman had pushed every boundary. “And if Holt is your dinner guest, that’s a question you should be asking him directly.”
Lucy moved forward, gently but firmly pushing Victoria back from the clinic entrance. “Now, I really do have to go. Please leave.”
Victoria glared at both women with undisguised hatred, then turned and stalked away with her head held high.
“How can she not tell the difference between you and Lacey?” June asked in amazement, staring after Victoria’s retreating figure. “You have different colored eyes, different hair, completely different personalities.”