She typed a quick reply:I always knew she had it in her. How are the others doing?
Matt’s response came almost immediately.All thriving. Everyone’s impressed with how well-socialized the pups are. It should make finding the right people to adopt them easier.
Lynda felt a pang of regret at missing this milestone. She’d become so attached to the puppies, especially Star, that knowing they’d one day be living with other people made her feel sad.
Wish I could be there,she wrote, then hesitated before adding,for the puppies and you.
She hit send before she could overthink it. Matt had been sending daily updates, sometimes multiple times a day, since she’d arrived in Denver. His messages were a lifeline, connecting her to Sapphire Bay and the life she’d begun to build there.
A knock at her office door interrupted her thoughts. Robert Lawson, her practice manager and longtime colleague, stood in the doorway with two coffee cups in his hands.
“I thought you might need a break,” he said, setting one cup on her desk. “You’ve been going through resumes for three hours straight.”
“Has it been that long?” Lynda glanced at her watch, surprised to see it was already past eleven. “Thank you for the coffee. I lost track of the time.”
Robert settled into the chair across from her desk, his lanky frame folding comfortably into the familiar position they’d occupied during countless meetings over the years. “The Miller surgery went well this morning,” he reported. “Kidney stones are completely removed, and the ferret is recovering nicely in the small animal ward.”
“Good,” Lynda said, taking a sip of the coffee. He’d prepared it exactly how she liked it, with just a splash of almond milk. “And the Johnsons’ iguana?”
“Responding to the antibiotics. Temperature’s down, and he’s showing interest in food again.” Robert studied her over the rim of his coffee cup. “You know, the place has been running smoothly even with you in Montana. Not that we don’t appreciate you dropping everything to come back, but it seems like you’ve trained us well.”
Lynda smiled at the compliment. “You’ve done an excellent job, Robert. I couldn’t have stayed away so long if I didn’t trust you completely.”
“Speaking of staying away,” Robert said, his expression curious but kind, “you seem different since you’ve been back. Distracted, maybe? Or just not quite here.”
Lynda sighed. It didn’t matter what she was doing. Her thoughts kept wandering back to Montana. “I am a bit distracted,” she admitted. “Sapphire Bay has a way of getting under your skin.”
“Is it Sapphire Bay,” Robert asked with gentle perceptiveness, “or someone in it?”
Lynda felt heat rise to her cheeks, surprised to find herself blushing like a teenager. “There is someone,” she acknowledged, finding unexpected relief in saying it aloud. “His name is Matt Reynolds. He’s the veterinarian there.”
Robert’s smile widened. “Now that makes sense. Two vets with similar values and a shared passion for animals. No wonder you’ve been checking your phone every five minutes.”
“Have I been that obvious?” Lynda asked, slightly mortified.
“Only to someone who’s known you for a long time,” Robert assured her. “The staff just thinks you’re monitoring patient cases back in Montana. Do you have time to talk about selling the practice to me?”
“Of course I do,” Lynda told him.
Robert placed his coffee mug on Lynda’s desk. “I was worried about some of the more tricky exotic cases we get at the clinic. If you’d be willing to consult on some of the more difficult cases, I’d love to buy the clinic for the price we negotiated.”
Lynda’s heart leaped in her chest. “That’s the best news I’ve had all day.”
Robert smiled. “I thought you might say that. But I can’t imagine you retiring from being a vet. If you move to Sapphire Bay, what will you do there?”
“The animal shelter desperately needs someone with exotic animal experience. They get everything from injured eagles to orphaned bear cubs, and the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center is hours away. I want to set up the shelter so we can treat a wider range of animals before they’re moved to more appropriate facilities. “
“That sounds like something you’d enjoy,” Robert said. “There’s no rush on my offer. I’m happy to sign the contract whenever you’re ready.”
Lynda smiled. “What if we set the sale date to six weeks from today? That’ll give me time to sort out the business side of the changes and bring you up to speed with anything you don’t already know.”
“Sounds great to me.” Robert pulled himself out of the chair and smiled. “I’ll sign the contract and bring it back to your office.”
As soon as Robert had left her office, Lynda’s phone chimed. This time, it was a message from Kathleen.Thecoffee shop was packed today! Three different people asked when you’re coming back. The town’s not the same without you.
A warmth spread through Lynda’s chest at the simple message. In just a few months, she’d become part of Sapphire Bay in a way she’d never managed in Denver, despite decades of living here. In Sapphire Bay, she’d found not only Matt but a community—friends, a purpose, and a place where she felt genuinely needed and valued.
She picked up the wooden wolf carving sitting on her desk. Its presence was comforting, a tangible reminder of the connection she’d formed with Matt and the puppies they’d saved together.
