Falling for the Single Mom

by Mia Ross

  “Kids love it, so the drivers make sure to sound off every few yards or so.”

  There were two trucks, older vehicles that had clearly seen a lot of action. But they gleamed like red mirrors in the sunshine, making it plain that the volunteers who manned the department took a lot of pride in showing off their equipment. Behind them rolled at least a dozen tractors, some with antique steam engines and others that looked more modern. Then there was a group of farm kids towing wagons loaded down with small animals from rabbits to turtles.

  Sierra walked with them, next to a dappled gray pony hauling a larger wagon draped in bunting and sporting a sign identical to the one that hung on the post outside the rescue center. The litter of kittens that had come in on Heather’s first day was in one cage that had a sign perched on top proclaiming that they were READY TO BE LOVED. The other held a creature she’d never seen in person.

  “So beautiful,” she breathed, leaning forward for a better look. “When did the falcon come in?”

  “This morning. Sierra told me he’s got a broken wing, but our rehabber says he’ll be good as new in a few weeks and they can release him.”

  “That’s how I found the clinic in the first place,” Heather confided while a gaggle of Boy Scouts marched past. “I was cruising around the site and found a video from when they did a hawk release. It was so incredible, Bailey and I must have watched it half a dozen times. I was really impressed, and I emailed Erin the next day about the job opening they had listed on the main page.”

  “And the rest is history,” he finished with a grin. “I’m real glad you saw that clip. Otherwise, I never would’ve met you.”

  “That’s quite a line, country boy.”

  “Actually, it’s the honest truth.”

  The grin broadened, but it was nothing compared to the warmth in those vivid blue eyes. He didn’t kiss her, but she felt as if he had.

  Fortunately, the clopping sound of hooves drew her attention to the rear of the parade, where several kids rode on horseback in front of the elegant carriage she’d noticed during a visit to Gallimore Stables. Used for weddings—including the one at which Mike and Lily had met—its graceful lines gleamed in the sunshine, but not as much as the matched pair of copper-colored horses who seemed to be dancing down Main Street. One tossed her head, and the other nickered to the crowd in an equine greeting. To Heather, it looked as if Penny and Ginger were enjoying their star status to the fullest.

  Mike sat in the driver’s seat beside Maggie, reins held loosely in his capable hands. Behind them, Lily, Abby and Bailey were smiling and laughing, waving to the crowd as they trotted by. Charlie and Sarge were along for the ride, too, paws resting on the back of Mike’s seat while they took in the view. The delight shining in her niece’s eyes was all the confirmation Heather needed that extending their stay in this charming town was the right thing to do for both of them.

  Heather watched them until the caravan turned a corner and disappeared onto a side street. When she turned, Josh cocked his head in a questioning manner.

  “So,” he began in a casual tone, “does that smile mean you like our old-fashioned tradition?”

  “Very much.”

  He seemed to be on the verge of adding something else, and Heather held her breath waiting to hear what he’d say next.

  Thankfully, he simply flashed her a bright smile and angled her toward the park as a lone bugler’s somber tune summoned people for the memorial service. They found Bailey in the midst of the Kinley clan, proudly holding Sarge’s leash while the old terrier snoozed with his chin resting on her pink sneaker.

  Heather and Josh stepped up behind her, and she leaned back against them, secure as any child could possibly be. You’d never have guessed that she’d been orphaned and uprooted from her home only a few months ago. While Heather was proud to be a part of that, she recognized that the close-knit residents of their new home had played a significant role in Bailey’s recovery.

  The murmuring crowd quieted as a small color guard made its way in from the far side of the green. The Stars and Stripes came first, followed by soldiers who carried the flags of the units they were currently serving. Men took off their hats, and children copied their parents when they held their hands over their hearts to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

  Simple as it was, the ritual touched Heather in a way that made her feel humbled by the show of reverence for people who’d sacrificed everything to keep their country safe. As if that weren’t enough, the band played “America the Beautiful,” and then the song that represented each branch of the military. At the end, they launched into “The Star-Spangled Banner,” accompanied by the crowd heartily singing along.

  Eyes wide, Bailey was transfixed by the patriotic display, and Heather had to admit she felt pretty awed herself. There were no fireworks, but the army chaplain with the booming voice had no trouble keeping everyone’s attention through a short sermon that ended with a prayer.

  “We ask You, Lord, to keep all of our soldiers in Your care wherever they find themselves. Let them know that we remain grateful for their service every single day and will keep them in our prayers until the last one of them returns. Amen.”

  Heather whispered a heartfelt “Amen,” then listened as the bugler stood at the edge of the assembly and played taps. When he was finished, from off in the distance came the reply, a ghostly reminder of men and women who would never be coming home.

  As the final note drifted off on the warm breeze, she was relieved to see that she wasn’t the only one discreetly wiping a tear from her cheek. She didn’t know anyone in the military personally, so she didn’t often stop to think about how difficult that existence must be for them and their families. Somber as the lesson was, it was an important one.

