"Oh..." Judy looked slightly nervous for a moment before her smile returned. "Yes, that was me. I've been spending my summers here in Sandpiper Shores for the past few years."
"Of course," Lacey said, feeling more settled about the woman now that the context had been provided. "I remember the incident now. You never said you were a vet."
"I don't like to intrude on another veterinarian's territory," Judy explained modestly. "Besides, your reputation in wildlife rehabilitation precedes you, Dr. Peltz. I knew that eagle would be in the best possible hands once you took over its care."
Lacey felt her cheeks warm at the compliment. "Would you like to join us for dinner?" she asked, feeling obligated to extend the invitation to someone who would hopefully be joining her practice. "We're having an impromptu celebration of the new clinic."
"Oh, no, thank you for the kind offer," Judy replied. "I actually just stopped by town to pick up some preserves from Teacups. They make the most incredible jam there. It's honestly the best I've found anywhere in Florida."
"Margo, my niece, does take pride in her preserves," Lacey agreed, feeling a surge of family pride. "She uses local fruits and traditional methods."
"Well, I'm sorry to have interrupted your celebration," Judy said, moving back toward the door. "I'll see you tomorrow at noon for our scheduled interview, Dr. Peltz. I'm very much looking forward to learning more about your practice and discussing how I might fit in."
After Judy left, the dinner celebration continued with the warmth and energy that characterized the best community gatherings in small towns. People shared stories about their own experiences with veterinary care, offered suggestions for the new clinic, and generally made Lacey feel surrounded by support and friendship.
Later in the evening, as everyone was enjoying Margo's desserts and the conversation had settled into comfortable small groups, Lacey found herself seated between Dean and June at one of the long tables.
She leaned toward June and whispered quietly, "June, can you have Holt look into Dr. Vernon's background?"
June immediately frowned with concern. "I'm sure he's already planning to do that as a matter of course. Did something about her today strike you the wrong way?"
"I don't know exactly," Lacey admitted, keeping her voice low so their conversation wouldn't be overheard. "There's something about her that seems familiar, and it's not just from the eagle incident last year. I feel like I know her from somewhere else, but I can't place where or when."
"That's definitely worth investigating," June agreed. "I'll mention it to Holt tonight and make sure he does a thorough background check on her."
"I know I’m probably being paranoid," Lacey said, looking around at all the people who had worked so hard to create this opportunity for her. "After everything everyone has done to make this clinic possible, the last thing I want is to discover that my potential employee has some kind of hidden agenda."
As she looked around at the faces of people who had become her chosen family over the years, Lacey felt a renewed sense of hope that maybe, just maybe, the worst of her troubles were behind her.
But the nagging concern about Dr. Vernon remained, a small shadow in an otherwise perfect evening.
16
JUNE
The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of the old post office building as June arrived bright and early, her arms full of file folders and office supplies that would help transform the historic structure into Sandpiper Shores' new veterinary clinic. Despite Lucy's stern warnings that both she and Lacey should let the builders and volunteers handle the heavy work while they recovered from their injuries, June knew that Lacey wouldn't be able to stay away from the setup process.
More importantly, June was genuinely excited for her friend. Having Lacey's veterinary practice housed in the beautiful old post office building had been Lacey's dream since they were young women fresh out of college, full of ambitious plans for their futures.
The building was perfect for what Lacey needed. Her office would be upstairs, along with the overnight kennels, accessible by both the grand staircase and the charming old-fashioned lift that Lacey had always loved. The main floor would house the examination rooms, surgical suite, and reception area, whilethe extensive backyard provided ample space for the wildlife rehabilitation facilities that were so important to Lacey's work.
June had been coming to this building since she was a teenager, when her family would spend summers in Sandpiper Shores, and she would accompany her father to the post office to mail letters back home. The structure had always struck her as elegant and substantial, with its classic architecture and generous proportions.
When she had seen the devastating damage to Lacey's original clinic the morning after the fire, June had been heartbroken for her friend. That clinic had been a Sandpiper Shores institution for decades. Lacey had taken it over from the previous veterinarian and built it into something special, but June knew that her friend had always dreamed of having her practice in this historic building with its huge backyard and endless possibilities.
So when June had seen the complete destruction of everything Lacey had worked to build, she had turned to Holt and expressed her wish that they could find another location to get Lacey's practice up and running quickly. The community desperately needed its veterinarian, and Lacey needed the sense of purpose and stability that came from being able to help the animals and families who depended on her.
Holt had immediately agreed with the idea, and that's when June had tentatively asked if his mother might consider leasing the old post office building to Lacey. June had expected to need to make a compelling case, to explain the benefits and address potential concerns about converting the historic structure.
Instead, Holt had simply gone to speak with his mother, and an hour later, Mina Dillinger had arrived at the burned clinic sitewith a team of volunteers already organized and ready to begin the conversion work.
June had to give the woman her due. Mina, who was universally recognized as the matriarch of Sandpiper Shores, could rally the community like no one else. When Mina Dillinger decided that something needed to be done, it got done efficiently and thoroughly.
"I still can't believe it," Lacey said, catching June's attention as she stepped into what was going to be the front reception office. June was in the process of organizing client files and arranging them in the new filing cabinets that had been donated by various local businesses. "I honestly can't believe you made this happen for me."
"I think Holt is the one you need to thank," June replied with a smile, looking up from the paperwork she was sorting. "He's the one who convinced his mother to agree to the lease arrangement. I just made the initial suggestion."
"Still," Lacey said, walking over to give June a warm hug of gratitude. “Thank you, my wonderful friend.”
