Attachment is a burden. It means giving up my dreams in favor of his. Her mother had spoken to her years ago about that dynamic of marriage. How could she give in to that now, when she was finally on the verge of starting her dream job?
He returned to the table. “I’m going to head out to work. Do you want to wait a few minutes, so we don’t show up at the same moment?”
She swallowed because she could hear the hurt in his voice, though his face remained neutral. “That would probably be best.”
“Fine. Lock the door behind you.” He left her his house key and strode out, and a short while later, she heard him fire his engine and drive away.
Sitting alone at the table, she groaned. So much for enjoying the afterglow. Last night, he’d taken her body to heights of passion she’d never experienced. Now, mere hours later, they were at odds.
What is this thing between us? And where is it going?
Not wanting to spend too much time dwelling on that loaded question, she got up and got her things to head for work.
* * *
Troy left the ranch after lunch on that afternoon, headed for Grandeza Acres. Mama Jeannie had back-to-back appointments with her doctors, and he’d agreed to go with her. The retirement home provided transportation for residents to get to their appointments, but she’d asked Troy to take her, so he could get the report from her doctors, firsthand.
As he drove her toward the hospital, Mama Jeannie asked, “What’s going on with you and Robyn?”
He hazarded a quick glance her way before returning his eyes to the road. It was just long enough to see the expectant expression she wore. “Honestly? Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Troy, what in the world do you mean by that?”
He pulled up to a red light. “Mama J, I really care about Robyn. I always have. I’ve tried to be open with her, I’ve explained what happened between us in the past, and she seemed satisfied with that.”
“That’s good.”
The light changed, and he drove across the intersection. “That’s the problem. I’m opening up to her, but I feel like there’s something else she’s not saying.”
“Like what?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know.” He paused, remembering the bombshell she’d dropped on him that evening on the lake. “Did you know she had a younger sister?”
She released a deep sigh. “Yes. I remember when she passed. Such a tragedy.”
He felt his brow fold in on itself. “Why didn’t anyone tell me about all this?”
“Why should we? What point would there have been in telling you?” She folded her arms over her chest. “That poor sweet girl died long before your parents moved to Grandeza. Thelma and Cooper suffered so much. Why would we dredge up their pain?”
He turned onto Martin Road. I hadn’t thought of that. “I guess that makes sense. I just feel like it was this big secret that everybody in town knew, but I was left out of it.”
“That’s not what’s bothering you, Troy. You said so yourself. You want Robyn to open up to you about her life, and she has. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for her to tell you about her sister.”
“It wasn’t.” He recalled the way she’d collapsed into his arms by the lake, the way her entire body had shaken with the force of her sobs.
“She and her family have carried that pain for a long time now.”
He pulled into the parking lot of the hospital and took the first available space near the entrance.
She hung her handicap placard on the mirror, then looked him in the eye. “You need to give her time, Troy. You haven’t even been in town that long. Don’t press her.”
He exhaled through parted lips. “I just want to be there for her.”
“Show her that.”
“How?”
“Certainly not by making demands on her, but by giving her space and the grace she needs to open up on her own.”
Now that he wasn’t driving anymore, he watched her. He noted how tired and pale she looked, and how heavy her breaths were. “Mama J, did I upset you?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m just tired, Troy.”
That seemed like an understatement. He’d always known her as a formidable woman. Looking at her now, she appeared small, frail. His heart clenched in his chest. “Let’s get you inside.”
He went around to the passenger side and helped her out of the car. Keeping his arm around her, he braced her with support as they entered the hospital, headed for the cardiology clinic.
During her appointment with the cardiologist, Troy listened as the doctor described his findings. “The echocardiogram gave us some good information. We’re seeing some light swelling, indicating an increase in pressure on the right side of her heart. I think you’ll find more answers in pulmonology.”
After a series of tests, the pulmonologist, Dr. Mertz, did have answers. She gathered Mama Jeannie and Troy around the large computer monitor in her examination suite to show them the images displayed there. “Mrs. Monroe, we’re seeing a lot of scarring and thickening here, around your air sacs.” She used a stylus to highlight the area. “I suspect you have a rather advanced case of interstitial lung disease.”
He frowned. “How serious is that?”
“It’s chronic and could become very dangerous under certain circumstances.”
Mama Jeannie’s expression remained flat. After a short inhale, she asked, “How did I get it?”
“There are many environmental factors and medicines that can cause it. Based on your medical history, I believe it’s a two-fold cause. First, your first house had asbestos insulation, and second, you’ve been taking a certain class of medication to treat arthritis in your hands and wrists. Over time those medications can lead to or aggravate lung problems.”
“Isn’t that something?” Mama Jeannie shook her head. “Take medicine for one problem and it gives you another.”
“What kind of treatment will she need?” Troy sat forward in his chair, awaiting the answer.
“None, yet. I’ll have to perform a lung biopsy to be sure of the diagnosis and to try to pinpoint the cause. We’ll make an appointment for you before you leave.” Dr. Mertz swiveled on her stool, closing the image window and making notes in the chart displayed on the screen.