  When the ceremony was over, the Kinley crew gathered in the shade of one of the grand oak trees that populated the square. They spread blankets over the grass, and Maggie set out a feast that looked large enough to share with half the town. Fried chicken, ham, salads and four different kinds of pie covered the blankets, and when she was finally satisfied with the arrangements, she held out her arms and smiled at the eager faces surrounding her.

  “All right, then. Let’s eat.”

  From that point on, it was like any other family meal Heather had enjoyed at the farm, minus the long table and benches. The boys argued, the girls chatted and, following Abby’s lead, Bailey snuck scraps from her paper plate to Sarge when she thought no one was looking.

  “Something wrong?”

  When she heard the concern in Josh’s voice, Heather realized that she’d paused with a roll in one hand and a plastic knife full of butter in the other. Smiling at her own foolishness, she shook her head while she spread the butter. “I was just thinking how great this is, slowing down to enjoy the day. Last Memorial Day, I worked a double shift at the clinic and never even got outside until it was dark.”

  Chewing a mouthful of his mother’s scrumptious cherry pie, Josh frowned. “I can’t imagine being stuck indoors like that. I’d go bonkers.”

  “I almost did,” she admitted ruefully. “I’m glad to have those days behind me, that’s for sure.”

  “Would you do it again?”

  “You mean become a vet?”

  “Yeah. Knowing what you know now, would you still make the same choice?”

  Coming from him, the question startled her. Up until now, she’d gotten the impression that Josh was a free spirit who didn’t examine life—his own or others’—all that closely. “I’ve always loved animals, and helping them is very rewarding for me. So yes, I’d do it again. How about you? If you could do anything, would you still want to be a farmer?”

  “I didn’t pick that,” he corrected her gently. “God did. He planted me where He knew I’d do the most good, and I’m happy with that.”

  In a way, Heat
her realized, He’d done the same with her. “He really knows what He’s doing, doesn’t He? Even if things don’t always make sense to us at the time, eventually they do. We just have to hang in there until that happens.”

  “That’s why they call it faith.”

  “We live by believing, not by seeing,” Heather said, quoting one of the few Bible verses she recalled from childhood.

  “Exactly.” Sprawling out, he leaned back on his elbows and crossed one long leg over the other. “’Course, for a science-y girl like you, that’s more of a stretch.”

  “It was,” she admitted, adding a grateful smile. “And then I met you.”

  “Just bein’ me.”

  That was more than enough for her, but Heather didn’t think that this was the time or place for a deep, emotional conversation. Fortunately, Bailey skipped over and plopped down between them. “Miss Tammy just told me the day care center will be open again next Monday, and they’re having a party for everyone. I can go back, right?”

  “Absolutely,” Heather replied, hugging her around the shoulders. “In fact, it’s probably time to sign you up for preschool in the fall.”

  “Awesome! Cara will be there, too, so it’ll be fun.” Turning to Josh, she added, “Will you come to the party with us next Monday?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it, sweetness. Just tell me what time, and I’ll be there.”

  While the two of them talked about future events, including the day care celebration, Heather hung back and listened with growing appreciation for the man who’d done so much for her niece. Bailey had opened up to him in a way she’d never done with anyone outside their family, and the timidity that had once so concerned Heather was a distant memory.

  His promise to attend the reopening of the school with them echoed pleasantly in her mind, and she couldn’t help smiling. Busy as he was, he hadn’t hesitated for even a second because he’d known it would make Bailey happy.

  If there was a kinder, more caring man on the planet than Josh Kinley, Heather would be well and truly amazed.

  Chapter Nine

  It was almost closing time at the clinic, and Heather was gathering her things so she could pick up Bailey from day care before they closed. Just as she was locking the front door, a minivan pulled into the lot.

  The driver flashed the headlights to get her attention, and she noticed that the woman was motioning for Heather to wait. The pleading look on her face made it clear this was an emergency, and she braced herself for something awful as she walked over to the driver’s open window. “May I help you?”

  “I know you only treat strays, but my daughter’s new puppy is very sick, and the nearest vet is half an hour away. I can see you’re ready to leave, but I didn’t know what else to do. Can you please help us?”

  Heather peeked into the backseat, where a young girl sat in her car seat, cradling a limp black Lab puppy against her. Tears had dried on her cheeks, and more were streaming down in a silent plea for someone to do something. Heather couldn’t just leave if there was a way for her to help them, so she smiled. “Come on inside. I have to make a quick call, and then we’ll see what’s going on.”

  “Really?” the distraught mother asked, obviously relieved. “Thank you.”

  Heather unlocked the door while she debated what to do about Bailey. She didn’t know how long she’d be, and while she knew Erin would pick up Bailey for her, she hated to drag her boss away from the pet store. Then inspiration struck, and she pulled up a now-familiar number. “Hi, Joanna? This is Heather. I hate to bug you, but there’s an emergency here at the clinic, and I was hoping you might run back to day care and take Bailey home with you.”

  “I’m here now, so it’s no trouble at all. Wednesday is casual night at our house, so we’re having pizza and watching the new princess movie that just came out. Is that all right with you?”

