Page 126 of Christmas at the Castle
She hardly ever cried, but since she got back from Alistonia, it was all she could do.
The hair beneath her surgical cap itched. She hadn’t been on duty long enough to be tired or sweaty, but she removed her cap and tossed it on her desk.
A knock sounded. Jojo opened the door. The vet tech wore grey scrubs with pink cat paw prints all over them. “I have coffee and a hug.”
“I’ll take both.”
The cup of coffee went on the desk, and Kat went into Jojo’s arms. “Will I ever get over this?”
Him.
Something squeezed at her chest, as if those muscles had constricted suddenly. That happened whenever she thought of Gill. Being home should have brought her peace. Her routine should have brought her a sense of normalcy. Her work should have kept her mind and heart occupied.
“It’ll take time.” Jojo gave her a squeeze and then let go. “I need to see if those test results you wanted are ready. I’ll be back.”
“Thanks.”
Kat took a deep breath and another. Nearly a week had passed, but Gill was still there—on her mind and in her heart and in her dreams when she could fall asleep.
She missed him, Max, Sophie, Mama, the puppies, and the staff, especially the prim and proper Jennings who was in charge of everything and treated the puppies like royalty, Isaac who’d taught her so much and become her friend, and sweet Liv who made Kat feel like a princess.
Those people had made her feel like she belonged. Like she was one of them.
Still, she believed in her heart of hearts that she’d made the right choice for everyone involved.
Herself, included.
Gill needed to be with a woman who wouldn’t drive a wedge between a mother and her children. Yes, Kat wanted a family of her own, and she wanted one with him, but she wouldn’t destroy another family to get one for herself.
Queen Louise was meddling, devious, and overbearing. She parented opposite from Kat’s mom and dad, but if Kat had to pick between the two parenting styles, she’d choose the queen’s.
For all Queen Louise’s faults, she loved her children and wanted what she thought was best for them. Kat might not agree with the queen’s methods, but she hadn’t deserted her children, ignored them, or disappeared from their lives. Not like Kat’s parent’s had.
That counted for a lot.
Queen Louise, Gill, and Sophie had shown Kat that family and work weren’t mutually exclusive. Something she’d never realized until her trip to Alistonia. Running an entire country—albeit a small one—didn’t stop the queen from being a mother. A helicopter one at that.
As a child, Kat had created a world in her mind where parents needed to make a choice between work and kids. As an adult, she’d clung to that belief. That was easier than admitting her parents hadn’t loved her more than their research. She knew better now and had come to terms with that, but she would never make the same choices her parents made. She could have both a career and a family.
And would.
If she ever fell in love again…
Not going to happen, a voice cried out.
Her phone vibrated.
A text message must have arrived. She’d had a few tonight but hadn’t read any yet. She pulled her phone out of her pocket.
Sophie:Happy New Year’s! Fiji is wonderful. The resort is divine, but it would be more fun if you were here. Hugs and love!
Kat laughed. She typed a reply.
Kat:Happy New Year to you and Bertrand. I doubt he’d appreciate my company on your honeymoon, but thank you for the thought;) xoxox
She checked the next message. This one was from Jamie.
Jamie:Glad you’re home. I’m spending my money on puppy supplies. Cheaper than alcohol and women.
