It was a busy day and Lauren concentrated on her patients. After the last client left, her mind slid to the morning and her breakfast conversation. Lauren groaned and her cheeks grew warm with shame at having run off without showing Becky the new calves. She’d broken a promise and that wasn’t what friends did.
After dinner, Lauren called Callie. “I apologize for leaving without thanking you for breakfast.”
“Did you have an emergency?”
“No.”
“Why did you go?”
“I left because Mitch was there,” Lauren said.
“Why? Mitch and I are just friends.”
“I don’t get the impression she thinks the two of you are just friends. And she made it pretty clear I wasn’t welcome there.”
“More than friends? I don’t believe it. I haven’t given her any encouragement.” Callie’s tone was clipped, and her irritation was evident.
Lauren cringed inwardly. Mitchell had just been protective. Rude yes, but protective, and Callie and Becky needed that. “May I talk to Becky, please? I shouldn’t have bolted, but it didn’t feel right to stay.”
“You promised you’d show Becky the twins. I took her, but you should’ve done it. Not okay, Lauren.”
“I know and I’m sorry. May I please speak with her?”
Callie relented and let Lauren speak with Becky. Lauren apologized to Becky for leaving and Becky forgave her. Lauren had no reason Becky would understand. How could she explain to a nine-year-old child that her insecurities had sent her running from Poplarcreek again?
Chapter Twenty-eight
“Spill, Callie. How are you and the delicious Dr. Cornish doing? The last time I saw you was the women’s dance the week after Valentine’s Day and tomorrow is April Fool’s day.” Rachel scowled slightly.
Callie laughed. “That’s very precise, Rach.”
“Precise records and dates are my job. Now quit stalling and spill already.”
Callie shrugged and inspected her coffee cup as if it was the most interesting dish she had ever seen. “It’s been a busy calving season.” It was Wednesday, Lauren’s day off, and Callie had driven to the city with her. They had separate things to do but had agreed to meet for lunch. It was domestic and couple-like, and she loved it, even if they were still in uncharted territory.
Rachel squinted at Callie. “Busy with the vet season?”
“That too, Rach. That too.”
Rachel leaned toward her. “Is she good to you? Does she look after you?”
“I did a calving on Monday night with only a little coaching. It was twins. A year ago, I never dreamed I’d be able to do it.” Callie squared her shoulders. If one more person suggested she needed someone to make decisions she’d scream. “I don’t need looking after.”
“I hear Lauren does, though, and I demand details. Where is she today? I thought she was with you?”
“There’s a half-day lecture at the vet college. She’ll meet us afterward.”
“So, you’re with me this morning?”
“I am. Now quit teasing and put me to work.” Callie grinned to take the sting out of her words.
“Suits me. I don’t work until three today. We’ll spend the morning at the women’s shelter.”
“You’ve been volunteering there for a year. Good for you.”
“Who knew my job in medical records at the hospital would be excellent training for organizing the shelter records.”
Callie accompanied Rachel to the shelter. They organized files, did the shelter’s bookkeeping, and helped the residents with personal tasks.
Later, Callie stopped in the common room for another cup of coffee and glanced at the small family sitting at a table. The children were asleep or coloring. The woman was trying to breast feed while she flipped through a government form.
“Can I help?” Callie asked. “Like a cup of coffee?” The woman looked up. It was Heather Kruger, Tommy’s wife, but gone was the round face and sunny smile from the previous year. “Heather?”
“Oh, right, Callie. Hi.” Heather ducked her head and focused on her baby.
Callie slid into the chair beside her. “Can I help?”
Heather shrugged.
“How are you? I see you’ve had the baby.”
“Yes. That’s four girls for me. And the answer to your first question is not so great.” Heather waved the documents around in frustration. “I need to apply for more aid, but I might as well be reading the French version of these government forms for all I understand. Why do they make it so difficult? I swear they take four paragraphs for what could be said in one line.”
“I recognize that form. Want some help?” Callie was careful to offer help and push gently. In Heather’s place women felt as if they had very little control in life and she wouldn’t want to take any more of it.
