What happened?
Me:
Cancellations. Bad reviews. Someone left a note calling me a gold digger.
Easton:
I'm in a meeting with the team management. Can I call you after?
Me:
Sure.
I pocketed my phone and looked at Monique. "What's on the schedule?"
"Just the Martins' cat surgery, but they canceled. And Mrs. Park's follow-up for her beagle's ear infection."
A schedule that should have been packed, reduced to a single appointment.
"Okay," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Let's focus on Mrs. Park's dog. And maybe we can catch up on paperwork, organize the supply closet…"
"Sadie." Monique's voice was gentle but firm. "You can't ignore this."
"I'm not ignoring it. I'm staying busy, so I don't think about it."
"That's literally ignoring it."
I dropped my head into my hands. "What am I supposed to do, Monique? Hold a press conference? Defend myself to anonymous internet trolls? None of this is fair. I did what I thought was right for my daughter, and now I'm being crucified for it."
"I know." She came around the desk and put a hand on my shoulder. "But maybe you need to let Easton help. He offered yesterday, didn't he?"
"He offered to make me and Casey move into his condo like we're in some kind of witness protection."
"Because he's trying to protect you."
"By taking control of everything. Again." The words came out more bitter than I'd intended.
Monique squeezed my shoulder. "Or maybe he's trying to take responsibility for his part in this mess. You didn't get pregnant alone, Sadie. And you're not dealing with the fallout alone either, whether you like it or not."
Before I could respond, my phone rang. Easton.
I answered. "Hey."
"Hey. The meeting just ended. Tell me what happened at the clinic."
I walked him through the cancellations, the note, the reviews. He listened without interrupting, and I could almost feel his anger building through the phone.
"This is exactly what I was afraid of," he said, his voice tight.
"I know."
"Sadie, you can't—"
"Please don't tell me I can't handle this," I interrupted. "I know I can't. But I also can't uproot Casey's entire life because some strangers on the internet are being cruel."
"This isn't just internet cruelty. Someone came to your clinic and left a threatening note. What if next time they don't leave a note?"
The fear in his voice made my anxiety spike. "You think someone would actually…?"
