Better With You

by Ellen Joy

  Lucy nodded her head. “But not many.”

  “The first rule of horses is to always wear a good pair of boots around them. They don’t always look down when they stomp their feet.” Anastasia stomped her hoof as though she had been listening to Elizabeth. Lucy giggled along with Elizabeth. The two looked surprisingly natural together. Like a mother and ...

  “Do you know when she might give birth?” Adam asked.

  “She looks like she has a few more months, but we won’t know for sure how far along she is.” She pulled out a pair of gloves. “We’re not going to be able to do an ultrasound today, but I can check her blood and urine. Do you have a lot experience with horses, Mr. Cahill?”

  He could decipher her tone. She knew what he tried to hide from Lucy. He had no idea what he was doing. “Not a ton.”

  Dr. Williams stood up and looked at the horse with her hands on her hips. She appeared to be contemplating the situation. He hoped she’d overlook his behavior and take this on. Having a vet nearby would be so helpful.

  “Will she be okay?” Lucy asked.

  “She’s definitely malnourished, and you’ll need to keep a close eye on her. Let her eat as much hay as she wants, but I think with a steady diet and good conditions, Anastasia’s going to be just fine.”

  Lucy wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck. “Did you hear that, Anastasia?”

  “I’ll get her bloodwork done this afternoon, but I don’t think she’ll need any supplements except for the Mare & Foal. I’ll have to come back sooner, if something does pop up...”

  She kept using the pronoun I, referring to herself as the one who would do the procedures. He almost didn’t want to push it and just play ignorant, but he also didn’t want to risk the health of the horse if he needed to find someone else. “Would you be willing to take her on?”

  She looked around the barn while twirling that loose strand of hair around her finger. He held his breath in as she stayed silent. Then, almost confused, she asked, “Are there goats here, too?”

  The two bleating goats suddenly cried out again. “I wish I could say no, but ...”

  “I thought you were from the city?” Her tone seemed more curious than condescending.

  He looked over to Lucy who still had her arms wrapped around her new horse. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

  He thought he saw a small smirk cross her lips but wasn’t sure. She took in a deep breath and then said, “Yes, I’ll take her on.”

  He held back from smiling, giving her a serious nod. “Great.”

  She asked Lucy, “Do you mind grabbing that shovel outside the barn?”

  Lucy got up instantly and ran out of the barn. Then Elizabeth spun around to face him. She poked her finger on his chest. “I will only work with you if I’m in charge of the mare’s health.”

  He nodded obediently, reeling from her touch, as she started to speak again.

  “Otherwise, you will need to call that specialist, because there are no other vets in the area that would be willing to take this on.”

  She walked away without even looking back at him.

  His heart pounded inside his chest like it did when he landed the perfect client. The adrenaline rushed through his veins as he watched her walk away in those perfect form-fitting jeans. He stayed a second behind, pulling himself together, steadying his breath.

  He was in trouble.

  ELIZABETH LOOKED AT everything packed in the picnic basket. Dan had a few sandwiches and some potato salad. He had picked up a six pack of her favorite brew on the way home, and picked up homemade mille-feuille big enough for four, from her uncles’ bakery. He also had a beach blanket, a candle, and had downloaded some of her favorite music. He had definitely gone above and beyond with this date, but she was exhausted and really wasn’t in the mood.

  She looked down at her jeans and boots and said, “I’m not really dressed for the beach.”

  She could tell her flat response totally disappointed him and she immediately felt bad.

  “I guess we don’t have to go to the beach. We could sit on one of the benches on the Coastal Way, overlooking the water.”

  “Or we could eat here?” She looked around her kitchen.

  “I thought you loved picnics on the beach?” His eyes were hurt and her heart sank to her stomach. He was trying to create a special night and she was ruining it with her foul mood.

  She shook her head. “I love them. Let’s go.”

  “We don’t have to,” he said, setting the basket on the table.

  “No, it’s perfect.” She changed before they left and when they parked, she immediately was glad she decided to go. When they found the perfect spot, he laid out the blanket and sat the basket on top. He passed her a beer, twisting off the cap.

  She looked out at the water, taking a sip, suddenly seeing things in perspective. She was actually excited about the Cahill’s horse. This was why she got into veterinarian medicine in the first place, to help animals.

  “Sorry, I was such a jerk earlier,” she said, feeling bad about it all. “Mr. Cahill got a horse and some goats. I just hope he doesn’t get more animals.”

  “That’s the guy at the Sanborn Farm?”

  She nodded. “He’s really starting to pull the farm together. He’s tossed out all the junk in the barn and it so much bigger than I remember it. He said he’s going to clean out the pastures and then rebuild the fences. It’s going to be a ton of work. Mrs. Sanborn hadn’t touched the fields in years. I think he’ll do a nice job, because inside, he’s restoring the place with the original character.”

  He gave her a look. “I thought you hated this guy?”

  “I did.” He continued giving her the look.

  “You did?”

  “Well, he was a jerk.”

  “And he isn’t anymore?”

  “He seems like he means well, that’s all. With rescuing the horse and fixing the property up.”

