A vet tech. It made perfect sense, yet it was still a surprise. From the few interactions I’d had with Everly, I knew she was tough as nails. But I’d seen a glimpse of her softer side with Koda. Dr. Taylor would be more than lucky to have her.
“Maybe I should get a dog,” Hadley mused.
Mom set down her fork. “That means you’d have to be home on a regular basis. No taking off whenever the mood strikes.”
I sent an urgent look at Dad, but before he could come up with a way to divert the conversation, Hadley cut in. “And the problem with that is?”
“Nothing, but it’s not exactly responsible or safe, either. You know that.”
“Yet you have no problem with Shy taking off into the woods for days at a time, no one knowing where she is. You just tell us to let her go.”
Mom’s jaw worked back and forth. “It’s different, and you know that.”
Hadley pushed back from the table, tossing down her napkin. “It always is. I should’ve learned by now that what’s acceptable for Shy will never be okay for me.”
“Hadley,” Dad called as she headed for the door. But Hadley’s steps never faltered. He turned his gaze to Mom. “Julia…”
“What?”
“Was that really necessary?”
Her eyes glinted in the low light of dusk. “I’m allowed to be worried about my daughter when she disappears. I worry about them both. But I know with Shy it’s because she can’t handle something. With Hadley, it’s simply because she doesn’t care. It’s selfish. And I’m allowed to say as much.” With her final words, she shoved back from the table and headed for the back deck.
I looked across the table at my dad. “Some family dinner.”
He tried to lift the corners of his mouth in a grin but couldn’t muster it. Neither of us could. Because those five days all those years ago were still tearing us apart.
9
Everly
“Thank you again for taking me on.”
The man in his fifties gave me a kind smile, the dark skin around his mouth forming grooves that told me he made the motion often. “I am beyond thrilled to have someone with your experience on my roster.”
Dr. Taylor—Miles, as he’d insisted I call him—seemed as if he would be a dream boss. He was kind, knowledgeable, and ran a tight ship. We’d had several phone calls and a video conference before he made me the job offer, but something about meeting someone in person was the real test. And Miles was a dream.
“You’re sure you don’t need me this week? I can work a couple of shifts if you do.”
He shook his head. “You get settled. There’s plenty of work to come. Take some time and get to know the town again. I’m sure a lot has changed since you were here.”
“There are definitely some new restaurants I’d like to try.”
“I highly recommend Spoons. They opened this year and have a revolving menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches.”
“That sounds perfect. I think I’m going to head there now.”
He extended a hand to me for a shake. “Sounds like a good plan to me. Welcome aboard, Everly. We’re so happy to have you.”
“Thank you.” I released his grip, picking up my purse and heading for the door. I waved at the receptionist, Tim, who seemed to remember me even though he was a few years younger. But he’d been warm in his greeting, no instant hatred because of who I was related to.
I took a deep breath as I stepped outside, letting the clean air soothe the nerves that had been running rampant since I’d stepped out of my SUV. The first meeting was over, and it hadn’t been a disaster. Everyone at the office had been kind.
That knowledge gave me the most dangerous of feelings…hope. That I would be able to make a life here. Possibly have a community. Friends. My phone buzzed in my purse.
Shay: How’s it going? I’ve been trying not to hover, but I’m dying to know every detail.
I grinned down at the screen. Even if I didn’t make the best of friends in Wolf Gap, I still had Shay. Our friendship was one borne of running from our pasts. Hers had just been more violent than mine. The fact that she’d found a true home gave me another dose of that reckless hope.