“Thanks, Callie.”
Callie smoothed out the crumpled papers and started at the top. She filled in the information Heather gave her. “You see much of Tommy?”
Heather shook her head. “He’s stopped calling. He still emails begging me to move back to Kruger Farm, but I can’t live with Heinz and Kyle again.”
“I hear that.”
“Poplarcreek will be nice. We’ll get settled this summer and be ready when my oldest starts kindergarten in September.”
Callie went cold. “Poplarcreek?”
“When you sell. Tommy emailed me yesterday and said Heinz is buying your farm and plans to give us the house.” Heather laid her hand on Callie’s. “You okay? I’ll take care of it, I promise. You and Becky can visit if you want.”
Callie carefully laid the pen on the table. She successfully suppressed the urge to stab the table with it. “But I’m not selling. I’ve turned down every offer from Heinz.” Heather’s face fell and Callie was sorry about that, but if Heinz and Tommy were lying to Heather she needed to know now.
“Mommy, are you okay?”
“Yes, honey. Take your sisters and get some juice. Rachel’s put some cookies out.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
Callie smiled as she watched the three little girls toddle away holding hands.
Heather leaned forward. “He said you’re moving home to British Columbia and happy to sell.” She frowned. “So, Tommy was lying? Lying to me? I don’t understand. It’s not like him.”
“I’ll bet Heinz is lying to Tommy. I’ll bet he needs Tommy to stay and work for him. Few people in town will and the farm’s too much for Kyle to manage alone.”
“That figures. My husband’s a gentle man, and I love that, but I wish he’d just punch his father in the face and come back to me.”
“I hope he breaks away before Heinz and Kyle drag him down with them.” While they finished the forms, Callie told Heather all the things Heinz and Kyle had been up to. It was her right to know, and the only way she’d keep her little girls safe.
An hour later, Heather gathered her girls and headed for the door. She squeezed Callie’s hand. “Thanks, Callie, and don’t sell to Heinz. Keep Poplarcreek for Becky, but please stay safe. My girls and I will find something on our own.”
Callie handed Heather’s baby to her. She’d been cuddling her while Heather wrangled the other three into snowsuits. “Thanks, and you take care.” After a warm hug Heather left.
Rachel joined Callie at the front window, and they watched Heather load her four girls into a rusty van. Rachel pointed. “Another reason to stay in the city. She’s my age and has four children already. Four!”
“There are big families in Saskatoon, too, Rach.” Callie waved as Heather drove off. Helping Heather and the other women was rewarding work and made Callie remember how lucky she was to have the farm, no matter how much work it was.
Rachel glanced at her watch. “Let’s go have a coffee while we wait for Lauren.”
“Good idea.”
They drove to their favorite bistro and picked a table at the window. They sipped their coffees while they discussed Becky, an
d Callie’s farm and all the work.
“If it ever gets too much for you, sell and move to the city. Move in with me. It would be fun, you, me, and Becky.”
Even Rachel was trying to tell her what to do. It was unbelievable. “It’s a generous offer, but if I ever leave Poplarcreek, Becky and I are headed west and we’re not stopping until we get to my parents’ berry farm. Besides, we might cramp your style. Get in your way.”
“Not a chance,” Rachel said.
Callie considered telling Rachel about the latest from the Krugers, but she was tired. Tired of Heinz Kruger and his nonsense consuming so much of her life. Besides, Rachel would just tell her, again, to sell Poplarcreek or find somebody to protect her. Instead Callie chose to just smile and listen as Rachel described the man she was pursuing before she switched to quizzing her about Lauren.
“Who was Lauren’s date at the club that night?” Rachel waved her hands in front of her. “Nina?”
“Tina.” Callie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “Lauren told me Tina was twenty-three, drunk, and that was the first time she’d ever met her, and the last.”
Eyebrows raised, Rachel mirrored Callie’s posture. “Not the impression Tina gave. She led you to believe she and Lauren had hooked up.” Rachel tapped an index finger on the table. “Why didn’t Lauren set you straight, so to speak, that night?”