  “Hmm.” He took a bite of potato salad.

  She didn’t want to read into the low “hmm” he made. Was he still mad at her for leaving without saying goodbye? She had apologized over the phone.

  She bit into her lobster roll and looked around the deserted beach, listening to the soft roar of the waves crashing onto the sand. Seagulls flew above the water, dangling in the air. The ocean darkened as the clouds glimmered pink off in the horizon. She thought nothing ever could get any better than this.

  “Don’t you just love the beach?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

  “It’s okay.”

  “Okay?” She couldn’t hold back her surprise, because this was really shocking. “But you live in Camden Cove. How could you not like the beach?”

  “I’m just not really a beach person,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I’d rather have the quiet of the woods than the loud and crowded beaches.”

  This may have seemed like a little thing to someone else, but the ocean meant a lot to her. She looked over at Dan who ate his potato salad. She had grown up with him at her house as Matt’s friend, for most of her childhood. She had never really paid attention to whether he ever hung out at the beach or not. They had only been dating about six months, and most of that time had been winter. Was Margie getting to her, so that she was making this a bigger deal than it really was?

  Then she noticed after she finished her sandwich that Dan hadn’t touched his. “Are you not eating your lobster roll?”

  “I don’t like lobster.”

  Her mouth dropped open. Who was this man? “You don’t like lobster?!”

  “I don’t really like any seafood.”

  “Seriously?” This she couldn’t believe. “I’ve seen you eat my mom’s lobster mac ‘n cheese.”

  “Well, that’s because I don’t want to offend her, but I really only take the macaroni.”

  Elizabeth had to look away from him to hide her disappointment. How could she date a guy who didn’t like the ocean and seafood? Was she being picky, or was
this grounds for some serious decision making? She looked out toward the path to the north beach, when she saw two people walking off in the distance. As they came closer, she saw a little girl running to the water as the path opened up from the granite cliffs. First, she removed her shoes then she peeled off her socks one by one, rolling up her pants before she ran into the waves.

  Even from a distance, she could tell it was Lucy.

  The little girl ran right into the frigid water. Elizabeth winced at the thought of how cold the water must feel, at the most in the fifties. Adam ran in right behind her, splashing her with his hands. Elizabeth couldn’t hear Lucy laughing, but even from far away, she could see her mouth wide open, having the time of her life.

  She looked at Dan, who had started putting on his socks and said, “You want to get out of here?” He squinted his eyes and looked beyond her at Adam and Lucy frolicking in the water.

  “Who would want to go in the water now?’

  She shrugged and said, “I think it looks fun.”

  “It looks cold.” He looked back at them, blocking the evening sun with his hands. His eyebrows scrunched together, when a strange desire washed over her to wade in the water with them.

  Instead of watching the game at Finn’s, she asked Dan to drop her off at her place, feigning a headache. He carried the picnic basket inside and set it on the counter. Then, he reached over and grabbed her hand. His touch felt good.

  “Want to have dinner tomorrow? We could get the surf and turf.” He gave her a smile that made him even sexier. “I can have the turf, and you can have the surf.”

  Something inside of her made her think maybe Margie was right. Yes, Dan was nice, but they had nothing at all in common. But then he’d take her to the ocean even without wanting to go. Wasn’t that the kind of man she wanted? Someone who was predictable, loyal and nice to her?

  “I’ll pick you up after work.” He kissed her lightly on the lips, but held his touch just long enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath on hers. Her pheromones kicked in and she almost pulled him in closer, but hesitated. With her lack of sleep and her wildly out of control thoughts, she didn’t want to make things more complicated. She needed to get herself together.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She drew a bath after he left, grabbed her book and a glass of wine, and soaked for hours trying to get her head straight. Dan was a great guy. So what if he didn’t like the ocean? It wasn’t the most important thing her in life. She loved the woods, too. He might even change his mind over time. It wasn’t like he refused to go. He just needed to lose the boots and get a pair of flip-flops. She’d have Matt take him surfing, or get him a really good beach chair to sit in. He didn’t have to like lobster, or even her mom’s famous mac ‘n cheese. The fact that he had been willing to eat something he didn’t like to impress her mom, said a lot about him.

  But then her mind wandered to Lucy and Adam Cahill playing in the water. The very scene she imagined for her own children. Her thoughts wandered and became even more complex.

  “Do you think I’m being ridiculous?” she asked Joan, who played with the dripping faucet with her paw, balancing on the stool next to the tub. “Could I fall in love with a guy who wouldn’t run into the water?”

  Joan swatted at each drip, watching it fall into the bath water.

  “I’m sure I could.” She tried to convince herself that it didn’t matter.

  But it did matter.

  A lot.

  Five

  Adam sat with Frank Williams at the table against the window at La Patisserie. The bakery only had a few customers still remaining. The breakfast rush had dwindled down by this point in the day, which was why Frank told Adam to meet them then, although, David hadn’t left the kitchen since Adam arrived. Frank and David Williams, the owners of the bakery, would be Adam’s first official clients.

  “My husband is afraid to talk about death, but I figured I’d set up a meeting with you.” Frank talked with his hands. He had a French accent, but a French-Canadian accent Frank made sure to correct him.

