June barely heard the rest of Lacey’s explanation as her mind flashed back thirty-eight years to one of the most painful moments of her life. Two days after Holt had walked out of their apartment and their marriage for good, she’d picked up the phone to call him. She’d been ready to apologize, to tell him she didn’t care where they lived and that she’d give up her plans to rebuild her father’s law firm in Miami. She’d wanted to go with him to Virginia.
Her jaw tensed as the memory brought a slice of pain so intense that she felt transported back to that moment. Standing in their empty apartment, her heart pounding as she’d been put through to the hotel room where Holt was staying, only to have Lillian answer the phone. Lillian had been there at that early hour of the morning, answering Holt’s phone as if she belonged there. Just two days after he’d walked out of June’s life, he’d already run back into the arms of another childhood friend.
“June?” Lacey’s concerned voice cut through her memories. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m fine,” June said, snapping back to the present. “I’ve just got a bit of a headache coming on.”
“Then you need to go sit down,” Lacey ordered with the authority of someone accustomed to caring for both animals and people. “Go use my office. There’s aspirin in the desk drawer.”
“Thank you,” June said gratefully, not even trying to argue. She needed a few minutes to collect herself and push these unwelcome memories back where they belonged.
June settled into Lacey’s comfortable office chair and took two aspirin, then leaned back and closed her eyes. Her head was genuinely pounding now, and she allowed herself to drift back to that devastating day thirty-eight years ago.
She remembered their final fight with painful clarity. It hadn’t been about moving to Virginia for Holt’s FBI career. June had understood that requirement and would have supported it after the initial shock of giving up her dreams in Miami. The real issue had been Holt’s sudden decision that they should wait to start a family. They’d both agreed they wanted children before they turned twenty-five, wanting to be young enough to truly enjoy their kids and grandchildren. But Holt had gone back on that agreement, asking her to wait five more years while he established his career.
That was the one thing June couldn’t compromise on, the issue that had made her realize she had to let him go. Holt needed to become the person he was meant to be, and June had loved him too much to hold him back from his destiny. The old saying echoed in her mind: if you love someone, set them free; if they come back, they’re yours; if they don’t, they never were. Holt had never come back, and within two days, he’d moved on to Lillian. Now it seemed he was moving on to another old sweetheart—Victoria Morrison.
“June,” Lacey’s voice gently pulled her from the light doze she’d fallen into. “Sorry to startle you,” she said apologetically. “I have to go out on an emergency call. Do you mind keeping an eye on the practice and watching Zoe and Becky for me?”
“Yes, of course,” June said, standing and shaking off the last vestiges of painful memory. “Go and be careful.”
“I will,” Lacey promised, gathering her emergency bag. “The girls know what they’re doing, and I should be back within an hour.”
After Lacey left, June took a deep breath and deliberately pushed the past back where it belonged. She got up and went to check on the teenagers, who were efficiently cleaning dog pens and chatting about their summer plans.
She was about to close the front door and join them in the back when a woman around Willa’s age rushed toward the clinic carrying a large pet carrier that contained what appeared to be a large white Persian cat.
“Where is Dr. Peltz?” the woman demanded abruptly, not bothering with pleasantries. “Snuggles is not well and needs to be seen immediately.”
June was taken aback by the woman’s rudeness but maintained her professional composure. “I’m sorry, but Dr. Peltz just left on an emergency call. She should be back in about an hour or so.”
“Call her back right now,” the woman commanded, holding the carrier as if it contained precious cargo. “Snuggles is a very expensive cat and requires her immediate attention.”
“I’ll take a look at Snuggles, Sienna,” Lucy’s voice came from behind June as she stepped into the clinic, making the rudewoman spin around and look at Lucy as if she were something unpleasant she’d stepped in.
“You?” Sienna sneered with obvious disdain. “What could you possibly know about animals?”
“Quite a lot, actually,” Lucy replied calmly, her demeanor more patient than June was feeling. “But if you’d prefer to wait for Dr. Peltz, I’m sure Snuggles can manage for another hour or so.”
Sienna hesitated, clearly torn between her dislike of Lucy and her concern for her cat. “Fine,” she said finally, thrusting the carrier toward Lucy. “Here, take her. But if anything happens to my baby, I’ll sue you.”
“If that should become necessary, make sure your attorney sends any correspondence directly to me,” June said coolly, stepping forward.
Sienna’s eyes narrowed as she focused on June for the first time. “Oh, you’rethatwoman. The hotshot attorney from Miami. The Fire Captain’s mother.”
“Yes, I’mthatwoman,” June confirmed with steel in her voice. “And yes, I’m an attorney.”
Sienna was smart enough to hear the threat in June’s tone, so she turned back to Lucy with obvious reluctance. “I’m going to get my nails done. I have a date with Ace tonight.” She shot June a smug look. “So make sure my Snuggles is properly taken care of and ready when I return.”
“That depends entirely on what’s wrong with Snuggles,” Lucy told her professionally.
Sienna turned and sauntered out the door with her head held high, as if she owned the entire town.
“Sienna…” June said, her eyes narrowing, trying to place the woman before the full realization dawned on her. “Wait, that’s Tom’s daughter, isn’t it?”
“I’m afraid so,” Lucy sighed, carrying the cat carrier toward one of the examination rooms. “And I’m apparently her enemy number one after she caught Tom and me having dinner last night.”
“Ah,” June said, understanding immediately. “Well, I believe her mother is currently busy throwing herself at Holt.”
