The question struck Lynda with unexpected force. She looked around at the tasteful furnishings she’d selected after Ray left, the neutral colors that had felt calming during that tumultuous time, the carefully curated artwork that meant nothing to her emotionally. Everything in this house had been chosen to create a sanctuary from pain, a controlled environment where she could rebuild her sense of self.
But a sanctuary could also become a prison if you never ventured beyond its walls.
“I think,” Lynda said slowly, “that I’ve been confusing safety with happiness for a long time now.”
“And now?” Amy prompted.
“Now I’m ready for something different.” Lynda reached for her phone again, this time opening a photo Isabel had sent her of the Sapphire Bay animal shelter. “Something that feels more like purpose than protection.”
Amy looked at the photo and smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Something—or someone—with silver hair and a talent for carving wooden animals?”
Lynda laughed, feeling lighter than she had in days. “We’re taking things slowly.”
“Of course you are,” Amy said, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. “I wouldn’t expect anything else from you. Just don’ttake thingstooslowly, Mom. Life’s short, even when you’re not sixty-seven.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Lynda promised, pulling her daughter into a hug.
As they returned to their sorting, Lynda moved with renewed purpose. The photos of her life with Ray went into a small box for Amy to keep. They were a record of their family history that no longer needed to occupy space in Lynda’s present. The treasured mementos of her veterinary career and items of genuine sentimental value were carefully packed for the eventual move to Montana.
And in the pocket of Lynda’s sweater, the wooden wolf Matt had carved rested against her, a tangible reminder of the new life waiting for her in Sapphire Bay. A life she was finally ready to embrace, with all its uncertainties and possibilities.
Three more days, and she’d be heading back to Montana. Not for a visit this time, but to begin the process of making Sapphire Bay her permanent home. With a smile, Lynda looked at her daughter. The thought of starting again filled her with a quiet joy that had been missing for far too long.
CHAPTER 20
The familiar sign for the Sapphire Bay Animal Shelter came into view as Lynda rounded the final curve in the road. She’d driven straight from the airport, her rental car filled with the essentials she’d packed for what would now be a permanent move rather than a brief return. The rest of her belongings would follow once she’d finalized the sale of her house and practice.
Lynda hadn’t told anyone she was coming back two days ahead of schedule. She preferred to surprise her friends after the whirlwind of decisions and arrangements she’d made in Denver. Robert had been both shocked and delighted when she’d brought forward their timeline for the practice sale, and they’d spent her final days in Denver discussing patient transitions.
As she pulled into the shelter’s gravel parking lot, her heart quickened with anticipation. This modest building, with its peeling paint and slightly crooked “Adopt Me!” sign, already felt more like home than her elegant Denver practice ever had.
Carol was at the front desk when Lynda entered. Her reading glasses were perched on the end of her nose as she examined a stack of donation forms. She looked up, and her expressionshifted from intense concentration to one of surprise and delight.
“Lynda!” she exclaimed, rushing around the desk to envelop her in a warm hug. “You weren’t supposed to be back until Saturday! Why didn’t you tell us?”
Lynda returned the embrace, surprised by how much she’d missed this place and its people. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Things in Denver wrapped up sooner than I expected.”
Carol held her at arm’s length, studying her face. “You look different. Good different. Like you’ve made some big decisions.”
“I have,” Lynda confirmed, unable to keep the smile from her face. “Very big ones. But first, how are the puppies?”
Carol smiled. “They’re growing in leaps and bounds. Matt keeps updating the community Facebook page. Mabel Terry has been interviewing everyone involved in their care and posting short videos on all the social media platforms you can imagine.”
“I saw some of the videos. Mabel’s done a great job.” Lynda leaned against the desk. “Have you been busy at the shelter?”
“No busier than usual. Thanks to our fundraising efforts, we were able to repair the shelter after the storm, and the animals are now safe and warm. With all the publicity about the wolfdog puppies and our funding crisis, people are sending us donations.” Carol took a check out of an envelope. “This is for two hundred dollars. Can you believe that total strangers are sending us this much money?”
“They must be impressed by what the shelter is doing,” Lynda told her friend.
“That’s exactly what Matt’s been saying,” Carol said. “He’s here now, actually. He’ll be thrilled to see you.”
Carol pushed open the door to the shelter’s largest play area. The space had been transformed into a puppy paradise, with climbing platforms, tunnels, and various toys scattered across the floor. In the center of the playground, five wolfdog puppiestumbled over each other, their silver-gray coats gleaming in the light from the skylights.
Lynda’s mouth dropped open. “I didn’t know the pups were here.”
Carol grinned. “Matt and Sarah brought them to the shelter yesterday. The clinic was wonderful while they were little, but they needed to be somewhere with more room. With the remodeling we did, the shelter is the perfect place for them.”
“They’ve gotten so big!” Lynda exclaimed, kneeling at the edge of the enclosure.
