Veterinary Partner

by Nancy Wheelton

  She was excited because she was spending Saturday night and most of Sunday alone with Lauren. The calvings were done at Poplarcreek and she’d done the last two by herself. Two months ago, she would never have imagined she could do it. Her animals were happy and healthy, except one of her cows who had a foot abscess that wasn’t healing. She had booked Ian after lunch on Monday to examine the animal. She had considered asking Lauren, but Lauren would want to do the work for free and that wasn’t okay with Callie. But Lauren had understood that boundary and acquiesced with grace.

  Callie sighed. She had relatively little farm work until spring seeding. All she had to do was tune up her farm machinery and wait for the ground to thaw. It was late April, and the temperature bounced between minus five and plus five degrees Celsius. She scanned the lawns and driveways as she headed to Lauren’s. The snow was melting, and it was still light out at six p.m. Callie grinned and switched to singing. Spring was on the way.

  Lauren was cooking and had warned her not to expect much in the kitchen. “I can cook a few meals that wouldn’t kill anyone, but I’m not a fancy cook. Dinner will be edible, but every dish is less than four ingredients.”

  Callie grinned at the pronouncement that any dish with over four ingredients was considered too complicated.

  Callie parked her SUV and plugged it into Lauren’s garage. She walked along the side of the house and as she passed the kitchen window, glanced in. Lauren lay face down on the floor with Digit curled in a ball in the middle of her back. A sharp pain stabbed Callie in the chest, and she dropped her suitcase and sprinted to Lauren’s back door. Discovering the door was unlocked, she rushed inside and dropped to her knees beside Lauren. “Honey, are you all right? Baby?” Her voiced trembled as she shook her.

  Lauren rolled slowly onto her back and Digit jumped off. Lauren grinned up at Callie.

  “Are you okay?” Callie ran her hands along Lauren’s body, hunting for injuries.

  “Hello tall, blond, and beautiful.” Lauren winked. “What a nice way to wake up. I love getting felt up. Carry on, please.”

  Callie’s brow furrowed as she stared down. “Are you hurt? Why are you on the floor?”

  Lauren sat up. “It was a long day. I did two C-sections and three calvings and I was too tired to stand in the shower. I was napping until I had the energy to shower and change.” Lauren shifted to her knees and kissed Callie. “I’m too smelly to lie in my bed or on the couch, so I lay on the floor.” Lauren stood and reached down a hand to bring Callie to her feet. “Are you all right?”

  Callie wrapped her arms around Lauren’s neck, dragging her close into a crushing embrace. She shook as the burst of adrenaline drained away. She was on edge and constantly checking over her shoulder for the next attack by a Kruger.

  “Cals, are you all right?”

  Callie stepped from the embrace. Her eyes stung with unshed tears. “I saw you on the floor and it scared me. I thought Kruger had hurt you again.”

  Lauren caressed Callie’s face with the back of her hand. “That’s all done now. Heinz and Kyle have been arrested.” After a beat, Lauren squirmed. “You’re kind of crushing me.”

  Callie released Lauren and kissed her on the lips. She scanned the kitchen and forced herself to relax. “Your kitchen smells nice.”

  “I popped a chicken in the oven before my floor nap, but I’m ready for a shower now.”

  Lauren disappeared into the bathroom and Callie collected her bag from the path where she dropped it. She wiped her wet footprints off the kitchen floor and waited for Lauren in the living room. Digit joined her on the couch for a cuddle.

  Fifteen minutes later, Lauren returned in jeans and a tight sweater. Callie swallowed and scanned Lauren. Dinner first. Then other activities. “Can I help with anything?”

  “No thanks. I’ve got it.” Lauren uncorked the wine and passed Callie a glass. Then Lauren set the table beginning with an elegant white tablecloth and ending with candles. When dinner was ready, they sat to eat and chatted about the minutia of their day.

  Thirty minutes later, Callie wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin. “Dinner’s delicious. You should cook more often.”

  “Even I can’t screw up a roast chicken with apple and raisin stuffing. I’m particularly proud that the baked potatoes and cooked carrots were ready at the same time. It never happens. Often one is mush and the other raw.”

  When the meal ended, they cleared up the leftovers and washed the dishes. After Lauren popped the final clean dish in the cupboard, she turned to Callie. “Would you like to watch a movie?”

  Callie still simmered from the last time they made love. They had been planning to make love last night, but Lauren had to leave to do an emergency C-section on a dog. An occupational hazard for a veterinarian. It had taken a long time for Callie to fall asleep alone.

