“I’m Poppy.”
She leads me into one of the examination rooms. As I coax Gator onto the table in the middle of the small space, she washes her hands, then pulls on a pair of gloves. This room is painted blue instead of pink, with more framed animal photographs studding the walls. An especially cute picture of a corgi makes me smile.
I’ve always loved animals. Maybe I should’ve gotten a job at a place like this instead of tying myself to the grump currently sitting alone in his houseboat. He’s probably going to have straight whisky for dinner and go back for more work now that I’m not underfoot.
I’m so engrossed in that sad image of Jack that I nearly miss her say, “Poppy Winfield?”
That snaps me into focus. “Oh, god,” I groan. I can’t say I expected anyone in Diamond Bay to recognize me but Jack—that was part of the appeal of coming here. “You saw the video?”
“Well...” She reaches for Gator, checking him over with a careful eye. He looks at her warily but doesn’t protest. She coos at him. “I mean, okay, technically yes. It’s been hard to avoid. I’m sorry things were so rough for you.”
“Tell me about it.”
“But what I was going to say is that I know Jack. He mentioned you were helping him out at the Sailfish. That was my dad’s place.”
Unexpected warmth at the thought of Jack talking about me blooms in my stomach, warring with sympathy as Kiara’s words sink in. “You’re Sal’s daughter? I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Yeah. Thank you.” She hefts Gator onto a scale, writing down a few notes on a clipboard. “Sorry, I still don’t know how to respond to that. It always feels so awkward. You’d think I’d be better at it by now.”
“I don’t think that sort of thing has a timeline.” I shake my head. “Or that it’s something you have to get better at.”
“Yeah. Probably not.” She gives me a wobbly smile. I can sense the well of grief in her. Jack, for all his prickliness, must be experiencing something similar. “God, I’m sorry. This isn’t very professional of me.”
I bite my lip. I hadn’t thought of it until now, but it sucks that what we’re doing with the Sailfish is tied up in the loss of her father. If he hadn’t passed, maybe Jack would have kept his job and the upcoming promotion to Green Street. Maybe he never would have returned to Florida. We probably wouldn’t have crossed paths again, and we definitely wouldn’t be working together.
I don’t regret having this chance—for myself or for Jack—but that doesn’t erase the pain that comes along with it.
“Can I give you a hug?” I resist the urge to lurch forward in case I’m totally off-base with this. Kiara’s eyes widen with surprise. “I mean, maybe you’re not a hugger, but if you are—”
She sniffles. “Oh, I definitely am.”
“Good.” I hug her tightly. Her arms come around me as well, squeezing. “I’m really sorry, Kiara. Jack hasn’t said much about your dad, but he seemed like a great guy.”
“He was. He was the best.”
“And the Sailfish—I can feel the magic in it. From the moment I walked in. It’s a special place. It’s going to continue being a special place. I promise.”
Gator, smushed between us, lets out an indignant yowl. Webreak apart, bursting into giggles the moment our eyes meet. The air in the room feels a little lighter. After days with only a surly chef and a flirty old guy for company, it’s nice to connect with someone else. Someone who could become a friend. What Julia said to me before I left New York was true, even if it stung. I’ve missed having friends. Friends who don’t care about whether my connections will help them.
“Thank you for convincing Jack to work on the restaurant,” she says, giving my shoulder a warm squeeze. “My dad would be thrilled that he’s back home.”
“You don’t mind that it went to him, not you?” I blurt. I clap my hand over my mouth. “Oh, god. Forget I said that. Sometimes I talk without thinking.”
She just laughs. “Nope. I told him to go for it. I’ve got my own business right here.”
“That’s so impressive. I wanted to be a vet when I was a little kid. At least until I realized how much school was involved. I was a horse girl.”
Her eyes light up. “No way! I was too. I still ride whenever I get the chance.”
“Lucky. I haven’t been riding in years.” Not since my old horse, Bartholomew, passed away while I was in college. “I really miss it. I did competitions and everything.”
“Me too! Maybe we can go riding together sometime. I keep my horse down in Wellington. It’s a little far, but totally worth it, because she’s at this really amazing woman-owned ranch.” She strokes her hand down Gator’s back. He arches into her touch. “I’ll show you pictures when I’m done checking out this little guy. Her name is Charger.”
“Charger! That’s so cute.” I beam. I’m not entirely certain, but I think I just made my first friend in Florida. “I’m so glad we met. Literally, Jack didn’t say a word about Sal’s daughter being a badass vet.”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s just like him.”
“Tell me, did he always have a massive stick up his ass?”
