Not to mention shown a great lack of faith in his character.
She vowed to put the whole conversation out of her mind and to move forward, as she’d promised herself a week before. Sometimes living life to the fullest meant taking risks, and risks could bring happiness or not.
It was time to stop expecting the or not.
Risa pushed through the front door of the clinic and ran into Corrie.
“Good, you’re back. Doc wants to see you in his office ASAP.” She raised her eyebrows and rolled her eyes. “Good luck,” she whispered.
Now what? She really hoped this wasn’t about the funding, or even worse, he’d somehow found out about Bella.
Risa walked into Dr. Lagasse’s office. He motioned for her to close his office door, then sat back with his hands crossed over his trim stomach and rocked his chair.
“You’ve done a fine job in my absence, Dr. Reynolds. I had my doubts, but I’ve reviewed the file of every patient you’ve seen in the past six weeks. I’ve also called several clients to follow up on your care.”
Should she thank him for his lack of faith in her? Not knowing what to say, she opted for silence and a smile.
“As you know, the wife and I were on a fact-finding mission of sorta. I had to know if I could handle the retired life. When we started out on our trip, I gave myself a week before the restlessness set in. Strangely enough, it didn’t happen. Actually, I had to drag myself in here the last two days.”
Holy smokes, this could be it. “What are your plans, sir?”
“I’m putting in my resignation, effective immediately. You don’t need me here. You and Corrie have the place covered, and it will save on the budget considerably. I’m also going to recommend that you take my place.”
Inside she was jumping up and down, yelling, ‘I got it’ and squeeing with joy. Outside, she extended a hand to her boss. “Thank you, sir. I don’t know what to say. This means a lot to me.”
He chuckled. “It’s me who should be thanking you. With you here, I can retire knowing I’m leaving my patients in good hands and enjoy the time with my bride.”
Startled, Risa sat back. “I didn’t realize you were a newlywed. Congratulations.”
“We’re not,” he laughed again. “Me and the missus celebrated our forty-fifth anniversary the day my appendix went out. Guess it was too much excitement for the old organ to handle.”
“That deserves another round of congratulations. I just thought with the term, you were recently wed. Anyway, not important.” She tucked the loose strand of hair behind her ear and hoped her face wasn’t beet-red. “Forty-five years. Wow. That’s quite the accomplishment. Any tips for the rest of us?”
Her parents had been married nearly as long, and she had no doubt that they were still as mad about each other now as the day they exchanged vows. Still, she didn’t want to look to them as role models if it meant someday she’d make her child or children feel alienated.
Dr. Lagasse leaned forward to rest his arms on the polished wood desk. “Tell each other ‘I love you’ every day, laugh often, and never let the honeymoon end, even when times are hard. Remember why you chose that person and that, for some unknown reason, they chose you.”
It was good advice.
“If I ever find that person who picks me, I’ll have to keep your words in mind. Thank you again, sir.”
He waved a hand at her. “Run along. I’m going to finish this paperwork, and then I’m going to go home and surprise my bride.” He winked at her, which sent Risa out of his office grinning.
Corrie ran into the hallway.
“Come quick. It’s Bella. She’s hurt.”
Chapter 14
Two minutes after Jax walked into Senior Chief’s office, Kelly rushed in and said Bella had been hurt again. Moore had rushed her to the clinic. Jax hadn’t even bothered with his truck; it’d take longer to move it from one parking lot to the other than for him to run there.
He blew through the front doors of the veterinary clinic, not bothering to stop at the desk, and went straight to the closed exam room door. His heart pounded in his ears, as his lungs worked overtime to supply the oxygen his body needed.
Bella. She had to be okay. They’d been babying her leg for weeks. Risa had said another two weeks and she’d be ready to train again. What the hell happened?
The room was empty, but the back door leading to the lab and X-ray was cracked open, so Jax marched through. His girl lay on her side, once again, with Risa by her side. Moore stood near the wall.
Dr. Lagasse walked in. “Chief Faraday. Good to see you again, although I wish it were under different circumstances.” He shook Jax’s hand and turned to Bella. “Seems our girl has had a rough couple of months.”
“Is she…” Jax swallowed and stared at Bella’s chest. “Is she going to be okay, Doc?”
Risa and Dr. Lagasse both looked at him and answered in unison. “Yes.”
All the air in his lungs—and it wasn’t much—rushed out. Jax had to bend over, with his hands on his knees, to keep his meager lunch from making its way back up. “Thank God.” He turned to other man in the room. “What the hell happened to my dog, Petty Officer Moore?”
Bella whimpered, and Jax shot Moore a look that told him they weren’t finished and he better not go far. He went to his girl, bending down so his face was even with hers. “Hey, how’s my sweet Belladonna?” He ran his hand down her head and neck, crooning reassurances.
Risa laid a hand on his shoulder. “Jax, we need to talk. Let’s go take a seat in the office? She’ll be okay. She’s sedated and will go back to sleep.” She whispered the last comment.
He nodded to Lagasse, followed Risa into the office, and let her close the door behind him. “She’s really okay, isn’t she?”
