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Theo and Sawyer seemed to think it was all over, but I couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t the end of the story. I was probably the only one to feel that way.
It was as if the town itself had been holding its breath, and now, they could all breathe again. Moon Harbor exhaled a collective sigh of relief, her streets once again humming with the easy rhythms of small-town life. Despite my own worries, I couldn’t deny how good it felt to have that man behind bars.
“Look at us, bustling with four-legged friends,” I said to Paula as I surveyed my animal hospital from behind the reception desk. The walls, adorned with photos of patients both scaly and furry, echoed with the symphony of the healthy and the healing: the content purrs, the wagging tails, even the occasional squawk from Mr. Perkin’s overzealous macaw.
“Another great report, Hannah!” Mrs. Langley beamed, tucking her perfectly groomed poodle under an arm. “I swear, Sprinkles wouldn’t be alive today without you.”
I felt my cheeks warm with a blush. “I’m just doing my job, but thank you. It means the world to me.” My fingers danced over the keyboard, scheduling Sprinkle’s next check-up.
“Your job?” Mrs. Langley huffed affectionately, “You’re doing God’s work for these creatures. We’re damn lucky to have you.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Langley,” I laughed, a little clumsy as I handed her the appointment card, nearly knocking over a stack of brochures in the process. My awkwardness never seemed to take a day off.
The bell above the door jingled, signaling another patient’s arrival. It was business as usual, but there was something comforting about the predictability of it all. My days were filled with vaccinations, wellness exams, and the occasional emergency—but always, always surrounded by those who shared my love for animals.
“Hey, Dr. Wilson,” called out Jake, a local fisherman whose Golden Retriever, Buddy, was a regular for ear infections. “Heard about the great job you did with the Turner case. That was some badass vet detective work.”
“Thanks, Jake,” I replied, grinning despite the memory. “It was a team effort, really. Can’t let anyone mess with our furry friends, right?”
“Right on,” he agreed, giving me a thumbs up before heading into an exam room.
Through it all, the community’s words of gratitude weren’t just noise; they were the pulse of Moon Harbor, the heartbeat of my own little corner within it. And it felt amazing. The ocean breeze wafted through the open windows, carrying whispers of salt and freedom, reminding me why I’d chosen this place, this life.
“Doing okay, Hannah?” Paula asked as she passed by with an armful of files.
“Better than okay,” I answered, taking in another deep, cleansing breath of ocean air. “We’re back to normal, and it feels pretty damn good.”
“Dr. Wilson, Benny’s up to his old tricks again,” Mrs. Partridge fretted, cradling her mischievous tabby cat who had a penchant for swallowing things he shouldn’t. “Found him in the laundry basket chewing on a sock!”
“Let’s have a look at our little troublemaker,” I said, taking Benny into my arms. His purr vibrated against my chest, a rumbly apology I couldn’t resist. “Don’t worry. We’ll sort him out.”
As I examined Benny, I chatted with Mrs. Partridge about her grandson’s latest soccer game, my fingers working deftly to feel for any blockages. Thankfully, it seemed Benny had passed the sock without issue this time.
“Keep an eye on him, though. Maybe invest in a hamper with a lid?” I suggested with a wry smile.
“Will do, Dr. Wilson,” she replied, relief flooding her features. “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
“Probably have a lot more socks,” I quipped, and she laughed, the sound mingling with the symphony of barks and meows that underscored my days.
The door creaked behind me, and I turned to see Bobby Hennessy, leaning heavily on his cane, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched me work. He always had a way of appearing when I least expected it, like a guardian spirit of the harbor.
“Morning, Bobby,” I greeted him, washing my hands and drying them on a towel. “What brings you by?”
“Ah, hello lass,” he said, his voice gravelly as the pebbled shore outside. “Just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you, Hannah. After all that mess with the Turner case, you’ve got this place running smoother than my old boat ever did.”
“Thanks, Bobby.” My cheeks warmed at his praise. “Means a lot coming from you. You’ve seen Moon Harbor through thick and thin.”
“Indeed, I have.” He glanced around the bustling waiting room. “You’ve become a part of its heart, girl. Folks here, they trust you. Depend on you. And not just because you’re a damn good vet. It’s because you give a damn—‘scuse my French.”
“Your French is excused,” I said, laughter bubbling up. His words sank deeper than the ocean’s trench, anchoring me to this place I’d grown to love.
“Keep it up, Hannah. This town needs more folks like you.” He tapped his cane twice on the floor, a seal of approval, then turned and shuffled out, leaving me with a sense of pride that swelled within me like the tide.
“Will do, Bobby,” I murmured to the empty space he left behind. “I promise.”
thirty-one
SAWYER
