we may need to do an X-ray, but we’d have to take her to Boulder for that. Don’t worry. I think this will clear up pretty quickly.” John took a long sip of hot tea. “A little bit of rest is all she needs. Katy is going to be just fine.”
“How are your kids?” Nancy asked. She held Katy still on her lap, petting her.
John brightened. He loved to talk about his children. “Good. Jamie is reading every book she can get her hands on, Kyle wants to be a vet just like his old man, and Daisy is…Daisy.”
Nancy nodded with understanding. “Have you decided what to do about your practice?”
“Well, I’ve got my eye on a spot in town where I’m thinking of setting up my office,” John said. He didn’t like the idea of adding monthly rent to his expenses, but a town the size of North Creek needed a physical veterinary facility that could handle surgery. For a few years, he had mostly been making house calls and seeing an occasional patient at his house, but his practice had outgrown the tiny home office.
“What about the barn where your wife kept her horses?” Nancy asked.
John felt a pang at the reminder of Julie. It had only been three years since he and the kids lost her. Sometimes the pain of that loss still felt fresh—usually in the evening after the kids had gone to bed.
John and Julie had met in her hometown of Fort Collins while he was in veterinary school and she was an undergrad. Julie loved horses, and many of their dates involved horseback riding. Once when he was on call, Julie had actually helped John deliver a foal. After they moved to North Creek, having a barn at their home had allowed her to buy Aragorn, an Arabian chestnut gelding. She had supplemented their income by boarding other horses and giving riding lessons.
Everything about the barn brought back happy memories of his petite blonde wife—Julie mucking out the stalls, grooming Aragorn, storing massive bales of hay for neighboring ranchers, teaching Jamie to ride. The building represented all those happy times to John. If he cleared Julie’s gear out of the barn and gave the place a different purpose, might he lose some of those precious memories? His heart couldn’t risk it. The barn was too important.
“Such a beautiful old building,” Nancy said.
“Yeah, it is. It’s just… I’m not sure I’m ready yet.” For a moment, he was lost in thought. Then he said, “Well, I’d better get going. I’ve got a few more house calls to make.”
“What do I owe you for today?” Nancy asked.
John shook his head with a smile. “No charge—it’s Christmas.”
Chapter 4
That evening, Jennifer arranged to meet Brad at Paula’s place for the party. She had learned that arriving separately avoided a lot of awkwardness at the end of a date, especially with a man she was just dating casually, despite Paula’s urging for them to get more serious. Jennifer and Brad took separate taxis and arrived at Paula’s apartment building at the same time.
They rode up the elevator together looking like the perfect couple. Jennifer was dressed all in black, in an understated lace minidress with a sheer mesh panel at the neckline and scalloped lace at the hem, topped with a soft, drapey blazer that was nearly as long as her dress. The short dress and stiletto pumps showed off her legs, while the blazer kept her warm in the wintery weather and flowed with her. She had put on evening makeup and wore her blonde hair down in loose curls. All in all, her outfit was festive but comfortable. Brad was dressed for success in a dark suit with a light-blue spread-collared shirt and maroon tie.
Paula’s apartment was amazingly roomy, especially for Manhattan, with plenty of space for Paula’s many party guests to spread out. The decor was stylish, modern, and monochromatic, in shades of white and black. Light hardwood floors, broad expanses of wall, and floor-to-ceiling windows added to the impression of space. A fire blazed in the gas log fireplace, in front of which a glass-and-chrome coffee table sat on a cream flokati rug. Near the living room, glass doors opened to a terrace that had a spectacular view of the city.
The ultramodern kitchen had long white work surfaces, stainless appliances, and open shelving. The kitchen was completely open to the living room, and a beige counter that ran the length of the room could be used as a dining table or as a bar. Tonight, it was a bar. Jennifer got a flute of champagne, and Brad picked up a glass of white wine. At the end of the bar, a silvery-white faux Christmas tree sparkled with clear fairy lights. They chatted as they walked around the apartment.
Jennifer was nervous as she told Brad that she was going away for a week. She wasn’t quite sure why. Was she afraid to rock the boat in their relationship? Even if Brad wasn’t her ideal, and their connection was somewhat tepid, he was a savvy, romantic choice.
“You’re going to Colorado,” Brad said, sounding disappointed. “I was hoping we’d go to all the holiday parties here in New York.” Brad was zealous about networking and determined to break out of local news into national sportscasting. He’d set his sights on a job at ESPN. He’d admitted to Jennifer that he wanted to be seen with her in public as much as possible so they would be known as a power couple.
Jennifer was sorry to disappoint him, but she was looking forward to escaping the stresses and frenetic activity of New York City. Although she sometimes found the pace invigorating, part of her also yearned for a simpler environment that would let her balance her thriving career with…with what? She wasn’t sure, and she needed some quiet time to think about it, so she tried to explain. “I’m sorry, Brad, but when Paula offered me her cabin… I don’t know… It’s just, if I can’t get away for the holidays, when can I? I work the other fifty-one weeks of the year.”
Fortunately, he wasn’t a controlling person like her ex. Brad shrugged. “I understand. It’s just—don’t take too long. Between your career and my career, we’d be unstoppable.”
Jennifer smiled and nodded. She liked Brad just fine. He was friendly, handsome, outgoing, and passionate about his work. She knew that he, in turn, was impressed with her success, and he often told her she was beautiful. He seemed to have a real affection for her, but they weren’t exactly in love. She knew he was right, though: together, they would draw media attention both in the sports world and from the Homestyle audience. But it felt…artificial. Uncomfortable. A faint reminder that her ex, Ashton, had used her to advance his career. She didn’t blame Brad at all for being ambitious, though. Success was important to her, as well. She just didn’t see it as a good enough basis for a relationship.
She’d all but given up on finding a soul mate. With Ashton, she had believed she was truly in love—only to learn after they’d married that he was far different in reality from the man she had thought him to be. It had been a devastating experience. After the divorce, Jennifer had taken refuge in her work.
Paula, in a black turtleneck sweater dress and silver jacket, came up to welcome them. “Ooh, wow. Honey, you look gorgeous.”
Jennifer thanked her. As a hostess, Paula was obviously in her element, circulating among her guests, chatting and making introductions, and keeping everything running smoothly. Jennifer enjoyed watching her.
Paula turned to Brad. “And Brad, you look as handsome as always.”
He sketched a bow of thanks and said, “Milady.”
“I am so glad that you came and you came together,” Paula said. Jennifer could
