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Maybe I should try and focus on these little tender mercies that were mixed in with all of the hurt. Just like my new job. Straight out of vet school, I’d applied for several, and received many offers. One just happened to be in the same town my parents had moved to four years ago after my mom had her stroke. The job and a kind stranger could both count as a tender mercy amongst the sadness and fear.
I took a deep breath, shaking out of the tumultuous thoughts swirling around in my head. Turning off the main road, I cruised down toward my parents' brick home that sat just past some beautiful pine trees. This was all a learning opportunity, I reassured myself. Many of these experiences seemed to be learning opportunities, albeit ones I'd never asked for.
Chapter 2
“There she is!” My mom’s sweet voice floated into my ears as I stepped into the house.
It smelled of homemade bread, my mother’s specialty. Even before my parents moved to Riverford, Montana, she’d been an amazing baker. This life suited her even more than the one we’d left. Slower. Simplistic. The light wood interior of their ranch home seemed to fit my parents’ vibe in a way that the cold grays of our old home never had. Family pictures of younger, happier days littered the cream walls.
I walked into the entrance way, kicking my shoes off before plodding across the beautiful red and blue rug stretched below me. I emerged into a massive, open great room connected with the kitchen and smiled.
My dad sat on the brown leather recliner directly across from me, watching the television mounted above a beautiful stone fireplace. He clicked the pause button on the remote next to him as my mother pushed herself from her recliner that was beside my father’s. She gripped the handle of her gray walker and found her footing.
“There is our beautiful Tenley,” she said once more, and I rushed towards her, excited to finally see her for the first time since I’d moved away for veterinarian school.
“Hey mom,” I replied, wrapping my arms around her plump form that smelled of home. Her soft, knitted sweater clung to her cozy frame; a pair of soft, dark blue pants matched the pink fabric of the shirt. Her dark brown hair was brushed and hung in thinning strands to her shoulders. I could’ve sworn she hadn’t looked this old four years ago before they’d moved.
I released my mom and stepped back. Her eyes misted with tears as she brushed a wayward strand of my dark-brown hair from my face. Sighing in relief, I turned to my father.
He remained sitting in his recliner, his body thin and frail, and the usual color was drained from his face. A face that used to look much like my brother, Ben’s—rounder, full of life and humor. Now, his face looked gaunt. My dad’s bright green eyes were ones I’d also inherited. Yet, his looked so dull now and it took everything in me to keep the tears from flowing past the brims they threatened to burst from.
“Hi Daddy,” I whispered, leaning down and pulling him into a hug. A red flannel button-up hung from his body. A frame that felt so skeleton-like beneath my palms. His usually large and thick hands now shook as he patted my back. I broke the embrace, and he coughed heavily for a moment before a faint smile appeared upon his lips.
“How was the drive?” my dad hoarsely asked.
“Long. I ended up getting a flat tire,” I replied, walking towards the couch that sat against the wall. I plopped myself down heavily on the couch, which matched the two recliners beside it, wishing that there was some sunlight piercing through the window above me.
“Good thing your father taught you all how to change a tire.” My mother gave me a bright smile, one that looked like mine used to before I’d received the latest cancer news.
“Definitely. Although, someone nice stopped and helped me,” I replied, and brushed at some remaining dirt on my pants.
“The folks here are so neighborly, you’ll love it. And Doc Smith is excited to have a young apprentice to share his knowledge with at the clinic, Doctor Mayn,” my mom said, grinning even wider as she called me by my official title for the first time. She had always been so beautiful, even now, aging like fine wine. Her kind, big, bright eyes with thick lashes were like mine. A slightly wider jawline than usual, but her cheekbones and rosy cheeks softened it. It felt like I was looking in a mirror at my future self.
Another coughing fit sounded, and then my dad spoke, “We are so proud of you.” He gave me a weak smile.
“Speaking of the doctor, he wants me in tomorrow morning, so I should probably get some shut eye before the sun rises again,” I replied, and both my parents nodded. “So, I need to know your schedule to start helping.”
My mom gave me a mischievous smile. “Oh, honey. We have a good routine already set up, love. Despite my stroke and your siblings squabbling, I can still manage nearly everything,” my mom answered. I furrowed my brows, wondering if she’d merely used her previous ailments as a ploy to get me home.
She lifted a single brow in response, reading my facial expression, and I took a deep breath. Classic Mom. I stood from the couch, giving both of them a kiss on the forehead. “Downstairs, third door on your left. Do you need anything?” my mom added, guiding me to my new bedroom.
I smiled. “I’ve got everything I need, thanks Mama.” I glanced around what was now also my home. Facing the kitchen, a stairwell ran adjacent to the small entranceway, leading towards the basement where my future room was held.
“Tomorrow for dinner, we need to hear all about your adventures at vet school. Love you!” my mom shouted as I headed outside to my car. I knew that it had been a rather short greeting, but I was exhausted, and needed a good night’s sleep before my first day of work tomorrow.
It was a quick journey to my trunk to gather the one suitcase that held some essential clothes and toiletries before returning to the warmly lit home and plodding down the light brown carpet. I’d unpack the rest of my stuff later. Flicking on the light switch at the bottom of the stairs, I smiled. So similar to the family room at my childhood home. A few lamps provided a dim light around the room, and there were blankets slung over the back of the couches, while a piano sat against the wall beside me.
Walking past the family room and down a hall, I passed two doors, then entered my room. A full sized bed sat to my left in the middle of the room with a nightstand on each side. Across from the foot of the bed was a closet, there was a window on the far wall, and a dresser with mirror on top to my right. Simple furniture all in a light brown shade with a royal blue bedspread. Just as it had been when I was a child.
I tossed the suitcase to the floor, quickly changed into a pair of shorts and an oversized t-shirt, then crashed into bed.
∞∞∞
The alarm went off early—early enough that neither of my parents were awake when I left the house. It was early enough that, as I was driving down the eerily silent road, the sun just barely peeked over the mountains that circled the little town we lived in. Those beautiful, tall mountains, flashing bright greens, as well as the deepest shades of reds and oranges. Crisp fall colors that I knew wouldn’t last long enough.
Tugging tighter at the beige turtleneck sweater that warmed my athletic body, I glanced at the white veterinarian coat draped over my passenger seat. Today was my first real day as Dr. Mayn, and my stomach turned with nerves. I reminded myself that I was allowed grace on my first day at anything new, and this job would be no different. It would be like another internship, although with slightly higher stakes and higher pay.
Small, beautiful homes surrounded me as I passed farther into town, took a left at the stop sign onto Main Street, and rolled into the cutest downtown I’d ever seen. It was something right out of the movies. Shops just opening as pink light began to fill the air, people seemingly appearing from nowhere, ready to take on their days. Everyone waved at everyone, knowing exactly who was who.
