Page 6 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

No answer followed that question.I knew this place inside and out since I’d helped install the HVAC when they built it two and a half years ago.I wanted Erika, my sister-in-law and owner-director of the small animal ER.Or my brother, Josh, who managed the entire veterinary complex.I wanted the calm certainty of someone who knew exactly where to press and what to say and how to make this not feel like my life was splintering apart in real time.

Instead, I got strangers, fluorescent light, and Buck’s blood everywhere.

Bonnie—yeah, I knew her—stepped in.She was a capable technician who had been a rock for years with the practice.“I’ll hold him for a minute if you need to call someone.”

Call Dad.This wasn’t just a dog.This washisdog.I was the idiot holding him when everything went wrong.

“Good idea,” I managed.“Thanks.”

I stepped back, turned away enough that no one could see my hands shaking.I dialed.It rang once.Twice.My chest tightened harder with every tone.I’d tried to call him on the way here, but he hadn’t answered.

“Pick up,” I muttered out loud under my breath.

Third ring.

“Talk to me,” Dad said.

Hearing his voice cracked open the guilt inside me.

“It’s Buck,” I blurted.“I’m at the clinic.Something happened.”

Silence.Which was worse than yelling.

“What happened?”

I swallowed, but it didn’t go down right.“I—There was an accident.I had an accident with him.”

That pause again.The kind where I could practically hear him recalibrating the entire world.“Are you okay, son?Is Sofia okay?”

“Yeah—yes, I mean, yes, sir.Sofia’s fine for now.”My words tripped over each other.“I dropped her off at preschool, I just… Dad, Milly left.She actually left this time.I know she’s been threatening for months.She took off for Oregon with whoever that shithead is she’s been dating.She left Sofia, not that she wanted her to begin with.It’s done.I don’t know how I’m supposed to tell Sofia that her mom is gone.And I just heard my new hire for the HVAC up and quit.Who walks off the job site one hour into training?—”

“Timothy!”His voice cut through me.Sharper now.Anchored.“Son, I need you to focus.My dog.What happened to my dog?”

I looked down at myself.Blood streaked up my arms, spattered across my shirt like I’d been through something I shouldn’t have survived.

“I slammed his tail in the truck’s door.”It came out hollow.Guilty.“I’m used to Bagel who’s fast on the jump up.I didn’t see Buck jump in later than usual.I was distracted and—Dad, I didn’t see him—there’s blood everywhere.I’m covered in it.I hope he doesn’t lose his tail.The clinic?—”

“I’m coming,” he said immediately.

“Dad, you don’t need?—”

“It’s going to be fine.I’m on my way.”Click.

Shit.I did everything possible to reduce Dad’s stress so he wouldn’t have another heart attack.Not that Mason Hurst listened to me or slowed down.I managed both family businesses.I did all the lifting, fixing, and what I could of animal care to keep him clear of all of it.This…wasn’t going to help.

For a second, I stood there, phone still pressed to my ear like it might restart this day if I held it long enough.

A voice cleared behind me.

I turned?—

All the chaos inside me stopped.Full, dead, complete halt.

That face shouldn’t have existed here.Green-blue eyes.Freckles splattered across the pale skin of her nose and cheeks.Perfect pink lips just a little fuller on the bottom than the top.Reddish brown hair pulled back like she’d tried to make herself smaller, neater, less…everything I remembered.I felt transported back to a time I’d worked hard to forget, a moment in my life when things sort of made sense.Until they didn’t.

My mouth opened before my brain caught up.“Gia?”

It came out like I’d swallowed glass.