Callie laughed and leaned toward Rachel. “She told me she tried but was so flabbergasted at what Tina said that by the time she could form a sentence I had vanished.”
“Okay, but what was she doing with Tina after that?”
“Lauren dragged Tina to the restroom because Tina was going to be sick.” Callie whispered to keep from bothering the other diners. “Nothing else happened.”
Rachel laughed. “Hilarious. You were miffed and scampered off into the night.”
“True story. Turns out, Lauren hasn’t had many girlfriends. She doesn’t jump into bed with women.”
“She’s older and should be more experienced than you. A woman of the world.” Rachel laughed. “What a difference. You had loads of girlfriends in high school and college before you met Liz.”
“Not loads.” Callie grinned. “It just took me a long time to find Liz. She was my one serious love, and I had her for such a short time.”
Rachel took Callie’s hands. “Ah, Callie.”
“Lauren had tears in her eyes after I told her what happened to Liz.” Callie let go of Rachel’s hands and dug in her purse for a tissue. “It was sweet.”
“She sounds nice, but aren’t you worried Lauren has ties to Ontario? What about her family there?”
“When Lauren divorced her wife, their children cut her off. She still loves them. Having her children reject her was agony, but they’re reconnecting, and she hopes her daughter will come to Saskatchewan in the summer.”
“And have you slept with Lauren?”
Callie shrugged and traced the pattern in the tablecloth with a finger. “There’s a mutual attraction, but we’re going slow. Not pushing our relationship too far or too fast.”
Rachel smirked. “So, how hard is the going slow part for you?”
Callie shook her head. “I have the urge to tear Lauren’s clothes off every time I’m near her.”
Rachel winked. “Keep going.”
“A big bull knocked Lauren down and she stayed with me for a few days. It was wonderful having her close and helping her for a change, but I didn’t sleep much picturing her in a bed ten feet down the hall.”
“Is she okay now?”
“Bruised, but no broken bones. But it took a toll, for sure. There she is. My vet’s here.” Callie tipped her head toward Lauren, who was standing at the entrance to the restaurant.
Rachel winked at Callie. “She’s as cute as I remember, but my vet sounds possessive.”
“You know, Rach, I am possessive, and I think I’m falling for her.”
Lauren removed her coat and scanned the tables in the restaurant, searching for them. Callie raised her hand and waved. Lauren raised one finger, pointed toward the restroom, and disappeared.
Rachel waggled her eyebrows at Callie. “You’re feeling possessive or feeling as if you want her to possess you?”
“Both. She’s amazing.” It was true. Despite their differences and everything that still lay between them, Lauren was a wonderful person.
Lauren wended her way to their table. She bent to give Callie a light peck on the lips and said hello to Rachel.
They had a nice lunch chatting about family and work. After lunch, Lauren said, “I parked my truck two blocks away. It’s freezing outside. Callie, would you like to wait here? I’ll fetch my truck and come back for you.”
“Thanks.” Callie would’ve walked to the truck, but Lauren was giving her a few minutes alone with Rachel. Once again, it was thoughtful, and not controlling.
“Bye, Rachel.” Lauren tried to shake Rachel’s hand good-bye, but Rachel hugged her instead. Lauren left looking a little bewildered.
“Well?” Callie had watched Rachel scrutinize Lauren as if she were assessing her for worthiness.
“Lauren’s interesting, friendly, and hilarious. Points to her for being polite to the waitstaff. Too many people aren’t. I love that she held your hand whenever she could. She also listens to you and appeared interested in your opinions. And she makes you laugh.”
“You like her?”
Rachel tilted her head. “I’ve only known you a few years and you’re the happiest I’ve ever seen you. And I love seeing you cherished and respected. Hang on to her.”
“Thanks. I am happy, for the most part.” Callie hugged Rachel and kissed her on the cheek.
“Does Lauren have a single brother or sister?” Rachel asked. “Either is fine. I’m not fussy.”
