That Perfect Place Page 7

  One afternoon, Jill and Steph were getting ready to lock up when she heard a noise in the large-animal area. Emma was off to care for her husband and Jeanine had already left, so no one else should have been in the building. Jill entered as the overhead door closed and saw a pair of blue-jean-clad legs hurrying away. She ran to the small door to see who it was. She knew her boss was in Cedar Rapids with Callie. She wasn’t sure since she’d only seen him once, but from the side he looked like Caroline’s husband, Donny McCaffrey, same reddish hair and chinstrap beard. By the time she reached the front door, his truck was heading down the drive.

  “That’s odd,” she heard Steph call out from the staff room. “Did you see that pickup? It’s Donny McCaffrey’s. What in the world would he be doing here? Brad’s at school so he can’t be picking him up.” She came to the clinic front door.

  “Could he be looking for Jake?” Jill asked.

  “Those two barely speak—and then not civilly on Donny’s part. We all think he has a grudge against Jake for letting Caroline loose to marry him.” She giggled.

  “I’ll make sure Jake and Jeanine know he was here.”

  “Good idea. See you tomorrow.”

  Jill left a note on both Jeanine and Jake’s desks and locked up carefully after checking to make sure nothing obvious was missing.

  The next morning, Jeanine was on her knees looking through the files when Jill came in. The boss was leaning on the cabinet watching her, a cup of coffee in his hand.

  “These had been rifled,” she informed Jake as she pushed the drawer shut and stood up. “If he took anything it wasn’t something we’re currently using.”

  “Morning, Jill.” He looked up as she came in. “Did you actually see Donny in here?”

  “No, just a pair of legs moving away from the overhead door as it closed. I checked all the controlled drugs, but nothing was missing. The small door was locked, but we’ve never locked the big one when we’re here.”

  “Well, I guess we better start using the pass code. The pin is zero eight zero eight. That’s Brad’s birthday.” He tousled his hair and pulled his ball cap back on. “No sense in calling the sheriff. Let’s all just keep a closer eye on things, OK?”

  Jill and Stephanie started morning appointments, and Jake took Dr. Mirza with him to do some cattle work. Maggie called Jill before lunch and invited her to come down for a barbeque on Saturday evening. Jill was glad to accept. She liked Maggie’s dry wit and Steve’s bonhomie.

  Saturday was the morning from hell. She had to put two dogs down. One had advanced cancer, and the other had been run over by the neighbor’s teenager. Jake magically appeared and talked with the owners to keep things from getting nasty with the neighbors. While he was placating them, Jill dealt with a boxer puppy that was vomiting copiously but not running a fever. She wound up admitting him and put him on IV fluids. She had the owners check to see if he had gotten into the antifreeze.

  “It smells sweet, and dogs will often lick it up. We’re checking to see if it shows up in his vomit, but if you could find the source it might speed up his treatment. I want to do an x-ray to see if there is a blockage. We’ll call you in a few hours to let you know how Biff is doing, but call us right away if you find anything.”

  Jake developed the x-ray while Jill continued with her appointments. It looked as if an object was lodged in the puppy’s duodenum, and Jill got permission to operate immediately. Jake scrubbed in, and she asked him if he wanted to do the surgery.

  “It’s your case. I’m just here to hold retractors.”

  “OK, I’ll handle it.” She was somewhat nervous to have him right there as she opened the bowel. Once in though, concentration took over. She found and removed a small bouncy ball, the kind you would get from a gumball machine.

  “It’s surprising this didn’t get lodged in his trachea.”

  “Yeah, that seems to be the usual sticking place for balls. Good job, Jill.” God, he loved saying that name. “Well, pup, looks like you came to the right place.” He switched the machine over to straight oxygen.

  While she was closing up, he asked if she was going to the Brandeises’ that evening.

  “I had planned to until this morning happened.”

  “Well, go ahead. I’ll stay here and mind the shop. Callie’s having a bad couple of days, and a crowd would set her off. It would be a big favor to me if you could give Brad a ride. He and Maggie’s nephew, Travis, have plans for tomorrow.”

