Forever A Family. Bonnie K. Winn

eyes grew even bigger. “How do I know if it’s an emergency?”

      Zeke smiled to himself. The boy wasn’t as indifferent as he pretended. “Most people know when it’s serious and they’ll tell you. If they don’t know, ask one of us.”

      Joey’s Adam’s apple rose up and down as he visibly swallowed.

      Zeke pointed to a few labels on the multibutton phone. “Our beeper and cell numbers are marked.” He lifted a spindle from the desk. “Messages go here.”

      The boy ran nervous hands down the legs of his jeans.

      “If you’re sure it’s an emergency, beep us with the number 911.” He pointed again to the phone. “It’s preset right here.”

      Joey gingerly sat in the chair behind the desk. Heading to the barn, Zeke mentally ticked off the afternoon’s procedures, all routine: one case of bovine mastitis, a split hoof, some mild colic and an infected ear. Just one horse had him concerned.

      Zeke patted the filly, confident about the ultimate outcome. “She’ll be fine.”

      “Thanks, Doc,” the grateful owner responded.

      Zeke stroked the horse’s silky mane. “And you stay away from milkweed, my friend.” The words barely out, his beeper went off.

      911.

      * * *

      “Mom!” Joey yanked the phone out of Olivia’s hand.

      Zeke burst through the door on a dead run into the clinic.

      “There’s no emergency,” Joey rushed to explain, glaring up at his mother.

      Olivia winced. “Joey was showing me the beeper on the phone and I accidentally pushed the preset button.” Zeke’s face filled with disbelief.

      And Olivia didn’t blame him a bit. “I’m really sorry. I seem to fumble everything these days.” The man must think she was an absolute idiot.

      “Better to find out it wasn’t an emergency,” he replied, releasing a whoosh of relief. “Not that I’d encourage any more false alarms.”

      “Of course not.” She flushed, her face hot. “Um, I hope this won’t be counted against Joey. For his community service.”

      Zeke turned toward Joey. “What do you think? Should we let her off?”

      Joey smirked. “I’d have to do more volunteer work.”

      Zeke scrunched his brow in concentration. “I think you’ve got something there.”

      Olivia blinked. “You’re not serious?”

      “You did push the 911 button.”

      She looked at Zeke, then Joey. “Fine. Do you want me to start tonight or will tomorrow morning be soon enough?”

      Zeke stroked his firm jaw, appearing to deliberate. “Morning ought to be soon enough.”

      “I’ll wear my jeans and an old T-shirt.”

      Grinning, Zeke started to speak when the door opened and a rush of perfume and yapping pushed inside. Zeke’s benign smile disappeared and Olivia could see a tic in his clenched jaw.

      “Belinda,” Zeke said curtly to the woman.

      Olivia looked over, hoping she hid her surprise. The woman was decked out in designer clothes she would have expected to see in Houston’s Galleria or on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, but not in little Rosewood. Although she hadn’t visited veterinary clinics herself, Olivia guessed most people didn’t dress for their appointments the way this woman did.

      Angie pushed open the door and made her way to the desk. “You can have a seat, Belinda. The doctor will see you in a few minutes.”

      Her eyebrows raised at Angie’s brisk instructions, Belinda frowned at a chair, then perched on its edge as though not wanting to muss her expensive clothes. The dog sat beside her, its glittering collar and leash seeming glaringly out of place.

      Olivia hadn’t seen anyone like this woman in Rosewood, and it was all she could do not to stare.

      Zeke took her elbow.

      Surprised, Olivia forced herself to act casual.

      He walked her to the door and seemed preoccupied as they stepped outside.

      Olivia cleared a nervous knot in her throat. “So, Joey, you about ready to head home?”

      Joey glanced at Zeke for approval.

      Surprised, Olivia was at a loss for words. Lately Joey had barely acknowledged the need for approval from anyone.

      Zeke agreed, “Works for me. Get here early tomorrow and I’ll make buckwheat pancakes.”

      “With maple syrup?” Joey questioned, as though she never cooked pancakes for him.

      “Warm maple syrup,” Zeke promised.

      Olivia tried to regain a little control. “That’s not necessary.”

      Zeke shrugged. “I have a taste for them, so I’ll be up early cooking.”

      Clearly she was outnumbered. Having worried about Joey all day, Olivia was taken aback to see that he was handling the entire situation better than she was.

      “I’m curious.” Zeke drew his dark eyebrows together in contemplation. “Just when did Joey call you?”

      “Well...”

      “He was with me out in the barn earlier for a few hours. He came back inside to relieve Angie on the phones...what, five minutes before you pressed the emergency beeper? It raises the question, how did you get out here from town before Joey had time to call you?”

      Squirming inwardly, Olivia searched for an explanation that wouldn’t mortify her son. Yes, he was twelve now, but he was still her baby. One she worried about constantly now that Ted was gone. It was as though Joey was now even more vulnerable, more susceptible to anything that could harm him.

      Her worry wasn’t grounded in fact, but having experienced how quickly a life could be snatched away... Joey should be safe in Rosewood, probably safer than anywhere else. And the veterinary clinic was hardly a dangerous place, but it didn’t dampen her concern. Overprotective, the Colonel was always saying. So much so that he thought she wasn’t raising Joey right, not disciplining him as she should.

      “Mom?” Joey stared at her, his face scrunched in question.

      Olivia shook her head. “Sorry. Zeke, do you want Joey to stay longer today? I can come back later.”

      Zeke’s usual cheerfulness was absent as he studied her quizzically. “No need. He put in enough time for today.”

      “In that case, Joey can use the rest of the afternoon to do his school assignments.” Feeling oddly out of step, as though the rest of the world were revolving just a minute or so faster than she was, Olivia clutched her keys.

      “See you in the morning,” Zeke replied quietly.

      “Okay,” she agreed.

      Watching her leave, Zeke concentrated more on her face than her form. Not that she wasn’t just as attractive, but the haunting vulnerability in her eyes struck him. In those few moments she’d looked as though something awful was about to happen. Having lost her husband was terrible enough. What could be worse?

      “Zeke?” Angie prodded, having followed him outside.

      He exhaled. “Sorry, long day.”

      “Once you see Her Highness, we can take a break.”

      Sighing, Zeke forced himself to turn around. Maybe Angie was right. It was about time Belinda took her dog to another vet. He didn’t need a living reminder. Like a pebble in his shoe, Belinda was a memory he couldn’t ignore.

      *