AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Release days are one of my favorite parts of the job.” He gestured to the pictures of turtles being returned to the ocean that hung around the room. “But occasionally, when it’s better for the turtle, we keep the release restricted to rehab staff only for a quieter send-off.”
“Makes sense. I’d hate for Chompers’ spirited personality to cause any problems on his homecoming day.”
“Exactly right.”
Molly glanced around the room, taking in the uniqueness of a clinic designed specifically for sea turtles. “This is all so fascinating.” Pushing her fears aside and being spontaneous had paid off.
“I might be a little biased, but I’d say it’s hard to not fall in love with this place.” He motioned to the chart in front of Molly. “Thanks for stepping in today, by the way. We appreciate it more than you know.”
“My pleasure. Chompers seems like a special turtle. I wish him all the best as he returns to exploring the deep blue sea.”
“As do I. And we’re all grateful that’ll happen sooner rather than later.” Grant paused for a second. His playful demeanor faded away and his mouth twisted to the side as if he was considering something. “I know this is a big ask, but would you consider being our resident vet while Dr. Lacey is on leave?”
The heaviness of the question landed on Molly like a weight, forcing her down from the euphoric cloud. “You want me to treat all the turtles?”
“With Dr. Lacey out and the surge of new turtles we’ve admitted lately, we really could use the help. Plus, you were great with Chompers today. You have a way with animals.”
Molly raised a questioning eyebrow. “He almost took my finger off. Twice.”
Grant shrugged as if losing a digit was a mere inconvenience. “He tried to take a chunk out of the boat when he was being rescued. We think it’s his love language.”
Molly’s mind raced through the magnitude of what he was asking.
As if he knew exactly what she was thinking, he straightened and slid his hands into his pockets. “The truth is, we don’t have a lot to offer you. The stipend we pay our vets is offensively low, and it would be in addition to all the work you’re doing at Dr. Lacey’s clinic. I understand it’s a big ask.”
“I…” She fumbled over the words. On the one hand, she was passionate about animals and always wanted to help. But on the other hand, she was far from qualified for what they were asking. Filling in once for a simple exam of a healthy turtle when someone else could review her work was one thing. Being the primary person in charge of all the turtles was something else entirely. “I mean…”
Grant held up a hand to stop her. “Before you answer, why don’t I give you a tour of the facility? It’s important to have all the facts before you make a decision.”
Molly propped her hands on her hips and gave him a pointed look. “Are you trying to use your adorable turtles to get me to say yes?”
A sly grin pulled at his mouth. “They seem to be far more persuasive than I am.”
“Fine.” Molly screwed her resolve to its sticking place. “I’m agreeing to the tour because I’m curious about every aspect of what you do here. But know there’s a good chance my answer will be the same at the end as it is right now. I just don’t think I’m the person you’re looking for.”
“Fair enough.”
She followed him out of the vet suite and down the hall. Automatic sliding doors opened, and they stepped outside, where they were greeted by a gentle blast of coastal humidity from the warm summer day and the whirr of multiple electric pumps.
“Welcome to the Turtle Zone.”
“It’s so big.” She paused on the sidewalk to take in the massive outdoor area. Large tanks and what appeared to be an impressive aquarium stretched all the way from the back of the building to the water’s edge. Blue shade sails strung overhead softened the intense Florida sun, while tall palm trees flanked the perimeter of the property. She’d said it before, and she felt confident she’d say it again: this place was amazing. “Seriously, y’all need better signage out front.”
Grant seemed amused at her reaction. “Top of my list as soon as we get another big donation check.” He strolled down the wide sidewalk that ran through the middle of the vast rehab space all the way to the dock at the other end. “But first, how about that tour I promised you?”
Molly scurried to keep up, her gazed focused on the first group of tanks. “I hope this is an interactive tour, because I have a lot of questions. Starting with, how many turtles do you have?”
“It varies. Our facility is divided into three different zones. This is the Care Floor. It’s our version of an ICU. It has a capacity of up to twenty. Right now, we have thirteen.” He stopped among a sea of blue-and-white circular tanks that stretched out in neat rows on either side of the sidewalk. “Each time we admit a new patient, this is where they stay while they’re healing.” He stepped off the sidewalk and led her over to one of the tanks that was roughly the size of a small above-ground swimming pool. “Each tank is filled with water that has been taken straight from the gulf, purified to remove any harmful toxins that could cause additional problems, and temperature regulated to provide the ideal environment.”
Molly peered over the edge, where a medium-sized green turtle was happily paddling around. “I wouldn’t mind swimming in a pool like that.”
Grant chuckled. “Right? Only the best for our patients.”
The turtle swam over to where Molly was standing and popped his head up for a breath, as if coming to greet her. “And who is this guy?”
“This is Teddy. He came to us about six months ago with a condition called Fibropapillomatosis. It causes benign tumors, but occasionally they have to be removed if they’re impairing the turtle’s function. Like Teddy here, who had a few growing over his eyes, blocking his vision.”
Molly watched the turtle as he took a lap around his tank, his bright curious eyes looking up at her. “He looks pretty healthy now, though.”