“Surgery?” His grandmother was already in a weakened state, and now they wanted her to go under the knife? “Isn’t there another less invasive way to diagnose this?”
Dr. Mertz appeared sympathetic but shook her head. “I wish there was. In a less advanced case, I would start with an outpatient bronchoscopy. But in your grandmother’s case, considering how much scarring I can see in the imaging, I think we need to move straight to surgical biopsy. It’s the only way to be sure I can get a large enough tissue sample for accurate diagnosis.”
Mama Jeannie, her face showing a mixture of worry and resignation, nodded.
He’d never known his grandmother to be afraid of anything. From the stories his father told, she’d faced down fire hoses and racist neighbors in the Jim Crow south, held her head high when gossips called her a home wrecker for marrying a divorced man and held down a household in Grandeza, where she knew no one and had little support.
But when he looked into her eyes now, he saw the fear. Just a faint glimmer, but enough to set off alarm bells inside him.
Dr. Mertz laid a hand on her shoulder. “Jeannie, we’re going to take very good care of you. So, don’t you worry.”
“I expect nothing less.” She gave the doctor a thin-lipped, watery smile.
Troy’s heart clenched as he watched his grandmother talking with the doctor. If only he could fix this for her, the way Rick had fixed the shoddy plumbing beneath the kitchen sink. I’d give anything to be able to make this go away. She was the last member of this branch of the family. Everyone else was gone. His grandfather Horace had
passed away over a decade ago. Three years since Dad died. And my mother is so distant, it’s as if she doesn’t exist.
Between here and North Carolina, Mama Jeannie and I are the last ones left.
He couldn’t even entertain the thought of losing her; it was too painful to fathom.
Once the paperwork was complete and the date set for the biopsy, Troy took his grandmother’s hand and escorted her outside.
“It’s going to be all right, Mama J.”
She patted his hand gently. “I know, sugar. I know.”
Chapter 13
Inside the welcoming interior of The Caffeine Connection Tuesday afternoon, Robyn sipped from a ceramic mug of blond roast coffee. She was waiting for Dr. Victor Rockford to show up for his second interview. If everything worked out well today, she would finally be able to have the conversation with her parents about her new job.
She knew it was risky setting up the job hunt for her replacement. There was always the chance that word would get back to her parents, that the ranch had been advertising for a new veterinarian. She had to take care of this quickly so at least they’d know she’d done her duty to them and the ranch before leaving. She sighed. I know they’re not going to be happy about this. Still, she hoped that by already having a qualified, capable replacement lined up, she could soften the blow.
This is something I need to do. I can’t spend my whole life on the ranch, never seeing anything outside of Grandeza.
She sat down her mug as her thoughts strayed to Troy. Last time I was here, I was with him. She thought about the connection between them, and how it had been growing ever since they’d been trapped in the storage room during Amos’s retirement party. If she was honest with herself, the magic between them had really started the moment he’d walked into her office that first day. Or maybe—maybe it was just a continuation of what they’d shared years ago in high school.
How would Troy react to news that she was leaving New Mexico? She had no way of knowing, though she assumed he wouldn’t be happy about it. But they’d agreed to a casual, laid-back arrangement. No ties and no expectations. It could barely be called a relationship. Surely, he wouldn’t be selfish enough to try to stop her from going after her dream job.
Would he?
Dr. Rockford walked into the coffee shop then, and she pushed aside the thoughts. Her main focus now had to be on making sure he was the right fit for the vet position at Chance.
He was a tall man with a thin, athletic build, and was draped in a dark blue suit. He had tan skin, dark hair and green eyes. Overall, he was a good-looking man, though she was more interested in his credentials and skills as a medical practitioner, not his physical appearance.
She stood, smiling as he came near the table. “Dr. Rockford. It’s so good to see you.”
While they shook hands, he said, “Please, call me Victor.”
“Certainly.” She gestured toward the counter. “Would you like to grab a drink?”
“I’m good. I already had my caffeine this morning. Don’t want to overdo it.”
“Great. So, let’s get started.” She opened the folder on the table, containing his file. “When we video-chatted before, we spoke a lot about your experience and credentials, which are impressive. Now, I’d like to get a better perspective on whether you’ll be a good fit for the job, personality-wise.”
“That makes sense.”
“Tell me a little more about yourself. What made you decide to seek other employment?”
He nodded, a sparkle coming to his eyes. “I’ve been married to my wife, Hannah, for twelve years. She stays home with our three-year-old daughter, Isabella, and we’ve got a Saint Bernard named Captain Kirk.”
“Ah, Trekkies, I see.” She chuckled. It’s so endearing how much he loves his family.
“Hannah and I are looking for a change of scenery.” Victor leaned back in his chair. “Santa Fe is great, but we’re looking for something—”
Her phone, which she’d placed facedown on the table, buzzed loudly.
