Chapter 16 June #2
Judy's smile turned sad and wistful. "Thank you. Ronnie was a wonderful man. He was an investment banker, but he had a real love for animals and nature. He was very supportive of my work with wildlife rehabilitation."
"Why do you want to leave Miami and move to a small town?" Lacey asked, resuming her systematic questioning.
"Ronnie and I used to vacation here in Sandpiper Shores or over in Cedar Keys nearly every summer since we moved to Florida," Judy explained. "We fell in love with the pace of life and the sense of community in these coastal towns."
"So you've been coming to Sandpiper Shores regularly over the years?" Lacey pressed.
"Yes, we usually stayed in one of the cabins at the campground by Ember Lake," Judy told them. "I've been coming back every year since Ronnie passed away. Though this year I had to stay in Cedar Keys because the campground's cabins were fully booked."
"So you're looking to settle into the quiet life after the intensity of a Miami practice?" Lacey continued her questioning as June pulled into a parking space in front of Teacups.
"Yes," Judy answered, and June caught a glimpse in her rearview mirror of the woman's eyes darkening with sadness. "Ronnie and I were planning to retire here together eventually." Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "He just never made it to retirement."
"Do you have other family in New York or Miami?" Lacey continued her interrogation as they prepared to get out of the car. "Children, perhaps?"
"No, Ronnie and I were never blessed with children," Judy replied with obvious regret. "And I don't really have other family. My brother passed away about ten years ago, and he was really the only close relative I had left."
"Oh, I'm so sorry for all your losses," Lacey said with genuine compassion as they exited the vehicle.
As they walked toward the entrance of Teacups, June leaned close to Lacey and spoke quietly enough that Dr. Vernon wouldn't overhear.
"Is there anything else you want to know about her background, or have you covered everything in what I can only describe as the Sandpiper Inquisition?" June asked with gentle humor.
"Sorry," Lacey said softly, looking genuinely contrite. "I know I was being a bit intense with the questions."
"Just a bit," June confirmed with a smile. "What's really going on here?"
"It's this whole unknown enemy situation," Lacey admitted, her voice filled with frustration and anxiety.
"I know I'm probably being paranoid, but the idea of someone having a personal grudge against me has gotten to me more than I'd like to admit.
I find myself second-guessing everyone I don't know well. "
"I completely understand that response," June said with sympathy.
"But remember, Holt is already looking into Dr. Vernon's background as a matter of course.
So maybe we can tone down the interrogation techniques and focus on whether she's a good fit for your practice from a professional standpoint. "
"This is exactly why I needed you with me for this interview," Lacey admitted as they approached the entrance to Teacups. "You help me stay grounded and reasonable when my anxiety starts to take over."
They were greeted warmly by Margo, who led them through the main bakery area to the small conference room at the back of the building. The space had been beautifully set up, with a selection of beverages and some of Margo's signature pastries arranged on a small side table.
"Thank you so much for accommodating us on such short notice," June told Margo as they settled into the comfortable chairs around the conference table.
"Of course," Margo replied. "Anything for Aunt Lacey and her new practice. I hope the interview goes well."
Once they were settled and had their refreshments, the conversation shifted to Dr. Vernon's veterinary experience and qualifications, which proved to be genuinely impressive.
She had extensive experience in both small-animal practice and wildlife rehabilitation, with particular expertise in marine animal care, which would be invaluable given Sandpiper Shores' coastal location.
"I've worked with sea turtle rehabilitation programs along the Florida coast," Judy explained as she discussed her background. "And I've done emergency care for dolphins and seals that were injured by boat propellers or fishing equipment, as well as manatees."
"That's exactly the kind of expertise we need here," Lacey said, her professional interest clearly overriding her personal concerns. "We get a lot of marine wildlife cases, especially during tourist season when there's more boat traffic."
"I also have experience with the kind of exotic pets that people sometimes bring to coastal vacation areas," Judy continued. "Birds, reptiles, small mammals that might not be native to Florida but end up needing care when their owners are traveling."
For the next forty minutes, June listened as Lacey and Dr. Vernon discussed case studies, treatment philosophies, and the practical challenges of running a veterinary practice in a small community.
June could see Lacey's demeanor changing as the conversation progressed, her initial wariness giving way to genuine professional respect and enthusiasm.
By the time they were finishing their coffee and pastries, June could tell that Lacey had made her decision.
"Well, Dr. Vernon," Lacey said as they prepared to wrap up the meeting, "if you're happy with what we've discussed about the position and the practice, then I'm very pleased to welcome you aboard."
"When would you like me to start?" Judy asked, her face lighting up with obvious pleasure at the job offer.
"As soon as you're able," Lacey replied. "We're hoping to have basic services available within the week, so any help you can provide with the setup would be incredibly valuable."
"How about I start today?" Judy suggested, surprising both Lacey and June with her immediate availability. "I could come back with you and help with the setup process. I'm staying in Cedar Keys anyway, so I don't have any other commitments."
"Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that," Lacey protested. "You haven't even officially started yet, and manual labor certainly wasn't part of what we discussed."
"No, I'd genuinely like to help," Judy insisted with what appeared to be nervous enthusiasm. "The truth is, it would be wonderful to have something productive to do. I've been taking these annual vacations here since Ronnie died, but without him..."
"You find yourself at loose ends with too much time to think and remember," Lacey said with immediate understanding. "I know that feeling very well. I lost my husband five years ago."
And just like that, June watched as Lacey completely relaxed and began to build a genuine rapport with their new colleague. The shared experience of widowhood created an instant bond that transcended any professional relationship they might have developed.
"It's difficult, isn't it?" Judy said softly. "People mean well when they suggest taking vacations or doing things to 'treat yourself,' but sometimes staying busy with meaningful work is more healing than any amount of leisure time."
"Exactly," Lacey agreed. "After Trevor died, I threw myself into the veterinary practice and the wildlife rehabilitation work. It gave me a sense of purpose when everything else felt meaningless."
June felt her heart warm as she watched this connection develop between the two women. If Dr. Vernon turned out to be trustworthy, this partnership could be exactly what Lacey needed both professionally and personally.
"Well, Dr. Vernon," June said as they stood to leave the conference room, "welcome to the team. I should mention that I'm helping out with front desk duties and basic nursing support until Lacey can fully restaff. Gainesville apparently stole away her previous employees with better salary offers."
"Please, call me Judy," the new veterinarian requested with a warm smile. "And I'm truly glad to be part of this. It feels like exactly what I need at this point in my life."
As they prepared to return to the clinic building, June found herself cautiously optimistic about this new development. Judy Vernon seemed genuinely qualified and had the right personality to work well with both Lacey and the Sandpiper Shores community.
But even as she felt encouraged by the successful interview, June made a mental note to follow up with Holt about his background investigation.
In their current situation, with an unknown enemy targeting people they cared about, it was important to verify that Dr. Vernon was exactly who she appeared to be.
The stakes were simply too high to take anyone's credentials or motivations at face value, no matter how competent and personable they seemed during a formal interview.
Still, as they walked back toward June's car, June allowed herself to feel hopeful that this might be one positive development in what had been a very difficult and frightening week for everyone involved.