Kathleen smiled. “I guess that’s me, too. Do you want a ride back to Sapphire Bay, Carol?”
“No, thanks. I drove here in my car.”
“In that case,” Kathleen replied. “I’ll see you in Sapphire Bay.”
After Carol and Kathleen left, Matt turned to Lynda. “Go home and get some rest. Stephanie said she’ll stay with me.”
Lynda shook her head. “I can’t?—”
“Yes, you can,” Matt insisted. “I’m being looked after here. Besides, the wolfdog puppies need you.”
“I’ll drive you home,” Amy offered from the doorway. “You’ll feel a hundred percent better after you’ve had a shower and a nap.”
Lynda sighed. “All right. I’ll go home, but I’ll be back this afternoon if Stephanie wants a break.” With a gentle hug, she said goodbye to Matt. “Remember to do what the doctors and nurses tell you.”
“I will,” Matt promised. “Don’t worry about the shelter. We’ll make it even better than it used to be.”
Lynda kissed his cheek. “I know we will.” And after saying goodbye to Stephanie, Lynda left the hospital with Amy. It had been a long night, but for Matt, the road to recovery would be even longer.
CHAPTER 29
Matt sat hunched over his desk in the clinic office. He should have been reviewing patient files, but he was listening to the sound of his veterinary practice operating around him. From the examination rooms down the hall, he could hear Lynda’s voice giving instructions to Sarah, the steady hum of equipment, and the occasional bark or meow from patients. It was both comforting and maddening to be so close yet unable to help.
“You’re supposed to be at home resting,” Stephanie said from the doorway, carrying a steaming mug of tea. She’d been furious when Patrick had dropped Matt off that morning, despite his protests that he was perfectly fine to be at the clinic.
“I am resting,” Matt replied, though they both knew he’d been straining to hear every conversation from the examination rooms. “I’m just keeping an eye on things from a distance. Lynda shouldn’t have to handle everything alone.”
Stephanie set the mug on his desk and frowned. “Dad, you have second-degree burns on your arms and smoke damage to your lungs. Dr. Hilary said you need at least another week of complete rest before you can even think about returning to work.That means staying at home, not sitting in your office pretending to do paperwork.”
Matt sighed. Zac Hilary was his friend, and as a friend, he’d expected him to be a little more lenient when it came to letting him return to work. “Dr. Hilary doesn’t understand that spring is our busiest season,” Matt countered, then immediately broke into a coughing fit that proved Stephanie’s point more effectively than any argument could have.
When the spasm passed, Stephanie handed him the tea with raised eyebrows. “Chamomile with honey. Lynda said it would help with the throat irritation.”
Matt accepted the mug. “How is Lynda managing?” he asked, unable to keep the worry from his voice. She’d offered to work in his clinic until he was back on his feet, but he was worried she was doing too much.
“Better than you are,” Stephanie said pointedly. “Sarah says Lynda’s handled six appointments this morning, including a complicated surgery on a dog who ate a tennis ball. She’s also fielded about twenty phone calls from people wanting to help with the shelter rebuild and coordinated with Carol about the temporary animal housing arrangements.”
Matt closed his eyes, feeling useless. “I should be helping with all of that.”
“You should be healing,” Stephanie corrected. “Dad, you saved seventeen lives four nights ago. You’re allowed to take a few days to recover from being a hero.”
“I’m not a hero,” Matt said quietly. “I just did what anyone would have done.”
Stephanie sat in the chair across from his desk, her expression growing serious. “Dad, we need to talk. Really talk. You’ve been putting on this brave face since the fire, but I can see you’re struggling with something.”
Matt met his daughter’s eyes and felt his carefully maintained composure begin to crack. Stephanie had always been able to see through him, even as a child. “I’m fine, sweetheart. Just tired.”
“No, you’re not.” Stephanie’s voice was gentle but firm. “You’re scared. I can see it every time you hear an animal make a noise or someone mention the rebuilding plans. What’s really bothering you?”
For a long moment, Matt said nothing, sipping his tea and trying to organize thoughts that felt scattered and raw. Finally, he set the mug down and rubbed his face with his hands. They still smelled faintly of smoke despite being washed many times.
“I keep thinking I’ve ruined everything,” he admitted quietly. “Not just the shelter, but... everything else too.”
Stephanie frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Lynda came here to spend time with her friends,” Matt said, the words coming slowly. “And then she met me. She sold her business, bought a house, and made plans for a rehabilitation center in Sapphire Bay. Then, in one night, everything was gone. What if she realizes this was all a mistake? What if she decides Sapphire Bay is too chaotic, too unpredictable, too... much?”
Stephanie stared at him for a moment, then shook her head with a mixture of exasperation and affection. “Dad, are you serious?”
