Better With You

by Ellen Joy

  “You’ll have to take care of her.”

  But he knew Lucy would take care of the dog better than most. She started learning how to take care of herself the minute she came onto this earth. When Michelle first showed up at his office, he knew he was her last resort, but as always with Michelle, he couldn’t say no.

  The group of upper-class kids in Boston was small and inclusive, and Michelle was the wildest of them all. Her stories were legendary. Her beauty incomparable. As a kid, he always watched from the sidelines, but in high school they started dating, on and off. Mostly off. They broke up so many times he literally lost track, but he always took her back, even though he knew she’d just end up breaking his heart. He had held out hope that one day she’d stay.

  He thought college would change his feelings for her, but it only made the time he spent with her more intense. Never, when he applied to law school, did he think she’d be one of his best clients. Tickets, fines, broken contracts, disorderly conduct, destroyed property. But these were nothing compared to her addictions.

  In high school, she’d started drinking on the weekends, but soon he’d catch her on the weekdays. She’d always be the sloppiest, the highest, or the most wasted. She could never just have just one drink. Instead, she’d have a six-pack and sneak a few shots. The wilder the behavior, the harder she fell. Literally and figuratively.

  After graduation, she left town for California, then moved again and again. When her mother died, her father moved on with a much younger wife and supported her lifestyle out of guilt. Michelle would find “the one” in Saint Tropaz or in Prague. She was always headed to the next big place, with a new set of friends, or to the big party. Then when trouble found her, which it always did, she’d call him.

  And then for a few years she stopped contacting him.

  When she came into his office that afternoon, he almost hadn’t recognized her. He had hoped she had cleaned up. But the second he saw her, he knew it was much worse than he ever imagined. Her body was just bones, her face sunken, her once dark brown eyes were now pale. She looked older than her thirty years. It wasn’t until she stepped into his office that he noticed the small girl standing behind her.

  Her blond hair was messily pulled back into a ponytail. Her clothes were mismatched and dirty, but the baby doll she carried in her arms was immaculate. The girl clearly took better care of her toy than Michelle did of her.

  “I need your help,” Michelle spoke in front of the girl, tears quivering in her panicked eyes.

  “What do you need?” He could tell she was on something. She couldn’t stand still, her hands scratching at her skin. He watched the most beautiful person he had ever known hit rock bottom.

  She bit her lip and shook her head. “We need a place to stay.”

  He looked at the little girl, who stood completely still, her eyes silently pleading. He knelt down at her level and pointed toward the doll. “What’s her name?”

  The little girl rubbed the doll’s hair protectively. She tilted its head toward her, squinting down into the eyes as if contemplating whether he was safe enough to share that information. Then she looked at him, and he instantly feel in love. “Gertie.”

  Michelle and Lucy moved into his apartment that night. Michelle even cleaned up for a bit. For about six months, he had never been happier. That’s why he chose to ignore the signs that she was using again.

  She tried rehab, and he hired nannies to watch both Lucy and Michelle. But none of it worked. She started leaving with no explanation, then coming back a few days later when her binge was over. Then one day, he came home from the office and the nanny showed him a letter on the table. Michelle wanted to give up her rights.

  That night, he drew the papers up. Michelle had not listed a father on Lucy’s birth certificate, and never told him the name. He drafted up a custody agreement and sent it to her family’s attorney, but she never signed. Instead, her attorney drew up a temporary custody agreement. Each year, the date extended.

  They never saw her again. She never used her parental days or holidays. She never tried to make contact, even on Lucy’s birthday. And then, he lost track of where she was.

  But he knew. If she wanted Lucy back, she could.

  He went from an eligible bachelor, to a dad who knew every song from Frozen. His family thought he was crazy. They were angry with Michelle, but also fell in love with Lucy, and soon offered their help. His mother enjoyed having a granddaughter, his father took up his own role as “Poppy,” and his sister became the cool aunt who did the fun things.

