Chapter Fifteen

        Emma Jean arrived at work earlier than the previous two days since Dr. Fetterman’s surgeries began earlier than normal clinic hours. She spent the morning working up the courage to ask Marissa for a favor, so her nerves were already frayed when she grabbed that day’s mail and saw another envelope with her name scrawled across the front. It was the same as before, no address or stamp, so it had been placed in the mailbox by someone other than the mailman. The note inside was slightly different than the previous one, although the gist of the implied threat remained the same. You’ve made a mistake.

         This time, instead of crumpling the paper and tossing it in the trash, she made a statement by sending it through the shredder. Of course, there was no one around to receive her message, but it made her feel better all the same. The notes were obviously from Cody, and she wasn’t about to show him any fear. He could take his passive-aggressive jibes and stick ‘em where the sun doesn’t shine as far as she was concerned.

        She grabbed her phone from her desk and made her way to the break room to eat the lunch she’d packed. Marissa was already there.

        “Hey, you guys finish early?”

        “Yeah, just a couple of minutes ago. Abel has to drive out to Pine Creek this afternoon to check on a broodmare who may be past her breeding years. Poor thing.”

        “Ah,” was all Emma Jean said as she unpacked the sandwich, veggies, and snack cake she’d thrown together last night.

        “Look at you with your little lunch box,” Marissa smiled. “Smart. When I first started working here, I let Abel talk me into ordering out nearly every day. Gained damn near twenty pounds in the first month.”

        Emma Jean looked at Marissa, who likely weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet, in disbelief. She couldn’t imagine the woman subsisting on anything other than black coffee and cigarettes.

        Shaking off her thoughts of how Marissa could possibly function on nothing but caffeine and nicotine, she tested the waters before asking for her favor.

        “Can I ask you something? Do you like being a vet tech?”

        “Sure,” Marissa nodded. “I like being able to care for people’s pets, and it beats seven years worth of student loans to become a vet. Why do you ask?”

        Emma Jean licked her lips nervously. “I always wanted to be a vet.” She shrugged. “Actually started to go to school for it, but…”

        Marissa watched her with an assessing gaze. “But your husband wanted you at home?”

        “Yeah,” Emma Jean whispered.

        “Girl, if you don’t mind me saying so, I’ve heard the gossip. I know what kind of man your husband is. And I know it’s none of my business, but it was a good thing, a brave thing, you did, gettin’ away from that situation.”

        Emma Jean cleared her throat, attempting to breathe through her embarrassment at everyone in town knowing what went on in her private life. “Thanks.”

        It was then that Marissa surprised her by offering up the very thing that Emma Jean had been preparing to ask for. “You want me to show you some of the ropes back here? You ever decide to go back to school, you’ll have a leg up on the competition.”

        Emma Jean’s eyes lit up. “Oh, would you? If you don’t mind?” The hopefulness was evident in her tone, and she didn’t care that she sounded like an eager beaver.

        “Not at all. A woman today needs all the help she can get when it comes to standing on her own two feet. But, it’s gonna cost ya,” she added with a sly smile.

        Emma Jean’s face dropped. “Um, okay?”

        “In exchange for me teaching you, you’re going to tell me all about that new man of yours.”

        A startled laugh broke free. “Noah?”

        “Mmhmm. Noah Hawkins is one delicious piece of man meat, and everybody knows it. You, my dear, have certainly upgraded.”

        “Noah’s a good friend.”

        Marissa scoffed. “He’s more than a friend to you, though, isn’t he?”

        Emma Jean licked her lips again. “Maybe.” She couldn’t help a sly smile of her own.

        “Spill, girl!”

        Emma Jean and Marissa spent two hours after lunch talking about the various procedures Dr. Fetterman performed in the clinic. Emma Jean learned where instruments were kept, how the surgical area was cleaned and sterilized, and how to operate the x-ray machine and centrifuge. Marissa deemed that was enough for one day, as they both had other responsibilities to see to before the end of the work day, but she promised to show Emma Jean more the next time Dr. Fetterman was out of the office. Marissa also encouraged her to speak to Dr. Fetterman about her interest in eventually going back to veterinary school and ensured her that he’d be supportive and helpful in whatever way he could in that arena. He may let her observe or even assist in certain procedures, so she could gain some hands-on experience. Emma Jean’s confidence was bolstered with all of Marissa’s support and encouragement. She couldn’t wait to tell Noah.

        Speaking of Noah, she had yet to return his text message from earlier. He’d asked her how her day was going so far, but she hadn’t answered him, wanting to give Marissa her undivided attention. Now that she had a moment, she pulled her phone out to respond.

         Emma Jean: Hey. Work is great. Marissa is showing me the ropes of working in the clinic.

        Emma Jean: How is your day going?

        Noah: *downloading image*

        

         He’d sent her back a picture of what looked like...drywall?

        Emma Jean: Are you remodeling the apartment in my absence?

        

        Noah: Working on the empty storefront downstairs.

        She jumped when the phone rang in her hands, and she hastened to answer it.

        “Hey.”

        “Hey, yourself,” Noah said. “Figured this was easier. Plus, I wanted to hear your voice.”

        His admission warmed her, and she couldn’t deny she’d wanted to hear his voice too. “So, you’re working on the storefront? By yourself?”

        “No, my buddy Liam is helping me. You know Liam Larsen? Owns the lumberyard?”

        “Yeah. I mean, no.” She laughed. “I remember Liam from school, but I can’t say that we’ve kept in touch, ya know?”

        Liam had played football in high school with Cody, and even though they’d been teammates, they’d never gotten along. Emma Jean figured now it was because Liam saw Cody for who he really was and not the man Emma Jean thought he was when she’d started dating him.

        “Right,” Noah replied.

        “So, um, I’ve got to get back to work…”

        “Right,” he repeated. “I’ll see you tonight.”

        “Okay, Noah.”

        “Bye, sunshine.”

        Emma Jean ended the call just in time to see Marissa smirking at her over the counter.

        “That your new man?”

        “Maybe,” Emma Jean retorted.

        “Mmhmm.”

        Emma Jean ducked her head, giggling at Marissa’s knowing look and went back to scanning in that morning’s records before tidying her desk and preparing to leave for the day. She had to admit, she was really looking forward to seeing Noah.