“Depends on your definition of ‘okay.’ She’ll recover.”
Jax pulled Risa to him and held her as a multitude of emotions rushed through his mind and body: terror, relief, grief, happiness, confusion.
Not even an hour ago, everything in his life had felt like it was on target. All his goals, dreams, and hopes within his reach.
When he thought he wouldn’t embarrass himself or Risa, he stepped back and nodded. “Tell me.”
“From what Moore said, he and Bella were at the obstacle course—”
“What the fuck was she doing there?” He raked his hand through his hair. “She wasn’t cleared to work or train.”
“You’ll have to ask Moore, but no, she wasn’t cleared.”
“How bad is it?”
“Moore said she was fine until he sent her up the dog walk. According to him, she jumped off the steps instead of running down them. Her back leg went out and she went down. The fracture wasn’t fully healed. It’s been slow to mend, and now she’s got a Grade Three rupture of the CCL.”
Jax dropped to the edge of the desk and tried to remember his biology class lectures. “English, Doc.”
Risa let out a deep breath and grabbed a chart showing the skeletal structure of a dog. “CCL stands for cranial cruciate ligament. Think of an ACL in a human. This is the dog version, and it connects the femur—your thighbone—to the tibia—your calf. Unfortunately, Grade Three is bad. If she goes untreated, it might heal on its own. If it doesn’t, she could develop bone spurs, arthritis, decreased range of motion, and be in excruciating pain.”
The idea of Bella suffering killed him. He’d been lucky when he’d injured his knee—sure, it had cost him a SEAL assignment, but a torn meniscus was still less pain and recovery than an ACL.
“What do you recommend?” he asked, already knowing the answer and dreading hearing Risa say it.
“Dr. Lagasse feels, and I agree, that she needs surgery if there’s any hope for a good quality of life. It’ll be two-to-three weeks before she’s able to bear weight on the leg, and a good eight befor
e she can be allowed to exercise. She’s going to need round-the-clock care.” Her voice broke, and she looked away.
“You’re talking Texas?”
“There’s more. Given her recent mental and physical state, there’s a high chance she’ll be declared unfit to return to duty.”
Shit.
He did the math in his head. If they put her up for adoption, she’d be ready and released right around the time he got out. If he got the job—and it was a big maybe after today’s interview—he could ask his dad to take Bella while he was in training. He could do this and make it work. A lot could happen in the next couple of weeks.
“Will you do the surgery?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. She’s going to be transported to an emergency animal hospital in about an hour. They’re trained and staffed for this. We’re not. They’ll keep her for about forty-eight hours and as long as she’s stable and alert, then she’ll be flown to the base in Texas, where the team down there will take over.”
Risa would keep him posted while Bella was here. Jax had a buddy in Texas who wouldn’t mind watching over Bella for him. He wouldn’t lose her.
“You still willing to write that recommendation that she be placed in my permanent care, Doc?”
“Of course, but does your apartment allow dogs?”
“No. Don’t worry, though, because that’s all going to change soon.” He slid his arm around her waist and tugged her in tightly between his legs. “Actually, there’s some other stuff I’d like to talk to you about. Tonight? If you’re free.”
“Give me a couple of hours to get Bella transferred and the paperwork done. I’ll grab us a pizza on the way home.”
He kissed her lightly on the mouth. “I’ll take care of dinner, but right now I need to get out there and be with my girl until she leaves.”
Especially if things went south, and he never saw her again.
* * * *
By the time Risa pulled into her driveway, it was nine p.m. and she was exhausted.
It had taken forever to approve the transfer paperwork for Bella, then to transport her to the animal hospital. Of course, Risa couldn’t—nor did she want to—drop her off and run. She stayed with Bella until she was settled in and sedated for the night. The night attendant had promised to call if anything happened.
It probably broke the rules, but she’d left not only her number, but Jax’s cellphone for updates. He’d been torn when he got called away before the transfer, and Risa could see that he was tempted not to respond. She got it, all of it.
The K-9 units were important to the military, and she understood the reasoning behind separating sailor and dog, but it didn’t always work. Bonds between partners, built on trust and unconditional love, were powerful forces. If it had been her, she would have been written up. Then again, she’d make a terrible warrior. All the enemy would have to do was bait her with any four-legged creature, and she’d risk her life for theirs.
Goodness knew her growing farm ruled her life most days.
Thankfully, her dad had been over earlier to work on the fencing and had taken care of feeding her crew. All she wanted was a shower and her bed. Until she spied Jax’s truck in her driveway, and then all ideas of sleep vanished and were replaced with other desires.
Risa followed the sound of soft music around to the back of the house and found Jax asleep on the two-man lounger with Athena and Eir at his sides and Morpheus on his chest. A low fire glowed in the pit and an open bottle of wine sat next to a clean glass. If she hadn’t already been falling for the guy, she would have tripped and fallen for him right then. Or at least taken a tumble a few feet down the slippery slope to love.
She poured the wine and took the empty chair after giving her girls the signal to stay. No telling what time Jax started his day or when he had arrived, but the guy had looked wiped out when he left the clinic.