  Becoming a single father changed everything, especially his career. He no longer wanted to work a ninety-hour work week. He wanted to have dinner with Lucy and tuck her in at night. Then he visited his client, Freddy Harrington, who owned a resort in a small town in Maine. Adam remembered visiting Camden Cove as a kid, but never noticed its charm until that day. Mr. Harrington wanted to look at his options for buying the farm. But the woman wouldn’t sell it to him, no matter how sweet the offer. She wanted her land to remain a farm and already had an interested buyer.

  On the way back to the city, he took a detour. Mrs. Sanborn stepped out of the house when she saw his black BMW pulling up the drive. Not the kind of car that should be navigating the unpaved, snow-covered Maine road.

  “Did you get lost, Mr. Cahill?”

  He handed her the check he had written before he left the hotel.

  “I told you, I will not sell my land to that man.” She was insulted now.

  Adam shook his head. “I’d like to buy it.”

  Then, he told her about Lucy, of his plan to create a farm for rescued animals, and how he planned to stay there until Lucy wanted to take it over. She held the check in her shaky hands, staring at it.

  “You must really love that little girl.”

  The next day, he asked to be bought out of the firm. His partners were reluctant, but they knew he wasn’t the same hard-hitting attorney as before. He finished his accounts, packed up his South End apartment, and bought a truck.

  Now, as Adam looked at Lucy petting the mangy dog, waiting for their appointment, there was still something missing. He wanted her to have more than just a dog. He wanted her to have a family.

  “Good morning,” said a cheery voice from around the corner. Elizabeth stepped out into the lobby. She floated over to them like an angel. He was sure she noticed his jaw drop.

  “I was just thinking about you guys,” she said.

  Adam couldn’t help but smile. He couldn’t explain it, but he liked the idea of her thinking of them. He gestured to the new dog. “Funny you should say that, because we were thinking of you.”

  She laughed, and he liked making her laugh even more than her thinking of him. “I think I found you a babysitter.”

  “That’s great,” he said, surprised she had pulled through for him, and so soon. “I think I might need all the help I can get at this point.”

  Elizabeth laughed again. It sounded like a melody, rising up and down. “That child has got you wrapped around her little finger. You might want to use the word no at some point.”

  He looked over to Lucy, who now was kissing the dog. “You try saying no to her.”

  Another sweet sound of laughter and Elizabeth said, “Well, I guess I’ll need to meet your new family member.”

  Lucy pointed to the dog, now resting on the floor. “This is Mildred. Mildred, meet Dr. Elizabeth.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mildred.” Elizabeth knelt down before the dog. “You’re looking good, momma.”

  Elizabeth stood up and returned her attention to Lucy. Was he a fool to think she’d see him as more than just Lucy’s dad?

  “Let’s check Mildred over.”

  Or more than just a client?

  Throughout the examination, Lucy comforted Mildred. The dog seemed very happy to have a little companion who wanted nothing more than to adore her. Lucy whispered in Mildred’s ear she was a good girl.

  “You’r
e very good with her, Lucy,” Elizabeth said, wrapping her stethoscope around her neck.

  Lucy rubbed the back of Mildred’s neck with her fingers, he could tell the compliment made her proud.

  “You have a thing for pregnant animals?” Elizabeth asked on the way back to the lobby.

  “Lucy does,” he said. “She read that pregnant animals are among the majority who don’t get rescued.”

  She looked at the young girl and he could see how impressed she was with Lucy.

  “Did she get this philanthropy from you?”

  Lucy shot him a look. She was listening. “She definitely didn’t get it from me.”

  In the lobby, Elizabeth handed over the file to Margie. “Will you set up another appointment in a couple of days, but at the Cahill residence? We don’t need to put any more stress on all the females in your life.”

  “I’m completely surrounded by women.” Adam looked at Lucy, then Elizabeth, then the dog. It felt right.

  Lucy held up her arms, flexing her muscles. “Girl power!”

  Elizabeth crinkled. “Would you like to take a tour, while Margie gets Mildred’s medications ready?”

