Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

T aylor stood at the sink, one hand on the counter and the other gripping the smooth curve of the cane she’d gotten for Christmas. She glared at it as if it were a personal affront to her independence.

Mondays used to be her busiest days between her own work at the department and everything needing to be done for boarding at the farm. Many of their clients were weekend stays and the check out on Mondays could at times be frantic. Anna was no doubt handling it like a champ though.

A pile of dirty dishes in the sink stared back at Taylor and she felt overwhelmed.

She needed air. And space.

“What’s for dinner?” Alice said, coming up behind her.

“I—I’m not sure yet.”

“Dad said he’s hoping for country-fried steak and taters. But he said he’ll fry the meat if I peel potatoes. He doesn’t want you stressing over it.”

The thought of frying anything made Taylor feel nauseous, but she wasn’t letting Sam cook his own meal after working all day. Long gone were the stack of casseroles in the freezer from people like Della Ray and Mabel. Even if they weren’t gone, Taylor didn’t think her family could stomach even one more casserole, for a very long time. “I can handle dinner. But hey—can you listen for Lennon in case she wakes up early? I need to step outside for a few minutes.”

“Yep,” Alice said. “I was going in there anyway to lay on my bed and read.”

“Thanks, honey.” She grabbed her jacket and, using her cane, stepped out on the porch. Diesel joined her before she shut the door, his tail wagging frantically as he ran ahead.

The cool morning air wrapped around Taylor like a reminder of everything she’d been missing—freedom, movement, her life. She walked along, slowly ambling toward the main building.

Diesel stopped and looked back, his dark coat gleaming in the sunlight. He scanned her face, as if he sensed her frustration.

"Don’t look at me like that," she muttered. Diesel tilted his head, then ran back and gave her leg a soft nudge with his nose, his way of encouraging her.

He was probably glad just to have her out of the house with him.

Her first stop was the boarding facility. Inside the facility, the energy was palpable. Dogs barked, tails wagged, and the faint scent of shampoo lingered in the air. In the central play corral, a group of dogs—ranging from a sprightly terrier to a lumbering Great Dane—chased each other in chaotic delight. Jo was tossing a ball to a Pomeranian who bounced excitedly nearby, waiting for the release.

Anna stood behind the counter, checking out a woman dressed in head-to-toe designer athleisure, with perfectly coiffed blonde hair and a white poodle in her arms.

The woman’s voice was both high-pitched and overly dramatic. She was in the class of dog-owners that everyone dreaded to see coming.

“How did Mars do with his separation anxiety?” the woman was asking, drawing out the words as though each syllable carried the weight of the world. “He looks skinnier, but I know he won’t eat unless the kibble is warmed to precisely room temperature—not a degree more or less, mind you. Did they warm it up first? And what about the topper I sent? It’s pure venison crumbles. You know, I tip generously in anticipation of those little touches …”

Taylor couldn’t help herself. She ducked her head behind the woman’s back and made an exaggerated wide-eyed face at Anna, silently mouthing poor darling.

Anna caught the look and barely held in a laugh, turning her head quickly to hide her smile.

“Yes, and he ate just fine,” Anna said smoothly, her professional tone never faltering. “It’s not uncommon for a pet to lose a pound or two when their person is away. It’s just normal stress. And to be honest, Mars could stand to lose a few more but he did very well here.”

Taylor decided to leave Anna to the poodle drama and wandered past the reception desk. Diesel stayed at her side, his nails clicking softly against the polished floors.

She made her way down the row of kennels, stopping to read the names and notes attached to the clipboards at each kennel that contained a guest. The ‘suites’ were spotless, each outfitted with plush bedding, toys, and stainless-steel bowls.

"Snickers," she read aloud from one clipboard. "Loves belly rubs, hates loud noises. Got it." She moved to the next kennel. "Zelda. Needs slow introductions to new dogs. Good girl, Zelda."

When she reached the Comfort Suites, her chest swelled with pride .

These kennels were the latest additions—a high-end touch for the facility's most pampered guests and probably where Mars had spent the weekend. Each suite was immaculate. Not only that, but these contained soundproof glass doors, luxury lifted beds, and sleek indoor/outdoor spaces with heating and air conditioning.

Everything about them spoke of indulgence. Crazy enough, even in their small, country town, the Comfort Suites were usually booked out far in advance.

She peered into one of them and smiled. Inside were two familiar (and elderly) bulldogs, snuggled together on a fleece blanket. The sign on their door read: Bert and Ernie—senior duo, deaf and incontinent, extra snuggles recommended.

“Hey, boys,” Taylor said softly as she opened the door and stepped inside. Diesel waited just outside, his tail wagging as he peeked in. The bulldogs immediately perked up, their heavy breathing filling the room as they waddled over to greet her.

“You two are living the high life with us again, huh?” Taylor said, crouching down to scratch behind their ears. Bert licked her hand while Ernie leaned his weight into her leg, his drool threatening to soak her jeans. “I bet you’re the VIPs of the week, aren’t you?”

After a few minutes, she reluctantly said goodbye to the bulldogs and headed back to the front. The poodle lady was gone, and Anna was updating the day’s schedule on the computer. Jo had left the play area and stood there with her, one hand on her hip.

“Whatcha doing here?” Jo asked.

“Just stopping by for a minute. How’s our littlest sister doing?” Taylor asked.

