“I write for an online magazine,” she finally answered.
He searched her face for a few seconds, a whole lot of indecipherable emotions flashing in his blue eyes. Suddenly, his gaze flicked away, toward the dog they’d brought out here. With each passing second, Lola managed to scoot her long body an inch closer to Jessie’s boot.
Exactly the opposite of Garrett, who seemed to be drawing backward, inward, and away.
“I better get this dog back in to see if we can feed her,” he said quickly. “If you want to say hi to Molly, she’s in town this morning. She had a surgery to do in her practice there, but she’ll be back. You can hang out and…have fun. I guess I’ll see you around, Jessie.”
In other words, good riddance. Her heart dropped at the sudden change from interest to ice. “Yeah, okay.”
“Come on, Lola.”
The dog had gotten her whole body onto Jessie’s boots and curled around to effectively hold her in place. “Lola doesn’t want me to leave,” she said on a laugh that she hoped covered the hurt in her voice.
“Lola.” He crouched down to slide his fingers under her collar, but then pulled them out, slowly standing again. “She’s been so unhappy, I hate to make her move.”
“I could just stand here for a while,” she joked.
He laughed. “Sorry, but I don’t think—”
“Who do we have here?”
Jessie turned at the booming voice and felt her whole face brighten at the sight of Dr. Kilcannon, the Dogfather, the best father, coming out from the house toward them.
“Oh, hello!” she called. As soon as she took a step, Lola jumped and slinked away, wary again.
Garrett snagged her collar. “I’m going to take her in. Go say hi to my dad. I’m sure he’ll remember you.”
“Okay.” The brush-off stung, but she hid it.
“Good to see you, Jessie,” Garrett said over his shoulder, but something told her…it wasn’t that good. And it was most likely the last time.
On a sigh, she waved to Dr. Kilcannon. At least she’d have a chance to chat with him before she had to leave Waterford…as disappointed and unfulfilled as she had the first time.
Chapter Three
By the time Daniel Kilcannon had wrapped Jessie in his own kind of inimitable warmth, insisted she come up and have coffee on the patio with him, and made her feel like a prodigal daughter he’d been waiting nearly twenty years to see, Jessie made a decision.
She would tell him the real reason she was here. Maybe she was reading Garrett wrong, or he’d agree to do the interview if his father asked him. She wasn’t sure of the outcome, but she trusted this man completely.
And she’d kick herself if she gave up too easily.
“So, how’s my little Whippet Legs?” Daniel asked as he handed her a mug of hot coffee and settled onto a rattan couch across from her. He was still a handsome man, though he must be about sixty, maybe a little younger, if she recalled correctly. A little over six feet, and as solidly built as a man half his age. His dark hair had gone mostly silver since she’d seen him last, but his jaw was square, his face only slightly lined, and his eyes were still as blue as the ones she’d just spent a half hour staring at.
But Dr. K had always been a mix of imposing and inviting, with a way of focusing on a person like they were all that mattered at the moment. And that’s how he was looking at her right now.
“Whippet Legs.” Jessie laughed. “I completely forgot you called me that.”
“For a good reason,” he teased, gesturing toward her legs. “You were the skinniest thing I ever saw around here.”
“I never minded that name,” she said. “Molly told me that being compared to a dog is high praise in the Kilcannon family. And I’m touched that you still remember me, Dr. K.”
“You and Molly were attached at the hip, and I counted you as one of my own back in those days.”
And how she’d longed to be. “I loved it here. I loved your whole family, and I’m so, so sorry you’ve lost your beautiful wife. Annie was an amazing, wonderful woman.”
His eyes grew sad, but he managed a smile. “Thank you, sweetheart. She was one in a million, my Annie. But tell me about your life. Married, kids, working?”
“The last one,” she said. “Not married, no kids, but I have a great job that consumes me.”
“Not married, huh?” His expression changed a little, so slightly she couldn’t quite interpret it. Disappointment? Surprise? “So what is this consuming job?” he asked.
“I’m a journalist for a publishing company called ITAL, which is an acronym for Inside the A List. Have you heard of it?”
His brows furrowed. “I might have. What exactly do you do?”
“I write profiles of people. In-depth stories that are kind of like mini biographies.”
“Really. Sounds interesting.”
“Oh, it is,” she assured him, putting down the cup to lean a little closer. “In fact, the reason I came here to Waterford was to get that kind of interview with Garrett.”
His still-black brows lifted. “Hmmm. How’d that request go over?”
“I actually didn’t ask him yet,” she said, pulling her mental proposal together. “But I think he’d make a fascinating subject. He’s had extraordinary success in building and selling a business, especially now that he’s launched another venture that’s different but, in some respects, similar. Still about animals, just no programming.”
He was quiet for a long moment, long enough to make her bite her lip and wish that pitch hadn’t been so blunt. If he knew anything about ITAL, and many people did, he’d know her publication didn’t write puff pieces.
“If you’ve done your homework,” he finally said, “and I assume you have, then you know getting Garrett to agree to something like this would be difficult.”
She gave a tight smile. “I have and I do know that. You think he’ll say no?”
“He will,” he replied.