  “Sure, Jakob. I don’t mind taking Brad in the least. And thanks for watching Biff here. After losing two today, I’m paranoid about anything happening to him.”

  “Neither of those was avoidable.”

  “I know, but it still bugs me.”

  Jake nodded. He shared her feelings on that score.

  They cleaned up the surgery while the little fellow was waking up. All the office help had been sent home hours ago.

  “How are things going with Callie?”

  “The bipolar thing has its ups and downs, but we manage. She has put on a few pounds and grew a half inch since Christmas.” He sighed and rubbed his head. “Callie’s mom was a flake and caused no end of problems, including filling her head with stories of an imaginary father.

  “So how did you wind up with Callie?”

  “Ma has custody. She felt obligated because Callie’s mother died in the fire here. I don’t know if it was an accident or a suicide pact, but I think that Rachel and my dad were probably high when they lit off that oxygen tank. Still, we couldn’t just turn the kid over to the state. Back then she was a mess, and I stepped in to help Ma out. After that, Callie just took to me, I guess.”

  “You make her feel safe because you enforce boundaries.”

  “Ma never was a disciplinarian. She lives in her own little world, and anything unpleasant isn’t allowed.” He stopped himself from saying more. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to harangue you with the ongoing saga of the Gundersens.”

  “Hey, I asked. Why don’t you let me fix you some lunch? Take your mind off of things for a few minutes. We’ll wrap Biff in a blanket and take him up with us so we can keep an eye on him.”

  “Deal. I’m starved.”

  “So am I. We’ll do something quick.”

  While Jill threw some things in a wok and made up some rice to go with the stir-fry, Jake set the table and poured some drinks.

  “I was going to say I was surprised you found everything so quickly. I forgot that this is your place. Dave told me you designed it?”

  “Stuff I pulled from some magazines when I was in high school. It was going to be Caroline’s and mine. She hated it, said she wanted something ‘elegant.’”

  Jill looked around her. What about this place wasn’t elegant? “How did you two ever get together in the first place? It doesn’t seem like you were suited to each other.”

  “Until the day we were married she agreed with everything I said, so I thought we were. Second day of the honeymoon, reality set in. We had gotten together at a picnic here just before my senior year at State. Caroline and I were hot and heavy that winter. I guess it was just the uniform. Anyway, she said she was pregnant, so I did the ‘honorable thing.’” He gave a snort. “She wasn’t, lie number one. She promised to be faithful, lie number two. She promised to come to California, lie number three.

  “For some reason, she couldn’t understand that since I went to college on an ROTC scholarship I had to do my active duty as soon as I graduated. The MEU I was assigned to was stationed at Camp Pendleton. She didn’t like the desert. We fought, she stayed with her mother, and I reported for duty. When I came back here on my first leave, we stayed here at the cabin and Brad happened. That was the only bright spot in my otherwise dismal married life.”

  “I can’t say anything about not choosing wisely. Tom had me buffaloed for five years. I guess both of us had a fuzzy conception about marriage partners.” She shrugged and changed the subject. “Did you hear anything from Emma? I haven’t heard a
word about Dr. Murdoch since Thursday when they said he had come through surgery OK.”

  “I stopped by last night. He’s hurting but on the mend. Apparently the doctors are pleased with the results. God, I hope I never have to go through that. I’ve had enough of hospitals and doctors.”

  Jill wasn’t sure if that was an invitation to talk about his missing foot or a warning not to mention it, so she decided to try some humor. “You sorta picked the wrong business if you want to avoid those things.”

  Jake laughed. “You’re right, but it’s different when it’s you they are dissecting. Well, Ma is probably out of patience by now. I’d better get back to the house.” He stood up to go.

  “Just leave Biff here. I’ll take him back to the clinic before I go to Maggie’s.”

  “I’ll take him to the farmhouse with me. Easier to monitor him that way. Thanks for lunch.”