She gave him an apologetic smile. “Excuse me.” Turning the phone faceup, she brought it under the edge of the table and read the display. It was Troy. If she’d been at her desk, she’d take the call. Hell, if I was at my desk, he’d probably just show up at my office. But she didn’t want to be rude to Victor, so she swiped the screen, sending the call to voice mail. Leaving the phone facedown on her thigh, she looked to Victor. “I’m sorry about that. Please, go on.”
“Sure. I was just saying my wife and I want something a little more spacious and rustic. More acreage, less traffic.”
“Well, you’ll certainly find that here in Grandeza.”
“Yes. This town is really very charming. I’ve already brought Hannah and Izzy here for a walking tour, and they loved it.”
“I’m really glad to hear that.” She knew that for a man like Victor, having his family hate the place would have probably been a deal-breaker in terms of him taking the job. “Do you have some extra time today?”
“I took the day off from work, so, yes.”
“Great. I’d like to invite...” Her phone buzzed again, the vibration rattling through her thigh and straight through to the wooden seat of her chair. Sighing, she said, “One second.” Another look at the screen showed Troy calling her. Again. For Pete’s sake, that was the second time in five minutes. She swiped the screen again, this time adding a short text.
Can’t talk now. Call u later.
After she sent the text, she put the phone on silent mode. “Again, excuse me.”
If he was bothered by the interruptions, he did a great job concealing it. With an easy smile, he said, “No problem.”
“I’d like to invite you out to the ranch, so you can get a brief tour, meet a few people and see how we operate.” Tossing the phone into her purse, she asked, “How does that sound?”
“I’d love that.”
“You can follow me there. It’s about ten miles outside the town limits.”
He stood. “Okay. Let me grab a bottle of water for the road, and then we can go.”
After Victor got his drink, they went to their respective cars. On the road, she maintained an even speed, so he could follow her without getting left behind. When they arrived at the ranch, she led him up the long dirt road to the main building and parked in the gravel lot.
They met at the door.
“This is our operations center.” She gestured toward the glass doors. “All the offices are inside here, including the one that will be yours if you decide to work with us.”
Inside, she briefly introduced Victor to the receptionist, then took him down to Mary Ellen’s office.
Mary Ellen, standing by her office window with an inventory sheet in hand, greeted them when they entered. “Hey there. You must be Doc Rockford.”
He gave her a hearty handshake. “Please, call me Victor. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Mary Ellen shifted her gaze to Robyn, looking at her pointedly.
Robyn shook her head and mouthed the words not now.
A loud ringing sound echoed through the office, and Victor pulled out his phone. “I’ve got to take this, it’s my wife.” He headed for the door. “Please excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
As soon as Victor left the room, Mary Ellen laid into her. “You brought him here and you still haven’t told Cooper and Thelma what you’re planning?”
“How did you know?” Robyn asked her. She’d only told Kima so far.
“I’m ranch manager. I saw the vet advertisement. And I also pulled some papers from the printer you’d downloaded about a San Diego job. I wasn’t snooping, but I put two and two together. I knew what it meant.”
Robyn nodded and sighed. “I don’t see any reason to tell them until he’s hired. If he doesn’t work out, there’s no reason my parents need
to know about him.”
Shaking her head, Mary Ellen placed the inventory sheet on her desk. “Robyn, it’s bad enough for you to keep this from them. But asking me to participate in this? It’s not right.” She rubbed a hand over her face. “Your parents hired me on when I was desperate for work, and they’ve always done right by me. I can’t do this.”
Her shoulders slumped. “M.E., I’m sorry I put you in this position. I promise I’ll have that conversation with them very, very soon.”
“You’d better.” Mary Ellen leaned against the edge of her desk. “Because come Monday, I’m telling them myself.”
Victor returned then. “Sorry about that. Is there anything else you’ll need from me?”
Robyn shook her head. “I’m pretty sure we covered everything already.”
Mary Ellen added, “You’re free to wander around and have a look at the ranch, if you like.”
He smiled. “Sounds good. I think I’ll do that.” Moments later, he disappeared again.
Mary Ellen looked Robyn’s way again. “I meant what I said, Robyn. You’ve got until Monday.” She gave her a pointed look as she slipped from the room.
Robyn nodded grimly, then rested her forehead on the top of her desk.
* * *
Around four, Troy got into his golf cart and left the pasture in the capable hands of his team as he headed for the operations center.
His attempts to contact Robyn had been rebuffed all day long, and now that the workday was winding down, he hoped to catch her in her office, before she left for the day.
I know she’s busy. We both are. But I miss her. He’d spent much of the day fantasizing about her. In between watching over the herd on his section of the ranch, checking the water levels in the tanks and troughs and refilling the hay stations, his mind had been occupied by memories of her, naked in his arms.
He was both enamored and conflicted, because of what he’d seen earlier.
He’d driven into town during his coffee break, and pulled into a spot at The Caffeine Connection, hoping to grab a cup of coffee to fight off the afternoon blahs. He’d cut the engine, slipped his keys from the ignition and took off his seat belt.
Then Came You ; Written with Love Page 11
