The door instantly swung open, as if Doc had been standing there waiting for them.
“Hey, hey! Come in!” he said, waving Evie and Bryson inside. He gestured at the dog carrier. “Who’s this?”
“This is Bella, the most spoiled papillon you’ll ever meet,” Bryson said.
“Well, let her out of that cage,” Doc said. “She needs to run around.”
“She’s fine,” Bryson said. “She’s had a full day today. She’ll be snoring in about three minutes.” He set Bella’s carrier on the floor and perched against the edge of Doc’s crowded desk. “What’s going on, Doc? Why did you call us here?”
Evie tried valiantly not to stare at the way the corded muscles in Bryson’s arms flexed as he folded them across his chest. It didn’t work.
She turned her focus to Doc, whose expression had darkened considerably since his jovial greeting. Something was definitely off here.
“What’s wrong?” Evie asked. “Are you sick?”
“I’m fine,” Doc said. He let out a sigh. “It’s the rescue that’s in trouble.”
“The Sanctuary?” Evie and Bryson asked simultaneously.
“You asked about the mentorship program the other day, Evie,” Doc said. “The truth is, the program hasn’t been in operation for more than a year.”
Evie’s hand flew to her chest. “Doc! Have you been handling the workload here by yourself?”
He nodded.
“Why didn’t you say anything before now?” Bryson asked.
“Stubbornness, if you ask Odessa,” Doc said. “Honestly, I thought I could turn things around on my own. I’ve been applying for grants, and I dipped into my retirement.”
“Doc!” Evie said again.
“You’ve been funding this place on your own?” Bryson asked.
Doc responded to their concern with a dismissive wave. “I’m fine. What am I going to do with the money? It’s not as if I have family to pass it on to,” he said. “These petsaremy family. But it’s not enough, and as much as I don’t like to think about it, I’m getting old. I can’t do this on my own.”
“You shouldn’t have to,” Evie said.
Guilt engulfed her. She’d neglected The Sanctuary over the past year. She’d assumed all was going just fine but hadn’t bothered to check in on Doc or the rescue.
“I’m sorry for not being here for you,” Evie said.
“It’s not your—” Bryson said.
“There’s no need for—” Doc said.
Evie stopped them both, holding up a hand. “I should have been here,” she reiterated. “I’m sorry I haven’t been, but I am now. What do you need from me, Doc? I happen to be between jobs right now, so if you need to restart the mentorship program, I’m willing to lend a hand.”
Doc shook his head. “Eventually. Maybe. But that would come later. With the increasing cost of food and medicine, I’m more concerned with keeping the doors open,” Doc said. He looked to Evie, then to Bryson. “I asked the two of you to come in today because I’m hoping you can help come up with a way to save The Sanctuary. Based on where things stand right now, we have enough to operate for another two months, maybe three if Odessa figures out a way to stretch the budget. Do you think you can do that?”
The two of them? As in her and Bryson? As in her workingwithBryson?
“I know you’re still settling in, Bryson, but—” Doc started.
“I’m good,” Bryson cut him off. “I can handle it. What about you, Ev? Are you in?”
“I—” She looked to Bryson, then quickly averted her eyes, focusing on Doc. “I have to think about it,” Evie said. She immediately felt like a filthy rock at the bottom of a scum-filled pond. But how else was she expected to react to the thought of working alongside Bryson?
“I understand,” Doc said. “It’s a big commitment. And you all lead busy lives.”