  Lucy’s mouth fell as wide as her eyes. “Would I!”

  She jumped up and headed straight back to the examination room. “Can we see the other rooms?”

  Adam looked at Elizabeth, who followed Lucy down the hall. He gestured toward Mildred, who laid on the ground, panting. “I’ll stay here.”

  She pointed to a coffee station set up along the wall and said, “Grab a cup.”

  “Thanks, I’ll do that.” He moseyed over to the assorted K-Cups in baskets. He heard Elizabeth’s bubbly laugh even after they were out of sight.

  He swore they had exchanged a look, a look that had been happening more often. Maybe his parents weren’t crazy. Maybe he should ask her to dinner? She didn’t wear a ring. Maybe some part of him wasn’t dead and buried in Boston.

  He checked out the brochures and pictures of Camden Cove’s family pets posted along the walls as his coffee brewed. From behind him, he heard the door chime. He paid no attention until he heard a man’s voice ask for Elizabeth. The man tilted his head and seemed to recognize him. Margie’s eyebrows rose as the man sauntered over to Adam and held out his hand.

  “Aren’t you the guy who bought the Sanborn place?” he asked in a friendly tone. “I’m Dan Turner.”

  “Adam Cahill.” He shook the man’s rough hand. His strength showed in his grip. “Yes, just a few months ago.” Although Adam assumed, like everyone in the small town, Dan knew that already.

  “My girlfriend says you’ve started getting animals over there,” the man said, looking amused at the thought. “Glad to see you kept it as a farm.”

  Adam nodded as everything just sort of came together, like finding the lost puzzle piece under the couch. Dr. Elizabeth Williams had a boyfriend.

  AS ELIZABETH WALKED Lucy back to the lobby, Margie cut her off. In a panicked voice, she said, “Dan’s here.”

  “Okay ...” Elizabeth hoped Margie wouldn’t make this a big deal. It didn’t have to be, and it would only make her nervous, especially after last night.

  “He’s talking to Mr. Cahill.”

  “Are you worried Dan’s going to get a pregnant dog?” Elizabeth joked, pretending that it didn’t make her anxious that Dan was talking to Adam, but her stomach twisted at the thought. Lucy looked between the two women and Elizabeth hoped she was too young to really comprehend the situation, feeling strange that she may or may not have the hots for her dad.

  As she walked out with Lucy, her eyes went directly to Adam, then to Dan.

  Adam stood in his former Mr. Cahill stance, shoulders back, chest puffed out. Dan held his chin. They both looked at her as she entered the lobby. They both seemed annoyed.

  Her heart sped up and she folded her hands behind her back so she wouldn’t fiddle with her hair. She didn’t want to appear in any way frazzled in front of the two.

  “Hi Dan,” she said. “I see you’ve met Mr. Cahill, Mildred’s new owner.”

  She stayed professional, hoping it would ease the tension that hung in the air between the two men.

  “Yes, we were just introducing ourselves.” Dan grabbed his wallet and pulled out a business card. “We work on any car, just swing by and I can take a look.”

  He handed it over to Adam, who checked it out.

  “Great, man, thanks.” Adam pulled out his own wallet and stuck the card inside. The two shook hands. “Thanks for telling me about Perkin’s beach. I didn’t know that residents could use it, too.”

  Margie swooped in and said, “Mr. Cahill, those prescriptions are ready now.”

  Elizabeth gave Lucy a quick squeeze. “Don’t forget to call when you notice her behavior changing. And keep track of everything you feed her, when she uses the bathroom, what she does, and at what time. Even what it looks like. All of it.”

  Lucy made a face. “What it looks like?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “When you notice things begin to change, that’s the babies letting you know they’re ready to come.”

  Adam looked down at Lucy. “What do you say to Dr. Elizabeth?”

  “Thank you, Dr. Elizabeth!” Lucy wrapped her arms around Elizabeth again. The little hug triggered feelings that Elizabeth had never felt before.

  Maternal feelings.