  “It’s the least I could do after you showed up to mediate the dogfight.”

  “No problem.” He smiled and headed for the door.

  I don’t really want to leave. Jill’s an easy woman to be with. Her sweet, soft voice is like music. I keep inventing reasons to call her during the workday. Then his conscience stepped in: Give her time, Gundersen. Don’t rush things.

  ill had a chance to get acquainted with Brad on the twenty-five-minute drive down to Vinton. Physically, he was his mother in male form and promised to be attractive. She was willing to bet he would break a few hearts before he turned twenty. His temperament, though, was like Jake’s, and he made some of the same gestures she had seen her boss do many times.

  “So, how’s school?” she asked.

  “It could be better. It’s really tough, being Jake Gundersen’s son. Dad’s a freaking genius and everybody expects me to be like him. I’m just not as smart, and I hate asking for help all the time ’cause he wonders why I just don’t get things so quick.”

  “Um, I don’t think he’s that judgmental. It’s probably more he’s tired and overworked. What subjects do you have trouble with? Maybe I could help you. I didn’t do badly at school, you know.”

  “You gotta be smart, you’re a doctor. I could use some help with algebra and writing reports and stuff.”

  “I’ll tell you what, I’ll proofread your math and other papers, but you have to do the work.”

  “It’s a deal. Thanks for giving me a ride.”

  “Hey, we’re going to the same place.”

  “I’ve got ten months before I can get my permit to drive on my own, and I can’t wait.” He rubbed his head in a very Jake-like gesture. “I don’t know why our parents can’t decide when to let us drive. I can handle a tractor and park the horse trailer, so why can’t I drive on the roads?”

  “I’m sure if these things could be decided on an individual basis, you’d be allowed to drive, Brad. But think of all the city kids who didn’t learn on tractors and farm roads. Plus, most thirteen-year-olds aren’t as mature as you.”

  “Would you tell Mom that? She treats me like a baby.”

  “Do you get along with your mom and Donny?”

  “Pretty well. Donny is a dope most of the time, but Mom absolutely will not let him say anything bad about Dad. She’s told me more than once that she treated Dad pretty bad and doesn’t feel right about it, and she always recommends him when somebody needs a vet.”

  “Your father is an excellent vet.”

  “Thanks, that’s nice to hear, especially from you because Dad says you’re top-notch. I overheard him telling Uncle Nels it’s great to work with someone so attractive.”

  Jill shot him a surprised glance.

  “I guess I shouldn’t have said that.” Brad got a sheepish look. “He’s a lot more relaxed now that you’re around. I wouldn’t want to be the one to mess it up. He trusts you to do things right.”

  “You didn’t mess anything up. A woman likes to hear that others find her attractive.”

  “In that case, I think you’re really pretty and nice, and I hope you stay.” Brad blushed to his toes.

  By the time they reached the Brandeises’, Brad and Jill were good friends. He introduced her around before drifting off with his buddy Travis. She had a great evening but was tired of being asked why Jake wasn’t there by the end of it, although she could understand it. He was a very easy person to spend time with, and she always felt comfortable around him.

  They got a respite on Sunday with no emergency calls, but the rest of the week the vets were hopping. The clinic schedule was nearly full with quite a few surgeries scheduled, and the fieldwork was somewhat backed up because of breaking in the new man. Dr. Mirza did seem to know the cow work and was quite knowledgeable about sheep and goats.

  Jake had resurrected his father’s old Ford Ranger and intended to turn it over to Dr. Mirza the following week. Everything was going well until Thursday when Jake’s prosthesis got mangled by a bull he was treating. Having to use his low-tech old one slowed him down considerably and things got a bit behind.

  The VA hospital wanted him down on Monday, which was going to make it rough on Jill with Jim Cullen coming in for his first day. Emma agreed to come in for the full day since Dave was doing OK. This left Stephanie free to accompany Dr. Cullen and navigate for him if he needed it.