She let out a sigh of genuine disappointment. “Well, I had to try. And it was great to see Waterford again. I’d love to see Molly before I leave. Is she around?”
Again, he didn’t answer for a long time, studying her with those piercing eyes, his keen mind working so hard she could just imagine it in action. Except she had no idea where those thoughts were headed.
“I wish you could stay,” he said.
“Me, too.”
“Because…” His gaze moved back to the distant yard, landing right about the place where she’d been standing with Garrett. “He was laughing with you.”
Until he wasn’t. “About Lola,” she said.
“But he was laughing.”
Her journalistic instinct kicked into high gear, and Mac’s take on the Forbes magazine piece came back to her. Apparently, he’s a real son of a bitch. “Is that unusual?” she asked.
Dr. K fingered his coffee mug on the table next to him. “I have an idea,” he said.
“Okay,” she said slowly. But if his idea didn’t include interviewing Garrett, it wouldn’t work. “What’s that?”
“Why don’t you stick around for a little while?”
“I’d love to,” she said. “But I have a deadline for a critical story, and if Garrett isn’t going to be my subject, then I have to find another. It’s…important.” She didn’t really want to explain that her future rested on it, though.
“You don’t have a day or two?”
“I really don’t, Dr. K. I have to start interviewing and writing.”
“But what if you did start interviewing?” he asked. “Surely you have to get background and other information. What if you spent some time here, maybe joined the dog training class that’s starting this morning? It’s for people who are thinking about getting certified as a professional dog trainer, which we do in a much longer course.”
Something told her that whatever Mercedes was doing right this minute, it wasn’t taking classes on how to be a dog trainer. “That sounds lovely, but—”<
br />
“Garrett’s teaching some. And you could spend time with him.”
Where was he going with this? Lie to Garrett? Not happening. “I have to tell him the truth, Dr. K. I’m not going to interview him without him knowing what I’m doing. It’s unethical.”
“Of course, I understand,” he said. “And I respect that, but if he got comfortable with you, did a little more laughing…”
“I’d still have to be straight about what I do and what I’m writing.” There was no way she was interviewing anyone under false pretenses.
“I have to tell you something,” Dr. K said. “I’m going to be brutally honest.”
“All right.”
“I want you to do this story on Garrett. I’d love to see someone do the right story that could shine a light on who he really is, on how he saves animal after animal in a tireless effort that is driven by his bone-deep love of dogs. The last butcher job written about him…”
“In Forbes,” she said softly.
His strong shoulders dropped with a sigh. “Yes. Not that it was untrue; he did choose to break his contract, but he did it for this.” He swept a hand to include all of Waterford. “And the rescues. He’d rather save dogs than build someone else’s company. But that reporter painted such a dark picture of him, and ever since that was written, he’s been closed off. Ever since he came home from Seattle, in fact, he’s not the Garrett he used to be. I see glimpses, but then, he doesn’t laugh like he used to. I don’t get it.”
“He lost his mother,” she suggested. “Could that be why?” Because, frankly, it would take a lot more than an unflattering story in the media to change a man like Garrett. There had to be more under the surface.
Which, of course, her hands itched to dig and discover.
“They all lost their mother, and I lost the love of my life. That changes a person, yes, but not like this. And I know nothing you’ll write will change him back, but maybe he’d lose a little of that wall he’s erected around himself.”
And she was the wall-breaker.
“So, no, I don’t want you to deceive him, Jessie. That would be wrong. But if you just hang around a little bit, a day or two, I think he might…enjoy that. And then you can tell him. And maybe, after he trusts you a little, he’ll agree to do the interview.”
She sat very still, considering that, mulling over the implications. “I don’t think so, Dr. K.”
“All right, all right. I shouldn’t be meddlin’ anyway. I bet you want to see Molly.”
So much. “She’s in surgery in town, right?”
“But she’ll be back in by eleven. Why don’t you at least join the class for the morning tour? I think you’ll get a kick out of seeing what Waterford’s become. The last thing on the tour is a stop at the vet office, and then maybe you could sit in on the first class. It would give you one more chance to talk to Garrett. Just one more try, Jessie. You could tell him why you’ve come here right after the class and see what he says.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “You are persuasive, Dr. K.”
“That’s what they say, Whippet Legs. That’s what they say.” He stood and reached for her hand. “But only because I want my kids to be happy, I assure you.”
“I hope they know how lucky they are, then.”
* * *
The tour of Waterford Farm felt endless, but that might be because Jessie was anxious to see Garrett Kilcannon again, not because the canine training facility wasn’t impressive.
But as the small group of six students and a trainer named Allison approached the last yellow clapboard building on the property, Jessie saw the sign for Kilcannon Veterinarian. Instantly, she forgot about one Kilcannon, excited to see another.
Would Molly recognize her? Would the connection still be there? They’d essentially been young girls, only sixteen, the last time they’d hugged, making teary promises to write weekly and call monthly. But they’d lost touch almost immediately after Jessie moved away. But email wasn’t the force then that it is now, and there was no texting or social media. After a few clumsy attempts at handwritten letters and a few missed calls, Jessie let their friendship fizzle. It hurt too much to think of what she was missing down here once she’d been moved to Minnesota.