  ADAM SHOULDN’T HAVE been surprised that a beautiful, intelligent woman like Elizabeth would have a boyfriend. What did surprise him was how envious he became of Dan. He tried not to react and attempted not to watch the two interact, but as Dan followed Elizabeth to her office, he watched them walk together, wishing it was him.

  Lucy looked up at him. “You like her.”

  He made a face, but quickly remembered the older woman who was ringing up their bill. “Dr. Elizabeth’s a very nice woman. Of course, I like her.”

  He smiled at Margie, who now seemed intent on listening to their conversation.

  “I mean, like, like.” Lucy spoke now to Margie who nodded her head as Lucy continued. “He talks about her all the time.”

  His eyes shot open and he signaled her in their secret language, winking twice, hard. It meant, shut your pie hole. He wanted to nip this in the bud, especially because he didn’t want Lucy to get any ideas. Clearly, Dr. Williams was taken.

  DAN’S DEMEANOR CHANGED the second he walked into Elizabeth’s office. Something was off. She wondered if he was still upset from the night before.

  “So, that’s the guy who bought the farm?” He sat down in the chair across from her desk. “Hmm.”

  At first, she sat behind the desk, making the situation even more awkward, but then pulled her chair away from the desk, nerves making her bump the edge before squeaking toward Dan. “His daughter wants to be a vet. She reminds me of me.”

  “How old is she?”

  “Eight.”

  He nodded, then paused before saying, “Elizabeth, I want to talk to you about us.”

  This was it, she thought to herself. He saw it, too. She hadn’t been able to figure herself out in time.

  “I think we should move in together.”

  She drew in a short breath, shocked. “Move in together?”

  “Yeah, it’ll be great.” He scooted to the edge of his chair, grabbing both of her hands. “We could buy a farm like you always wanted, and then you can start your clinic. We could build what you want, or renovate a house just like the Sanborn place. Start settling down, you know?”

  Elizabeth couldn’t believe what she was hearing. His offer was everything she had ever wanted.

  But it just didn’t feel ... right.

  “Oh Dan, I wish I could say yes.”

  “Then say yes,” he said, his eyes hopeful.

  “Dan, it’s just that ...”

  She could see the hope diminish as she trailed off. He pulled his hands away from hers and leaned back, scrutinizing her. “Does this have something to with the new guy in town?”

 
“No,” she snapped, a bit too quickly.

  He gave her a sideways glance. “I saw the way you two looked at each other. That look had nothing to do with his daughter.”

  His voice sounded accusatory, but everything became clear and terribly obvious. She wasn’t in love with Dan, and holding on until she might fall in love with him wasn’t fair to him.

  “I really like you Dan, but I’m just not ready for that kind of commitment.”

  “You really like me?” He looked like he had no hope left. “Are you ever going to be ready?”

  She looked down and shook her head, letting out the breath she had held in. She wished things could be different, but Matt was right. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You’re sorry?” He stood. His eyes were hurt, but his stoicism wouldn’t allow his feelings to reach the surface. He walked out. Her heart dropped. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She wasn’t exactly sure why she was breaking up with him, except that when he talked about buying a farm, all she could imagine was the Sanborn Farm and watching Lucy riding horses with Adam.

  Nine

  All night, Joan had been a good listener. Come morning, Elizabeth still couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened. She decided to head to her parents before work. She didn’t want to deal with Margie and all her questions. Her mom would be home, and she’d be able to talk about everything. Or at the very least have her father distract her from her reeling thoughts.

  What had she done?

  She let go of a guy who only wanted to make her happy, and she let him go for ... what? A man she only knew on a professional level. A man who might feel nothing for her.

  Nothing.

  She pulled up the driveway to her family home, a century-old New Englander. As a little girl, the house had been tiny with all four kids, but now it felt too big for her parents, who recently retired. As she opened the door, she could hear James Taylor playing in the background, but didn’t see anyone.

  “Mom?” She stepped inside and noticed the room was empty. “Dad?”