  Callie tapped her bottom lip with an index finger as she pretended to consider the movie idea. “No, thanks.”

  Lauren waggled her eyebrows. “Cards? Monopoly? Want to see photographs of my trip to Peru?”

  Callie sidled toward Lauren’s bedroom and crooked a finger over her shoulder.

  * * *

  In the morning, Callie woke cozy and content in Lauren’s arms as Lauren bestowed warm kisses on her nape and shoulders. No place in the world was better than lying on her side with Lauren curled around her. Callie struggled to recall the last time she’d felt this content and she knew she never had. Her marriage had been wonderful, and she’d never forget Liz, but what she had with Lauren was something else, something beyond special, and she treasured everything she brought to her life.

  Lauren slid out of bed and reached for her robe. “Coffee?”

  Callie squinted up at Lauren. Callie wasn’t a morning person and discovering Lauren was had annoyed her. She rolled her head on the pillow and stuck out her tongue at Lauren.

  Lauren chuckled and stepped back. “Don’t stick that out unless you intend to use it.”

  Callie pawed at Lauren’s leg. “Come back to bed and I’ll be happy to demonstrate.”

  “Our brunch reservation is for eleven, or would you prefer to stay home? I know better than to make decisions without consulting you.”

  “Switch it to one and get back in here.”

  Lauren giggled as she grabbed her phone. “Yes, ma’am.”

  After the call, Lauren dropped her robe and pinned Callie to the bed. “Ever spend a whole day in bed where you only get up to make a sandwich or let the dog out?”

  Callie pulled Lauren’s face down and kissed her soundly.

  Two hours later, Lauren got up. “I’m starving”

  “Okay, I’m up.” Callie dragged herself from bed as if she were a kid on the first day of school after a summer of playing outside all day.

  They showered, dressed, and headed out for the three-course brunch at a country restaurant in the next town.

  “I’d like to pay,” Callie said. “You made dinner.”

  “Please, the weekend is my treat for us. A celebration of the end of calving season.”

  Callie grinned and kissed Lauren’s cheek. “Okay and thank you.” Callie relented and agreed to let Lauren pay. She had learned the difference between being cared for and controlled, and although she might still get stressed about it once in a while, she knew she’d grown thanks to Lauren’s sweet patience.

  On the way back to Lauren’s, Callie watched out the windows and shivered when a black pickup truck passed them.

  Lauren took her hand. “You still having nightmares about being buried in snow?”

  Callie grimaced. “Not when you’re holding me.” And that had been all week. Nearly every night since the accident she’d been safe and warm in Lauren’s arms.

  Callie traced the edges of Lauren’s palms. She admired Lauren’s strong, deft hands and long fingers. Lauren’s hands, body, and the way her muscles danced along her bare arms while she performed surgery had mesmerized Callie from the first day she’d met her.

&nbs
p; As planned, Lauren pulled over at a park on the way home. “I’m too full for a long hike, but it’s a beautiful day.” After a short walk into the woods, Lauren spread a tarp in the sun, at the base of a tree and motioned for Callie to lie between her legs.

  “Do you think Heinz and Kyle are really done hassling us?” Callie asked as she leaned back against Lauren.

  “You still worry about them.”

  “It’s hard not to. I feel as if I’ve been on guard for months.”

  “Cals, we beat them, with Tommy’s help. I’m not looking forward to the trial, but they won’t be bothering us anymore.”

  Callie slid closer to Lauren and Lauren wrapped her arms around her. “That’s a relief. I want to thank you for everything you did for us.”

  “I care about you and Becky.”

  “And we care about you. Hey, I should call and check on Becky. Want to join me?”

  “I’d like that.” Lauren sighed. “Some days I can’t believe we’re together. I’m still astonished that I was able to emerge from my cocoon of insecurity and fear long enough to find you and Becky.”

  Callie sat up and kissed Lauren on the lips. “I’m glad you did. You’re a warm, beautiful woman and shouldn’t stay cut off from people. Do you still think you’re a stand-in for Liz?”

  Lauren locked eyes with Callie. “No, I don’t.”

  “Good. There’ll always be a place in my heart for Liz, but I’m ready to be in love again.” Lauren blushed and smiled. Liz never blushed. Where Liz was abrupt and tough, Lauren was gentle. Except for both being honorable with a strong commitment to work, Callie couldn’t imagine two more different women.

  Callie settled again and leaned back against Lauren. “Let’s call my kid.” Callie put her phone on speaker and held it between them.

  “Hi, Mommy.”

  “Hi, honey, I’m here with Lauren. Are you having fun?”