  “I’m jealous,” Heather replied with a laugh. “I’ll be there to pick her up as quickly as I can. If you’ll hand your phone to Tammy, I’ll approve your taking Bailey home. Thanks so much.”

  “You’re very welcome. We’ll have plenty to go around, so you can join us when you get here and tell us how things went.”

  “That’s really generous of you.”

  “Don’t even think twice about it,” the gracious woman said. “We working parents have to stick together.”

  Working parents, Heather echoed with a smile. That’s what she was now, and while she’d known that in a general sense, until recently the responsibility of it had terrified her. Now that she had a network of supportive friends, the whole thing was easier to manage. Not easy, but not impossible, either. She liked knowing that she and Bailey now had friends they could count on.

  After approving the change in routine, she shut off her phone, donned her lab coat and got to work. As she joined her visitors in the exam room, she reminded herself that this child must be terrified and needed some encouragement. Smiling, she said, “Grown-ups call me Dr. Fitzgerald, but you can call me Heather. What’s your name?”

  “Kayla.”

  “I’m Virginia Frederickson,” the mother added.

  “It’s nice to meet you both.” To Kayla, she said, “Who’s your cute little friend?”

  “Sally. She’s really, really sick.”

  Needing slightly more to go on, Heather glanced at Virginia for details.

  “We got her from a shelter on Saturday,” the woman explained. “And she seemed fine. But on Monday, she stopped eating and didn’t want to do anything but sleep. When I got home from work today, she was still in her puppy bed where she was this morning. Our babysitter said Sally hadn’t done anything all day but whimper.”

  A quick examination told Heather that the pup’s breathing was shallow, and her pulse was in hummingbird range. After gently inserting a thermometer, it took only a few seconds to determine that Sally’s temperature was much higher than it should be. She also squirmed in discomfort, which Heather took as an encouraging sign.

  “You’re okay, baby,” she crooned, gently smoothing fur that should be soft but was brittle from dehydration. She addressed her comments to Kayla, keeping the explanation short and simple. “Sally has some bad germs that are making her act like this. I’m going to help her drink some water and then give her medicine that will kill those nasty germs. She has to take it for a few days, but she should be feeling much better by this time tomorrow.”

  “Will she start eating again?” the girl asked.

  “Like a little horse,” Heather assured her, turning her attention to Virginia. “If she’s still not doing well when you get home tomorrow, call me and I’ll meet you here to see what needs to be done.”

  “Oh, thank you,” the woman breathed in relief. “This is our first pet, and it’s been so awful the past couple of days.”

  “I completely understand. My niece and I adopted a kitten recently, and she’d be very upset if Annabelle was feeling this bad. Kayla, if you can hold Sally nice and still for me, I’ll get her ready to go home.”

  She filled a large dropper with water and chose an antibiotic that was appropriate for the puppy’s age and weight. While she worked, it occurred to Heather that there must be other families in town whose pets got sick and had to be driven to Rockville for care. To her relief, the Lab swallowed the water without much fuss and took the shot like a champ.

  Heather gathered together the oral version of the antibiotic and some vitamin treats that would help boost the dog’s immune system. After putting everything in a bag, she wrote down the dosage instructions and added them to the bag with one of her business cards. “My cell number’s on here, along with the clinic’s. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call anytime. I love animals, and it’s my job to keep them healthy.”

  “Bless you, Dr. Fitzgerald,” the young mother said, shaking both of her hands
warmly. “I can’t thank you enough for staying to take care of us.”

  The phrasing caught her off guard, and as she walked them out, she realized that she had indeed been caring for the family as well as their dog. Physicians referred to that extra bit of compassion as a bedside manner, and while that didn’t apply to her patients, she decided that the concept was more or less the same.

  Alone in the clinic again, she cleaned up the exam room, disinfecting the table and stowing her equipment before heading for her car. As she drove into town, the satisfaction she felt whenever she was able to help an ailing animal gradually led her back to an idea that had started brewing at the Memorial Day parade. It had seemed crazy at the time, but now...

  On a whim, she hit the speed dial for Josh, expecting to get his voice mail. Instead, she heard, “What’s up, Doc?”

  “So funny,” she chided, laughing in spite of herself. “Have you got a minute?”

  “For you? Always.”

  The casual way he said it made her feel all warm and fuzzy, and she suspected that it wouldn’t take much for her to get used to feeling that way around him. “I had an idea, and I want to run it past you.”

  “Shoot.”

  Pulling onto the shoulder so she wouldn’t be distracted, she relayed her interesting encounter at the clinic, then got down to the real reason for her call. “I’ve been considering taking some part-time work at that animal hospital in Rockville, but if I’m driving back and forth to work there, any money I make will get swallowed up by a sitter for Bailey. Do you think there’s a way to set up a more formal veterinarian’s office at the rescue center? That way, I could cover both places and not be gone as much.”

  “I’d imagine we could work something out. Cam’s got his building designer’s license, and I hate to brag but I built most of my place from the floor up. When I moved in there, it wasn’t much more than an old storage shed with some questionable electric and plumbing.”