  Friday’s fieldwork was caught up by ten thirty on Saturday, so Jake returned to help out in the clinic. He ran the lab work and developed some x-rays since only Steph was in on Saturdays. Eleven thirty until one o’clock was their busy time, so Jake treated half a dozen pets in the second exam room.

  He was doing follow-up shots on a Golden Retriever puppy and was gratified to hear praise for Jill from the owner.

  “She’s a real sweet lady and very knowledgeable, Doc,” the owner informed him.

  “We’re always glad to hear good things.” Jake smiled. Hopefully he’d have an inside track when she started dating again. From the sound of things he might have some competition.

  Steph locked the door at one fifteen precisely, and she and the high-school girls cleaned up in record time.

  “I thought you were supposed to have Saturdays off,” Jill said to Jake as they headed out the back door.

  “We’re not starting Monday with a backlog of work, and that’s better than a morning off. I heard a few compliments from some of your admirers today.” They walked slowly on account of his limp.

  “Wow, that’s nice to hear.”

  “Jeanine says we have a lot more male owners coming in since you started.”

  “I guess a soon-to-be-available woman is big news around here.”

  Jake’s heart jumped in his chest. How soon? he wanted to ask. “So I hear your sister is coming to visit next week?” he said instead.

  “Yeah, she’ll be here Friday until Sunday.”

  “There’s a car cruise and a picnic next Saturday if you’re looking for something to do. Nels has a 1980 Trans Am in the garage I’m certain he would let you borrow.”

  “Did I tell you Tina used to drive powder-puff races? She’d probably love it. Actually, she’d probably want to spend the day tuning the thing up. I’ll let you know.”

  “OK. Now listen, don’t hesitate to call me about anything next week. I don’t want to be dumping things on you. It’s just, well…”

  “I understand. Go get fixed up and don’t worry about us. General Jeanine and I will make out just fine.”

  “General Jeanine? That’s priceless. I think you just gave me the perfect comeback for Big Jake. Thanks. See ya.” He gimped off toward the farmhouse repeating “General Jeanine” and chuckling about it.

  Jim Cullen was five years older than Jill. He was average height, balding but very attractive, and had muscles of solid steel. Jill could imagine he had no trouble with recalcitrant cows. He did not like doing horse work though. He said he considered them to be useless pets. Jill didn’t argue but simply said that she would be glad to do any horse work whenever Jakob was gone. Jim had grown up north of Oelwein and knew much of the area a
s well as many of the older families, so he got into the swing of things immediately to everyone’s relief.

  Jake called Jill twice on Monday to make certain things were going well. She was able to report that Jim Cullen was getting along famously. Jake had to go back down to Iowa City on Wednesday, so Jill did the clinic and some horse work for him with the promise of Saturday off.

  Jim and Dr. Mirza, who never volunteered a first name, dehorned and castrated cattle all day. They came in around four, tired and dirty, so they took advantage of the clinic’s shower and washing-machine facilities.

  Jill came in to check on their overnight patients and noticed Dr. Mirza taking some things from the drug cabinet.

  “Are you finding what you need, Dr. Mirza?”

  “I am looking for what you have I can use. I am not stealing.”

  “Of course not. It’s perfectly fine to take drugs to restock the truck.”

  “That is what I am doing.”

  “OK, just leave a note if we are running low on anything.”

  “I do not take more than I am needing.”

  “Right. I’ll lock up when you are finished. Let me know when you are ready to leave.” Why did I start this conversation?

  She went to her cabin with the feeling that maybe he just wasn’t comfortable with a woman vet. It was hard working with someone you couldn’t speak to without discomfort.

  Jake spent a few minutes with Jim before they set out on Thursday. Feeling stressed from having to deal with his mangled appendage and all the new people at the clinic, Jake was glad to get Jim’s report.

  “Between Jillian and Jeanine, we ran like a well-oiled machine. Jeanine is a natural at organizing, and Jill is a marvel with clients. Believe me, this is my fifth clinic since I graduated, and yours is well set up and well staffed. I hope you like my work because you’re going to have to fire me to get rid of me.”