"Of course, but itgoes without saying he will be laid to rest next to our mother at the familyproperty. Listen, I can be there but Cade wants to make his own way down. I'llcall you when I get closer to town and see if you are free."
"No problem, I canset a time to suit you both. Tell Cade the same thing, will you?" Therewas a slight pause. "It will be good to catch up again, Russ. It's beentoo long since we all threw a ball around together or stopped for a beer. Ihave lots to tell you about what’s been going on."
"Thanks, Tory.Call you when I can. "
Chapter Three
Rooney Williams slidthe needle into the vein, holding the dog’s leg and crooned in a soft voice tokeep the animal calm until the drug took hold. "There, there pet, shhnow." She ran her hand over the head of the brown and white wire-hairedterrier and glanced at her assistant. "Thanks Tara, I should be fine withhim now. I'll yell if I need any help."
She positioned thesmall dog on the table before reaching for the instrument tray, pulling itcloser so she had everything within hand’s reach. Rooney poured cleaningsolution into a bowl and, taking a swab from the packet she tore open, cleanedthe jagged tear in the dog's belly as best she could.
"What were youthinking, little man? This is the second time you've ripped yourself open onthe fence chasing those blasted cats. I'll have to have a serious talk withyour dad when he picks you up. There has to be a way to curtail your fencejumping." Once the wound was clean, she checked the dog's internal organsand breathed a sigh of relief. There was no damage inside. With deft hands,Rooney threaded a needle and pulled the skin together. She joined the edges ofthe wound with tiny neat stitches.
Once the sleeping dogwas inside a cage in the recovery room, Rooney cleaned the operating table andprepped it for the next emergency. Voices sounded in the waiting room and shepoked her head out the door.
"Pete, hi."She moved forward and kissed the older man on the cheek. "I didn't knowyou were coming in today."
He looked over at Taraand dropped his gaze to the ground.
Rooney's stomachlurched. Pete was normally so happy and relaxed. Now his shoulders were slumpedforward and he was doing his best to avoid making eye contact with her.
"What's wrong,Pete? Has something happened with Julie, has there been an accident?"
Rooney put her hand onhis shoulder, gripping with tense fingers while her knees trembled.
"No, no nothinglike that. My wife is fine although frail as you know." He finally met hergaze with watery eyes and gave a feeble smile. "Rooney, can we go and talkin the office."
She managed to nod herhead and slipped her arm through his for the short walk down the hallway, pastthe sterile operating room to her office. Closing the door behind them, shewalked over and sat on the edge of her desk, her gaze on the face of the manwho had been her mentor and father figure the last eight years.
"This is hard forme, honey." He wiped a shaking hand over his chin and sat down in the oldbrown leather chair in front of her. "You know Julie is having healthissues, has been for years. We spoke to the specialist yesterday and I'm afraidit's worse than we thought." He gave a bitter laugh that ended on astrangled sob. "Alzheimer's, Rooney. My darling wife is being taken awayby the most devastating disease of all, and there is nothing I can do to stopthat from happening."
Rooney gasped andlifted her hand to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. "No. God Pete,I'm so sorry."
"Yeah, me too. Ithought now I’d retired and you were taking care of the practice for me, Julieand I could do things. Travel the world and spend time with the grandkids. Allthe things we’d planned to do and now…" his voice caught, "now I haveto think about how to care for her."
"Pete, if there isanything I can do, just ask. You and Julie have been there for me always. Thereis nothing I wouldn't do for you guys." She reached over and wrapped herarms around his shoulders, feeling the tremors running through his body."Did you want me to come over after surgery tonight? I can sit with her ifyou have anything you need to do. You only have to ask."
"I know you would,dear but there is something else. You know I was making noises about sellingthe practice? Well, I think it's time."
"But I don't haveenough money saved yet, Pete. I have a good down payment but it will take me awhile longer to get what you would expect for a vet practice this size. I doubtthe bank will look at me for another year or so at least."
She gazed into his eyesand suddenly she knew. Her stomach lurched and the breath stalled in herthroat. "You've already sold it, haven't you?"
"I have an offerbut I haven't said yes to it yet. I'm sorry, Rooney, truly I am. But when thisguy approached me I decided it was a deal too good to turn down and the wayJulie is…well, the kids are trying to talk me into it. I know you wanted it butthe money the prospective buyer is willing to pay is going to come in handy ifwe have to put her into care. I don't know if you would be able to matchit."
Gathering all thestrength she could muster, Rooney smiled and squeezed his hand while forcingdown disappointment and the need to scream in frustration. "It's alright,Pete. You needed to do what's best for you and Julie. Between the two of you,I’ve had the best foster family I could wish for."
She ran her fingersover his brown speckled hand, taking note of the tremors running through hisbody. His pain was greater than hers would ever be and she understood his reasonsfor letting
