“Hopefully, next week.” Matt straightened some papers on his desk, avoiding his daughter’s perceptive gaze. “We’ve found some people who can look after the pups. Their adoption day is Saturday, and it would be nice if Lynda could be here for that.”
Stephanie leaned against the desk, studying him with the same scrutiny she’d given the carving. “Dad,” she said gently, “are you dating Dr. Morth?”
The directness of the question caught Matt off guard. “We’ve had dinner,” he admitted. “And coffee. We’ve spent a lot of time together with the puppies and at the clinic. But dating seems like such a teenage word for... whatever this is.”
“Whatever this is,” Stephanie repeated with a small smile. “That sounds serious.”
Matt sighed, finally meeting his daughter’s eyes. “It could be. I don’t know yet. Lynda’s moving to Sapphire Bay, but she has a successful veterinary practice in Denver, and a daughter and grandchildren who live close by. And I’m here with my small-town clinic and memories of your mother in every corner of this place.”
“Mom’s been gone fifteen years, Dad,” Stephanie said softly. “She would want you to be happy.”
“I know she would,” Matt agreed. “But it feels strange. A small part of me feels like I’m betraying her somehow, even though logically I know that’s not true.”
Stephanie stepped closer, placing her hand on his arm. “It’s not a betrayal to find happiness again. If anything, it honors what you and Mom had.”
The wisdom in his daughter’s words struck Matt deeply. He’d raised her to be insightful and compassionate, but sometimes, he forgot that she was no longer the grief-stricken teenager who’d lost her mother. She was a strong, thoughtful woman with a family of her own and an understanding of love that included its messiness and imperfections.
“When did you get to be so wise?” he asked, a hint of a smile touching his lips.
“I had good teachers,” Stephanie replied. She glanced at the carving again. “So, is Lynda the person who inspired you to pick up your tools again?”
Matt nodded. “I made her a wolf before she left. A thank-you gift for helping with the puppies.” He ran his hand through his hair, a gesture of mild embarrassment. “I’ve been sending her daily updates about them while she’s away. Probably too many, if Brenda’s teasing is any indication.”
Stephanie’s smile widened. “You know, in all the years since Mom died, I’ve never seen you like this. You’re excited and nervous, and a little unsure of the future.” She squeezed his arm. “It’s nice, Dad. Really nice.”
Before Matt could respond, a commotion from the examination room interrupted them—children’s laughter mingled with excited yipping. They hurried down the hall to find Lily and Ethan sitting cross-legged on the floor outside the puppies’ pen. The five energetic puppies were trying to get as close as possible to them while excitedly tumbling over each other.
“They’re so friendly!” Lily exclaimed, giggling as Baker licked Star’s chin. “I thought wolfdogs were supposed to be shy around people.”
“These ones were handled from a very young age,” Matt explained, leaning against the doorframe. “They’ve had human contact every day of their lives since we rescued them, so they’re used to being around people.”
“Can we keep one?” Ethan asked, looking up with hopeful eyes as Rainier stared at him with his golden eyes.
“They’re not pets, buddy,” Matt explained gently. “They need special homes with people who understand wolf hybrids. They’re going to families who have experience with animals like them.”
Ethan’s face fell slightly, but he nodded in understanding. “Will we get to visit them?”
Sarah picked up one of the pups before weighing it on the scales. “Probably not, but there’ll be other animals you can visit at the clinic.”
Matt watched the puppies, struck by how quickly the once-fragile animals had grown into robust young canines. In the short time they’d looked after them, they’d nearly doubled in size. Their gangly legs and oversized paws provided a clue to the large, powerful adults they would become.
Star suddenly abandoned the rest of her litter and moved toward Matt.
“That one seems to know you,” Stephanie told him.
“Star was the smallest and weakest when we found them,” Matt told her. “She nearly died the first night. Lynda and I took turns sitting up with her.” He smiled at the memory. “Lynda refused to give up on her, even when things looked bleak.”
“She sounds special,” Stephanie said softly. “Lynda, I mean.”
“She is,” Matt admitted. “Strong-willed, intelligent, and deeply compassionate. She went through a difficult divorce about ten years ago. Her husband left her for a younger woman after thirty years of marriage.”
Stephanie winced. “That’s terrible.”
“It’s made her cautious,” Matt said.
“And yet she’s coming back to Sapphire Bay to spend more time with you,” Stephanie pointed out.
Matt sighed, unable to deny the hope that had been growing inside him with each passing day. “Maybe, but I don’t want to pressure her. She needs to make her own decisions about her future.”
