“I don’t know.”One of my knees popped up and down.“Whether or not I work here or elsewhere is for me to figure out.”
“I have a business to run.”He clasped his hands together in front of him and bowed his head for a moment.In a cool tone he said, “I can’t have you quitting a few days into it.Should I have you sign a contract, so I know what I’m working with?”
“I’m pretty sure we’re equal owners here.”
“Equalowners?All right.Listen, Ms.Equal Owner, I’m grateful for you to stay instead of paying off the debt and walking away.” He didn’t look grateful.He looked like he wanted to yell.
“Would it be easier if I paid the debt and left?”I offered.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’tnotsay it.Seemed like you wanted to say it.”I was being annoying.I was needling him out of habit, and I couldn’t help it.This wasn’t how I behaved at work.
“Jaysus, Mary, and Joseph.”He clenched and unclenched his fists.
I forced my leg to stop popping up and down.“Seems like you might like it better if I wasn’t here.Milly said you called me an annoyance that was bad for business.She made it sound like this was your pillow talk last night.”
“What?”He scowled.“I never said that.It’s better if you’re here.Helping.Working.It’s better for business.”
“Okay.”I crossed my legs and waited.“How do you propose we handle the debt?”
“Roland paid ten percent of his monthly salary toward it.”
“Interesting.”I wasn’t sure I could afford that right now.
“Here’s the work schedule.”He handed me a sheet of paper.“I changed your hours so that you can get off in time to pick up Vinny.I have some weekends I need off to do baseball games with the kids.”
In horror, I gazed at the paper with our names and a jumble of times for the upcoming weeks.I hadn’t worked five days in a row since I was in vet school.Usually, I worked three to four twelve hours shifts and then I got three to four days off.How was I supposed to work five days on and every other Saturday morning?And, at the same time do overnight emergency every other night?Was he insane?
“I don’t… No.”It came out before I could stop it.Why did saying it out loud make me feel like an even bigger jerk than I’d just been?
“What do you mean,no?”He stiffened as if gearing up for a fight.
“I’m not doing any farm animals.None of this on-call stuff.”I crossed my arms.
“This is amixedpractice.That means small animals in the hospital and big animals on farms.Sometimes barn cats or dogs.I can’t handle it alone.”
“Then you’ll have to cut back or hire help who’s trained to see the large animals.That cow was a fluke.It confirmed to me it’s not for me.I refuse to die by a flying horn or hoof.”
“You’re doing it.”
“It’s not happening.”I shook my head.“I’m not going to do pregnancy checks on the Lyman’s farm.I won’t be suturing up any of the horses up the road or waiting on-call at Southern Pines for equine events.I won’t be pulling another calf.”
Josh’s cheek muscle twitched.“This is how we do things here.Every vet pitches in.”
“You mean that’s how my dad used to do things.He’s gone.I amnothim.I’m trained to see dogs, cats, and small furry pets.I’m best at emergencies and surgery.If that’s a problem, then maybe itisbest I don’t work here.We can figure out a repayment plan.I’ll get a job somewhere else, maybe up the road at the emergency clinic.”
He pushed his glasses up his nose, which was sexy as hell and made him look so much smarter.“How about you see dogs and cats during the day?We will have to share the on call.”
“I’ll do small animal on-call only,” I said stubbornly.
“You’ll do whatever calls, at least until I can find us help with the farm calls.”He stared at his copy of the schedule.“I’ll handle day farm animal calls for now.I’ll have to be in the hospital sometimes for my clients with smaller pets.”
I let out a long breath, closing my eyes while I hunted for calm.Every part of me wanted to argue.
Becky knocked and stuck her head in.“Sorry to bother you two.Dr.Chomping, he vomited again.”
“Give me a sec, Josh.”I rose to go take care of Fisher.
