Oklahoma Reunion

“Momma?”

“Go change, and I’ll get directions.”

Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Kait inspected the framed certificates on the wall. She smiled, so very proud that Ryan had gone after his dreams.

An unexpected lump of sadness welled in her chest. She’d hadn’t been there to share that journey.

Next to his certificate was that of a Lucas Hammond. So there were two vets at the clinic? That was a good thing since it was so busy. She’d watched no less than half a dozen small animals and their owners come in and out of the front door since she arrived.

Kait checked her watch. That had been quite a while ago.

She approached the counter. “Excuse me?”

The receptionist arched her penciled brows while twisting a strand of fuchsia hair around a finger but didn’t put down the cell phone attached to her ear.

“How much longer do you think it will be?”

“That’s hard to say. Dr. Jones is booked solid, and you didn’t have an appointment.”

Kait bit her lip at the accusation but decided against pointing out that the sign outside said walk-ins were welcome. “What about Doctor Hammond?”

“Who?”

“Doctor … never mind. Perhaps you can give me directions to another clinic?”

The door behind the receptionist opened, and Ryan appeared. Head down, broad shoulders slumped, he shoved a stethoscope into his lab-coat pocket and ran a hand through his hair as he checked a ledger on the counter. His guard was down, and Kait was taken aback by the fatigue and something else—discouragement perhaps—that she saw in his stance.

Ryan rarely showed any emotion, instead putting on his happy-go-lucky face for the world. She knew he must have a lot on his mind. Her heart ached, and for a moment she simply stared. How simple it would be to reach out and smooth the worry lines from his brow and give him a hug of encouragement.

With a small sigh, she turned her face away. Nothing was simple anymore.

“Kait? What are you doing here?”

She swung back at his voice.

When he offered a tentative smile, she froze for a moment. He so reminded her of Jenna.

Any trace of fatigue or stress had disappeared, and his smile, however wary, wrapped itself around her. Suddenly she was glad Jenna had convinced her to come to his clinic.

Kait pointed across the room to where Jenna held the kitten; both were mesmerized by the huge tropical fish tank in the corner.

“You have a kitten.”

“Jenna found her. It looks like she was in a tussle.”

“Who? Jenna or the cat?”

Kait swallowed a laugh at his dry humor. “The cat.”

“Ah.” He crossed the room. “Hey, Jenna. Good to see you again.”

She turned at his voice, her face brightening. “My kitty was in a fight.”

He leaned closer to inspect the kitten and then looked up at Kait. “How long have you been here?”

“About an hour,” she replied.

“An hour?” Ryan glanced at the receptionist who kept chatting on her cell, oblivious to the note of disapproval in his voice. “I’m sorry. I can tell you that won’t happen again.” He shook his head. “Let’s go back to an exam room.”

Jenna looked around the small room, her interest focused on the black-and-white framed photographs on the wall. “Oh, wow. This is so cool.”

“They’re all my patients.”

“Even that one?” Jenna pointed to a photo of a lizard sunning on a rock.

“Especially that one. That’s my lizard, Roscoe.”

“You really have a lizard?”

“Absolutely.”

“I love animals,” Jenna said.

“So do I,” he responded.

“Do you like kids, too?”

Ryan chuckled, not the least bothered by the random question from Jenna. He relaxed, open and unguarded as he conversed with the seven-year-old. “Yes. I like kids, too.”

“Do you have any?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t.”

Kait cleared her throat loudly. “Who took all these pictures?”

“I did.”

“I didn’t know you were a photographer.”

Ryan raised a brow in challenge, the caution back in his eyes. “I bet there are a lot of things you don’t know about me.”

Regret washed over Kait, and she turned to the wall, feigning interest in the photos. “So this is your clinic? Yours and Dr. Hammond’s?”

“How’d you know about Doc Hammond?”

“I saw his certificate on the wall.”

“Old Doc Hammond went fishing six months ago and decided not to come back. He says he needs to keep his options open, so there is a slight possibility that either retirement or Mrs. Hammond will drive him nuts and he’ll be back.”