Callie smiled as she waited just inside for Lauren to pick her up. It felt good to have a partner sitting beside her, out in public with friends. It felt so normal, so easy. She could get used to that.
Chapter Twenty-nine
On Thursday, Callie arrived at PVS to pay her bill and buy more medication for the calves. Wednesday had been a nice day out with Rachel and Lauren, but the reality of farming was back. As she headed to the front counter, she scanned the clinic for Lauren. Callie stopped at the counter in front of a woman who was busy tapping away on the computer.
“Hi, I’m Janice. May I help you?”
“I’m Callie Anderson and I own Poplarcreek Farm.”
“Right, Poplarcreek. Nice to meet you.” They shook hands and Janice laughed.
Callie’s eyebrows winged up. “Is something funny?”
“No, no, not at all. What can I do for you?”
Callie grimaced. “I should pay my bill, or at least part of it.”
“I’ll print it for you.” A minute later, Janice handed Callie a copy of her bill and excused herself to answer the phone.
Callie gaped at the amount she owed and collapsed into a chair in the waiting room to catch her breath. The many C-sections and calvings added up to a huge bill. She could have used the four thousand dollars Kyle stole from her, but Heinz hadn’t paid her yet. She would probably have to go to court to get her money, but the thought of dealing with them at all made her stomach roil. When Janice returned, Callie dug out her credit card to pay her bill.
“The veterinarians have been busy at Poplarcreek. Dr. Cornish gave you a break, so that’ll help.” Janice snickered. “Lucky you.”
“Pardon? A break?” Callie resented the sly look on the other woman’s face. What game was she playing?
“See this line? A C-section listed as no charge. You got it for free.” Janice smirked. “I guess it pays to be dating a veterinarian.”
Lauren exited her office and smiled at Callie. “Hello. I thought I heard you.”
Callie frowned. “Did you give me a free C-section?”
Lauren stepped back and blinked. “I told Ian every tenth heifer C-section or calving should be free. That�
��s all it is.”
Callie struggled to maintain a neutral tone. “May I speak with you in private, please, Dr. Cornish?”
“Certainly.” Lauren led Callie to the exam room. After closing the door Lauren spread her arms and stepped toward Callie.
Callie crossed her arms, shifted her weight to one hip, and glared at Lauren. “Why did you deduct a C-section from my bill? I didn’t ask you to do that,” she whispered.
“I wanted to give you a break.” Lauren glanced toward the closed door as if assessing for escape routes from a dangerous animal.
“Don’t patronize me and don’t make decisions about my finances.” There was steel in her voice when Callie spoke. “I appreciate you were trying to help, but I don’t need charity.” She stalked from the exam room and handed over her credit card. “Janice, please have the missing C-section added to my bill. I’ll come back and pay.”
Janice glanced at Lauren. At Lauren’s nod Janice said, “I’ll do it. Thank you, Mrs. Adelson.”
“My name is Anderson.” Callie turned toward the front door.
Janice spoke in an unnecessarily loud voice. “Do I add last week’s calving too, Dr. Cornish?”
Callie whirled and her eyes burned into Lauren. Her body was rigid with indignation. “Yes, add it, please.” Then she stormed from the clinic.
Lauren followed Callie to her car. “Why are you being this way?”
“I don’t expect you to pay my bills. I don’t expect you to look after me. My whole life everyone else’s been telling me what to do. At Poplarcreek, I make the decisions. I pay the bills and for the first time, I’m in charge. I manage my farm and my family, and I like it that way.”
Lauren gave a little bow. “My apologies for trying to help.”
Callie took a deep breath to steady herself. “I don’t need help. Please, put the C-section and twin calving on my bill.”
“You got it, lady.” Lauren raised her voice. “I’ll add the C-section, but not the twin calving. I helped you with the calving as a friend and on my own time. I only coached, but don’t worry, I’ll add the ten dollars for the supplies we used. I wouldn’t want to offend you some more by trying to make things a little easier.”
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