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"I meant as far as the baby is concerned, it wouldn't matter whether you become a partner or not."
"Especially if you decide not to keep it."
Hope sighed, visibly as well as audibly. "I never said that's what I wanted to do."
"But you're considering it."
"Considering doesn't mean the decision is made, Drew,” she reminded him.
True. That was all Neil had asked him to do as well. Consider becoming his partner. Didn't mean that would be his ultimate decision, especially since he did have other options.
Drew eased the truck into an empty spot across from the restaurant and had no more than shut off the engine when his phone vibrated against his hip. Great. Just great. Praying it wasn't a veterinary emergency, Drew removed the device from its holster and looked at the screen.
Pops.
Panic surged through him. “It’s my grandfather.” Drew looked at Hope. “I need to answer.”
“Of course.” Hope opened the door and hooked her thumb toward the diner. “I’ll go on in and get a table. So, take your time.” She hopped out of the truck and closed the door.
Drew swiped the screen to life and brought the phone to his ear. "What's up, old man? Everything all right?" God, he hoped so.
A hearty chuckle reverberated in Drew's ear. "Well, now, that depends on who you're asking, I reckon'. For the most part, I'd say we're all fair to midlin'. Ol' Arthur's been acting up," he confessed, using his time-worn euphemism for arthritis. "Cold weather makes it worse, and we've had a few pretty cool days lately."
"Maybe you should think about slowing down a little."
"Funny you should mention that."
"Oh, are you finally gonna listen to what everybody's been telling you for the past ten years and retire?"
"That, my dear boy, depends a great deal on you."
And here we go.
Ezekiel Elijah Blackwood, or Doc to most everyone but his family, was pushing the hell out of eighty and still working many ten-hour days as a large animal vet for most of the horse and cattle farmers in the northern region of Virginia along with bordering towns in Maryland and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.
The last time Drew returned to Lone Oaks, the thousand-acre farm his family had owned and operated for three generations, he couldn't help but notice there wasn't as much pep in his grandfather's step as he remembered. For the last several years, everyone in the family had been urging the Blackwood patriarch into retiring, but Zeke kept insisting he simply wasn't ready.
“Rest assured,” Pops informed them all, “when the time comes, I'll let you know.”
Was that the impetus for this call? Had his grandfather decided he was ready to hang up his stethoscope and overalls? Only one way to find out, Drew guessed. "How does it depend on me?"
"Actually, it depends on whether you accept my proposition."
Of course it did. Drew couldn't help but smile. Since the day he'd decided to follow in his grandfather's footsteps, their plan had been set—once Drew graduated from vet school, he'd return home, join Pops in his practice and take over when Zeke was ready to retire.
And if Drew hadn't been offered the coveted fellowship at Wakefield, that's how his future would've played out. Instead, after a few months of working solely with horses, Drew made the decision to specialize in equine medicine. With its wealth of horseflesh, remaining in Louisville to establish and cultivate his career proved the better choice.
Though clearly disappointed, Pops had agreed with Drew’s decision. But he never missed a chance to remind Drew what still waited for him in Beaumont either.
"You're awfully quiet, boy," Zeke interrupted Drew's thoughts. "Guess you've figured out the reason for my call."
"You haven't exactly been subtle about your expectations, Pops."
A deep chuckle rumbled in his ear. "No, I guess I haven't. But I'm not getting any younger, Andrew, and I'd like the chance to talk to you more seriously about coming home to practice."
"Pops..."
"Hear me out, boy. With the holidays bearing down on us—Thanksgiving's what? Two, three weeks away? I'm thinking you can come home for the holidays and see what’s what. Plus, it’ll give us time to talk things through.”