Jessie had thought about contacting Molly over the years, but so much time had passed. But that seemed silly now. They’d gone through their formative years together, and Molly had been by her side as Jessie wept with misery when she’d had to move to Minnesota. Her world had been upended, and one of her biggest losses had been Molly.
Just then, the door of the vet practice opened, and a woman walked out into the sunshine to greet the crowd. Jessie inhaled softly as she realized she was looking at Molly Kilcannon.
She’d grown into a beautiful woman, and the spark, smile, and sass that made Molly one special person had not changed. And she had become a mirror image of Annie Kilcannon, with the same wide hazel eyes, the same thick chocolate curls with streaks of caramel and gold, the same intelligent brow and well-defined chin.
“Welcome, Waterford students,” she said to the small group, a wide smile in place as she stayed a foot higher on the doorstep. “I’m Doctor Molly, and I’m the…” Her voice stuttered as her gaze moved over Jessie, then back again. “I’m the veterinarian for—” She stopped and stared at Jessie, making a few people turn to look, but Jessie gave a reassuring smile. Molly tried again. “I’m the veterinarian for Waterford Farm.”
The last two words faded into a whisper as Molly blinked at Jessie, who lifted her hand and flicked two fingers, the way they’d always communicated across a classroom.
“Oh my God!” Molly put her hand to her mouth, her eyes filling.
“Hey, Molls.”
“Jessie!” The small group seemed to part to either side when Molly jumped out of the door and launched at Jessie with a huge hug. “Jessie Curtis! I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I can’t believe you recognize me,” Jessie replied with a laugh and a tighter squeeze of pure joy.
Around them, the crowd chuckled and mumbled, everyone watching the reunion, but Jessie certainly didn’t care, and from the second, third, and fourth hug she got, it was clear Molly wasn’t worried about propriety.
Finally, they pulled away, still holding each other’s hands. “Sorry, folks,” Molly said on a laugh. “This is a long-lost best friend, and I am blown the heck away right now. What are you doing here?”
“Long story,” she said. “Too long for this many people to hear.”
Molly slipped her arm around Jessie’s waist and turned to the group. “Go on inside, everyone. Allison will get the vet facilities tour started, but I’m…” She tightened her squeeze. “Going to catch up with my friend.”
They followed the tour guide into the office, joking about the unexpected reunion.
Molly whirled Jessie a few steps away from the group. “You look fantastic!”
“So do you.” Jessie reached to fluff one of Molly’s waves that she’d fought so hard to straighten her whole life. “You’ve embraced the curl. And you’re a vet. And this place.” She gestured toward the rest of the sprawling facility. “It’s changed, but somehow still the same.”
“It’s awesome,” Molly assured her. “And why didn’t you tell me you were coming here? What are you doing now? Why do you keep your FriendGroup profile private?”
“You tried to get in touch with me?”
“Isn’t that what social media is for?” She let out a sigh, her eyes glinting with more brown than green in the morning light. “I figured you’d forgotten about me.”
“Same, sister.”
Molly laughed. “But you’re here! How long? Where are you staying? When can we get together?”
“Not long. I’m at the Bitter Bark Bed & Breakfast in Bushrod Square, which got pretty fancy-schmancy since I last visited.”
“Our attempt to steal tourists from Asheville, Blowing Rock, and Boone,” Molly said. “So, tell me everything. What are y
ou doing? Are you happy? Married? Where do you live? What do you do? And what on earth made you come here without telling me?”
“So many questions,” Jessie said, laughing. “Let’s see. Yes, happy. No, not married. Living in New York. Writing articles. And I came on a whim.” She’d tell her, but not now with six people waiting for her. “What about you?”
“Not married, but I do have a twelve-year-old daughter, Pru, which is short for Prudence, which I didn’t exercise or I wouldn’t have gotten pregnant at twenty, but it’s fine because she’s the light of my life.”
“A daughter!” Jessie exclaimed. “I bet you’re an amazing mom.”
“Eh…I might be better with animals in heat than preteens in puberty, but she’s my love, and we’re really close. So, when—”
Allison stuck her head out of the door to wave Molly back in.
“Okay, okay, one second,” Molly promised. “Tonight. Please tell me we can have dinner tonight. Pru is babysitting the neighbor’s kids, so you and I are picking up where we left off. God, Jessie. Can it be almost twenty years?”
Jessie nodded with a sad smile. “But you’re the same Molly. And, oh, honey, I’m sorry about your mom.”
The other woman’s lashes shuttered, and she nodded. “Thanks. It’s the new normal these past three years, life without Mom. It sucked, I can tell you. And the only way to cope has been to work on this place, which we all know would have made her the happiest. My brothers built almost all of it with their own hands, and I split my time between this practice and one in town. But if Dad hadn’t had this vision for Waterford? I don’t think any of us would have survived.”
And there went another emotional story beat for the article she’d never get to write. “I’m so glad you found a way to work together as a family,” Jessie said.
“But you were my secret sister, remember?” Molly held up her finger. “We exchanged blood.” And her face crumpled. “Which is gross.”
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