  “We made our own pizzas last night. Val showed us how to roll the dough and everything. Now I can make us pizza at home.”

  “With pineapple?” Lauren asked.

  Becky laughed. “Only on yours. Gwen said you have a dog surgery on Monday, and she gets to watch.”

  “Would you like to come too?”

  “I’m not in the way?”

  “Never, kiddo. I like your company and you’re a lot of fun. Besides, I’m going to be an owner soon, so I get to decide who visits.”

  “Awesome. You’re fun too. I have to go now. We’re taking Max for a walk.”

  “Bye, honey. See you at dinnertime. Love you,” Callie said.

  “Love you too, Mommy and Lauren.”

  Callie smiled. Becky has said she loved Lauren as if it were the most natural thing to say. Callie swiveled to rest on one hip and brushed a tear off Lauren’s cheek. “You okay?”

  Lauren sniffled. “I’m touched. Becky’s an amazing kid. And I can’t wait until the summer when Sam’s here. I want her to meet you both.”

  “How’s it going with Sam?”

  “Awesome. She texts all the time and we talk almost every day. Sometimes for only a few minutes, but it’s like I’m there in the room with her.” Lauren shrugged. “I’ve had a couple of short conversations with William, but he’s eighteen and over needing a second mom.” She grinned. “But I’m not giving up. He’s kind of stuck with me.”

  “Wonderful. I’d love to meet Sam, and William if that happens. So, what’s this about you being an owner at PVS?”

  “Ian wants to retire in a couple of years. So, I’m buying in. It will take a while to pay it off, but I’m ready to be a practice owner again.”

  “And stay in Thresherton.”

  “You’ll have to decide if Poplarcreek wants the family rate at PVS.”

  Callie slapped her playfully and grinned. Then she stared into the woods and reflected on their conversation. Now was the time to say what had been building in her heart. What had been there for a while, but she hadn’t been ready to acknowledge. She took Lauren’s hand in hers. “Lauren, I love you.”

  Lauren gaped. “Oh, I—oh.”

  Callie nodded and Lauren blushed. Callie tucked her bottom lip between her teeth and waited. And waited. “You don’t—”

  Lauren launched herself at Callie and knocked her to the ground. Callie landed flat on her back in the snow with Lauren on top. “I love you too.” Lauren kissed her hard.

  Callie rolled Lauren onto her back, pinned her in place, and claimed her mouth. They kissed for a few minutes, and Callie searched her eyes for any doubts. “I love you. You’re kind and generous, and you’ve had my back since I first met you. I’m stronger with you, and braver.”

  “You were always strong. You never gave up and I’m impressed.”

  “You’re strong too.”

  “I don’t know if that’s true, but I know I’m ready to be in love. Ready for a relationship with you. I came to Saskatchewan for a peaceful life all alone, but when I’m within ten feet of you, I feel anything but peaceful and I love not being alone.”

  Callie laughed. “Peaceful isn’t a word to describe life at Poplarcreek, but I want you to join my family. Share our lives.” She had yearned for somebody to share her life with and longed for somebody to cuddle with on the couch and hold in bed every night. She’d just lost her way. Now, somehow, she knew they’d be just fine.

  “I’d love to. I love you, Cals. I never want to be anywhere but with you,” Lauren said.

  “And I love you.” Callie bent and kissed Lauren only stopping when Lauren shivered. Callie nibbled Lauren’s bottom lip. “You turned on?”

  “Yes, but I’m getting cold. The snow is soaking through my clothes.”

  Callie climbed off Lauren and helped her off the ground. She did her best to brush the debris off, paying particular attention to doing a thorough job of brushing Lauren’s backside clean. “Don’t want the seat of your truck to get dirty.”

  “Good story, but how is squeezing my butt a technique for removing dirt?”

  “Come on, you.”

  They returned to the truck and headed back to Lauren’s. Their lovemaking was unhurried as they shared the love in their hearts and took their time over each other’s bodies. Lauren fell asleep curled in Callie’s arms. Callie watched long, dark eyelashes flutter as Lauren slept, and was content in the knowledge that love meant forever.

  About the Author

  Nancy Wheelton graduated over twenty years ago from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario. She spent the first few years after graduation working in a mixed animal practice in a small town in the province of Saskatchewan. Then she settled in the Great Lakes region of Ontario, where she is a practicing veterinarian.

  When Nancy’s not kayaking, photographing wildlife, or working on her beach house, she enjoys the crashing waves and sunsets while writing. Please visit her at Nancywheelton.com.

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