Jo scoffed. “Um—when do you think she’ll be ready to move back into her own place?”

“That bad, huh?” Anna asked, laughing. “Better you than me. I guess sometimes it pays to be the least liked of the group.”

“Stop—” Taylor said. “You are not.”

“With Lucy, I am. Not that I care,” Anna replied, smiling. “It’s a badge I’ve worn with pride for many years.”

Jo laughed.

Taylor didn’t. She hated discord between her sisters. “Okay. Whatever. Anyway, Jo, can you tell if she’s started answering work calls or emails again? It’s not like Lucy to miss a chance to make a dollar. I think that worries me more than anything.”

“I’ve seen her using her phone, but not sure what she’s doing on it. She spends a lot of time watching old seasons of Real Housewives, for the most part. She hasn’t mentioned mice in, hmmm ... let’s see …” she looked at her phone screen. “Maybe twenty-four hours now.”

“I guess that’s good,” Taylor said, shrugging. “That’s better than she was doing at my house. I might check in with her later. As for now, I know Mondays are crazy. Anything I can do to help?”

Anna turned to her with a raised brow. “Nope. I’ve got strict orders to turn you away if you show up. Go home, Taylor. You need to rest.”

“I’m fine,” she replied, though the sudden ache in her head begged to differ. Any exertion started up a headache and she was so tired of dealing with it.

“Go. Home.” Jo crossed her arms, her expression softening. “I know you’re bored, but, really, we’ve got things under control here.”

Taylor sighed, feeling the weight of uselessness settle in her chest. Without another word, she turned and walked out, Diesel trailing faithfully at her side.

She wasn’t ready to go home and a quick look at her phone screen showed no messages, meaning Lennon was just fine. She considered stopping by Jo’s cabin to check in on Lucy, but decided she didn’t have the mental energy for it. Instead, she headed toward the barn.

Inside, the earthy scent of hay and the faint bark of rescue dogs greeted her. Cecil was near the kennels, scrubbing down one of the runs with his usual meticulous care.

“Hey, old man,” Taylor called.

Cecil glanced up, his weathered face breaking into a grin. “Well, look who’s hobbling around. Shouldn’t you be inside?”

“I’ve been inside too long,” she shot back. “Besides, I missed this place.”

He chuckled, setting his brush aside. She saw pity cross his eyes before he hid it. “Come on, then. Let’s sit a spell. You just missed Doctor Terry. She stopped by to give the puppies their next set of shots. Said they’re doing just fine and will be ready to adopt out in about four weeks or so.”

“Nice. I’ll bet she refused payment again, too. Jaime has a heart bigger than Texas. Did you know she has her own rescue, on top of operating the busiest veterinarian practice in town?”

Cecil nodded. “Sure did. That girl is one of a kind. And she’s got that alpha vibe going on. Even our most aggressive dogs don’t give her any trouble.”

Taylor laughed. He was right. Jaime Terry had a way of calming the biggest terrors.

They moved over to the bench near the pen of Lab puppies that had just had their second exam. They looked adorable, busy tumbling over each other to get to their mama’s teats. Diesel lay at Taylor’s feet, watching the puppies with mild interest. The mom thumped her tail against the dirt floor when she saw him.

“Looks like she won’t mind,” Taylor said. She bent over the pen and plucked a chubby pup out, sitting it in front of Diesel. The joy on his face was instant, and the pup began crawling on his head. She looked around the barn .

“Everything looks spotless in here. No thanks to me,” she said. “Everyone is working more hours, and harder than they should have to because I got sick.”

“You’re too hard on yourself,” Cecil said after a long moment of quiet.

“I just ... I hate feeling like I can’t do anything,” she admitted, her voice tight.

“Girl, you helped build this place with your bare hands—well, mostly bare hands. All while balancing your career and saving citizens. You and Cate have done more than most folks could dream of. You’ll get back to it all in time.” He gestured to Diesel. “That dog of yours knows it. Look how he sticks to you. He knows you’re tougher than you think.”

Taylor let out a long sigh. “Cecil, what is wrong with me? Why can’t I just be enough for myself?”

He paused before answering, then looked at her with his soft brown eyes. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you. From where I stand, it’s more like who you are makes total sense given what you are and where you’ve been.”

Taylor smiled despite herself, reaching down to scratch Diesel’s ears. “Maybe.”

“No maybe about it,” Cecil said firmly. He leaned back, watching the puppies play. “And stop rushing your recovery. You’ll get there. But for now, let us handle things. Take care of yourself first. If you’re so worried about getting back to this place, remember this … We need you whole. The fully-recovered-and-determined-to-get-stuff-done-Taylor.”

She didn’t reply, but her heart felt lighter. Cecil always made her feel better.

Diesel nudged her hand again, and she couldn’t help but laugh. He was agreeing.

“All right, all right, you two,” she said, rubbing his head. “I get it. You’re both Team Taylor. ”

“Darn right we are,” Cecil said, leaning over to give her a squeeze around her shoulders. It felt so good and, for the first time in weeks, she believed it might actually be okay. But for now, she had dirty dishes and a frying pan waiting on her. A load of laundry or two. And pretty soon, a baby crying to be fed.

“C’mon, Diesel. Let’s go home.” Time to stop feeling sorry for herself. “Cecil, we’ll catch you later.”