  Adam sat across the table and felt like a true Yankee. All stiff and serious, while Frank talked openly and honestly about his life. Telling Adam how he and David met, how they bought the small bakery and made it a huge success. And why he called Adam.

  “I’d like to figure out a plan in case something were to happen.” Frank talked with his hands. “We don’t want to leave a burden for our daughter, with the business and rental properties we own.”

  “We can do that.” He put down his legal pad with his jotted notes. “The first thing you and David will want to do is list all your assets.”

  “Will there be problems if our daughter is living abroad?” Frank asked.

  “It depends where she declares residency.”

  Finally, David reluctantly walked out from the kitchen with an expression of dread. He wiped his hands on a dishtowel and sat next to his husband. Frank apparently hadn’t told David about the meeting until just before Adam came.

  “Adam,” Frank said, “this is my husband, David.”

  David and Adam shook hands. David sat next to Frank with his apron still on. He looked annoyed.

  “We were just discussing how we want to create a living will in case something were to happen to either one of us,” Frank said to David, as if to remind him why Adam was there.

  Adam jotted down some notes. “You’ll also want to decide if there are any assets being left to anyone besides your daughter. Then I can do a draft of your documents.” He handed over a few papers. “Here’s a draft of a common living will that many people use.”

  The lines on David’s face deepened as Frank discussed their wishes. He rubbed his eyebrows, a sign that he was uncomfortable, when Frank talked about wanting to pull the plug. He crossed his arms, when Frank talked about their daughter. He tensed up even more when Frank talked about if he were to die first. Adam worried they may not become his first official clients after all.

  “Do we have to come up with every scenario right now?” David asked. His exasperation came out in his voice.

  Frank rolled his eyes. “You’ve been dodging this forever. We need to do this for Ally.”

  “Your husband’s right,” Adam said. “I’ve seen families torn apart because the details weren’t worked out before the time of death.”

  Then out of the blue, Frank asked, “Is there a Mrs. Cahill?”

  Adam looked up from his notepad.

  “Don’t answer that.” David shot Frank a look, but spoke to Adam. “That’s none of his business.”

  Frank rolled his eyes. “I’m just making small talk to lighten the mood, since you look like you’re already at your funeral.”

  “Aren’t we being charged by the hour?” David asked. “Save the chit-chat for after billing time.”

  Adam shook his head. “I’m not going to charge you for any extra time. This is all pretty standard and shouldn’t take much time or money on your part.”

  “So, what made you come to Camden Cove?” Frank ignored his husband’s look and kept talking. “You have quite the impressive resume on your website. Leaving Boston must’ve been a big change.”

  “I wanted a safe place for Lucy to grow up,” he said. “And she wanted a horse, so when I saw the farm, I made an offer.”

  Frank smiled. “Our niece is a veterinarian over at the local clinic. She works with all types of animals.”

  He leaned back and looked at Frank. “Dr. Williams is your niece?” Then as if a light bulb went off in his head, he said, “The last names. I didn’t put them together until right now.”

  “So, you’ve met our Elizabeth?” David asked. Suddenly, his demeanor completely changed.

  “Yes, I very recently became the proud owner of a pregnant mare and some goats.” He sighed. “Luckily for me, she agreed to take them as clients. She’s wonderful.”

  “She’s a really talented vet,” Frank said.

  “She’s great,”
he said. “She’s really good with the animals and my Lucy just loves her. Thinks she’s a fairy godmother ...” He stopped when he noticed the two husbands gave each other a look, as though they were having a silent conversation between them.

  “Elizabeth is helping you with a pregnant mare?” David’s eyes widened.

  “That you can’t ride, apparently.” Adam smiled, shaking his head. “Lucy has a thing for rescues, and I have a thing for not saying no.”

  “Did you ever consider a cat or a dog first?” David joked.

  Adam laughed and the mood instantly lightened. “I probably should’ve considered that.”

  From then on, Adam could see David relax through the rest of the meeting. He took all the information he needed, and they set up another time to meet. By the end, David had packed up a box with a dozen different pastries for Adam and Lucy, and loaned him one of his cookbooks.

  “We would love to invite you and your family to the house sometime,” Frank said.

  Adam nodded. “That sounds great. Lucy and I would really like that.”

  “So, it’s only you two?” Frank asked.

  Adam noticed David didn’t give Frank a hard time this time.

  “Only me and her.” Adam held up the box. “Thanks for the pastries. I should have the documents drafted by tomorrow and will send them over right away.”

  “That’d be great,” David said, shaking Adam’s free hand. “If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Adam shook back. “Thanks, I will.”

  As he left, Frank and David watched from the window. He could see them talking while watching him. He wondered if they noticed his excitement when they mentioned Elizabeth. Maybe he should reel it in.

  BY THE AFTERNOON, ELIZABETH had stopped obsessing about whether an imaginary father Dan would run into the Atlantic Ocean or not. She felt silly that she had made it such a big deal in the first place. Tonight, when Dan took her to dinner, she’d probably have a lovely time, and remind herself why he was such a great guy, because he really was.