Sitting there under the skies, she let the emotions of the day roll off of her. It was hard not to relax, given the setting and company. She pulled the blanket Jax had left on the back of the chair over her shoulders and propped up her feet on the ottoman. Surveying her property, she imagined it five years in the future, with the goat pen and horse paddock done, along with a landscaped sitting area like the ones seen on yard overhaul shows on TV. The house would be expanded to include another bedroom or two, plus a home office. Off to the side there would—hopefully—be a swing set, a playhouse, and possibly a munchkin or two playing.
But who would be the man at her side?
She studied Jax openly while he slept. Could he be the one? Granted, she was a little bit in love with him already. Not really love, but that like-lust feeling that had the potential to blossom into much more, given time.
He was whip-smart, with a great sense of humor, and loved animals. These were all musts on her requirement list. Add in good looks and rock-hard body that sent her body dancing with happy thoughts and naughty desires when he came near… neither a requirement, but nice bonuses. He was caring, compassionate, and dedicated to his job; all traits she admired. His one downfall that she could see was his being in the military. And while she knew she shouldn’t hold it against him—the man put his life on the line to defend their country—giving up on her dreams wasn’t easy, either.
“Hey, beautiful. When did you get home?” Jax’s voice was low and husky from sleep.
“Not long ago.” She brought him up to speed on Bella and assured him they’d hear in the morning how she was doing. “You look comfy.”
“Come join us.” He held out a hand and didn’t have to ask twice.
Risa scooted Eir over and snuggled into Jax’s side. “You didn’t have to wait for me, but not going to lie. All of this…” She waved a hand at the blanket, the fire and wine. “… is nice to come home to.”
“There’s more.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” He kissed her, long and soft, rolling his body to line up with hers and making the dogs and Morpheus jump down. He looked at the dislodged pets and grinned. “Oops.”
“They’ll get over it.” She ran a finger down the side of his face before sinking her hands into his hair. “You look tired. Long day?”
“Always, but before we talk, you need to eat. Hold tight.” He scooted off the lounger and walked to the other side of the fire pit, carefully picking up a foil-wrapped package she hadn’t noticed earlier. Jax slid the contents onto a plate and handed it to her before reclaiming his spot.
Her stomach grumbled as the aroma of melted cheese and basil hit her senses.
“Yum, stromboli. One of my favorites,” she said around a mouthful of gooey goodness.
Jax refilled their wine glasses while she ate. The dogs resettled, and Morpheus stole her blanket. It didn’t get much better. They just needed Bella and their circle would be complete.
She set aside the empty plate. “It’s pretty much been a craptastic day, but I did have something good happen.”
“I could use some good news. Tell me.” He kissed her hand, which he’d linked with his.
“Dr. Lagasse is retiring and recommending me for his job.”
“That’s fantastic. We should be out celebrating.”
“Whoa, slow down, cowboy. It’s a little early yet. Lots of red tape to go through and hoops to clear first. For now, we can raise a glass to going after our dreams.”
“Sounds good.” He took a drink, kissed her, and cleared his throat. “Is that your dream, being the base vet?”
“Pretty much. I mean, if I get it, I’ll be the boss and it will be like having my own practice, just without all the start-up cost, insurance, or accounting headaches. Plus, it pays pretty well, which allows me to build up this place and live with my million-and-one furry babies. It’s also close to home. So, yeah. It is my dream job. What about you? What does Jackson Faraday want out of life?”
>
He was quiet for several long moments, and Risa began to think either he didn’t know or didn’t want to share with her. They were still pretty new in their relationship, so she could understand… a little.
“More.” His voice was soft, yet the word firm.
She didn’t really know how to respond. Instead, she took a sip of her wine before setting down the glass so Eir could climb up next to her.
“I want to be remembered for having made a difference in this life. I don’t want to just be a name on a headstone and, when people ask, the only answer is that I was a good guy, because they can’t remember a damn thing I did that mattered.”
She twisted around to look at him. “Jax, how could you even think that? You’ve been an MA for a dozen years, you’ve served your country, and you’re a freaking hero.”
“You’d say that to anyone serving.”
“Well, yes, because it’s true. But I bet you can’t tell me honestly that you’ve never helped anyone in need during that time. You’ve never helped an accident victim or saved a life? What have you been doing, writing speeding tickets all these years?”
“I did my job, Risa. Don’t make me out to be someone I’m not.”
“Tell me about your time overseas,” she asked quietly, knowing a lot of service members didn’t like to talk about those times.
“What’s to tell? It was hot, and there was a lot of sand.” He went silent, staring off into space for a couple of minutes. “What I remember the most is the people and their eyes. The way they’d watch us with extreme distrust, fear, and hope all mixed together.”
“Given the situation over there, I don’t think we can blame them.”
“It’s a hell of a way to live. The kids break your heart. In some villages, they were just kids, you know. Playing, laughing, doing kid stuff. In other places, they’re trying to kill you, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between the two.” His voice came out hollow and distant, like he was no longer sitting next to her in the crisp fall air of New England, but back in the dry desert.
A Hero to Love Page 17
