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L ynda stared out the window of her Denver office, watching the morning traffic crawl along the busy street below. A week into her return, and the city still felt strangely foreign to her—too loud, too crowded, too disconnected from the natural rhythms she was used to in Sapphire Bay.

Her desk was cluttered with resumes from veterinary technician candidates, interview notes, and patient files that required her attention.

The staffing crisis that had brought her back was gradually resolving itself.

She’d already hired two experienced vet techs who would start next week, and the exotic animal specialist was recovering well from his pneumonia.

If his health continued to improve, he was scheduled to return part-time in three days.

Efficiency had always been Lynda’s strong suit, and she’d approached the clinic’s problems with her usual methodical focus.

Yet even as she worked through the practical issues, a part of her mind remained firmly anchored in Montana, alongside a certain silver-haired veterinarian and five wolfdog puppies.

As if on cue, her phone chimed with a message notification.

Lynda reached for it with an eagerness that would have embarrassed her just a few months ago.

The screen displayed a photo from Matt. Star and Helena were playing tug-of-war with a rope toy, their growing bodies showing the lean, powerful build they’d inherited from their mother.

Star has decided she’s the boss now, Matt’s message read. She now outweighs Baker as of this morning’s weigh-in.

Lynda smiled, studying the image of the once-frail puppy who’d nearly died that first night. Star’s white chest patch was more prominent against her thickening silver-gray coat, and her amber eyes held the confident gleam of a healthy young animal.

She typed a quick reply: I always knew she had it in her. How are the others doing?

Matt’s response came almost immediately. All thriving. Everyone’s impressed with how well-socialized the pups are. It should make finding the right people to adopt them easier.

Lynda felt a pang of regret at missing this milestone. She’d become so attached to the puppies, especially Star, that knowing they’d one day be living with other people made her feel sad.

Wish I could be there, she wrote, then hesitated before adding, for the puppies and you.

She hit send before she could overthink it. Matt had been sending daily updates, sometimes multiple times a day, since she’d arrived in Denver. His messages were a lifeline, connecting her to Sapphire Bay and the life she’d begun to build there.

A knock at her office door interrupted her thoughts. Robert Lawson, her practice manager and longtime colleague, stood in the doorway with two coffee cups in his hands.

“I thought you might need a break,” he said, setting one cup on her desk. “You’ve been going through resumes for three hours straight.”

“Has it been that long?” Lynda glanced at her watch, surprised to see it was already past eleven. “Thank you for the coffee. I lost track of the time.”

Robert settled into the chair across from her desk, his lanky frame folding comfortably into the familiar position they’d occupied during countless meetings over the years.

“The Miller surgery went well this morning,” he reported.

“Kidney stones are completely removed, and the ferret is recovering nicely in the small animal ward.”

“Good,” Lynda said, taking a sip of the coffee. He’d prepared it exactly how she liked it, with just a splash of almond milk. “And the Johnsons’ iguana?”

“Responding to the antibiotics. Temperature’s down, and he’s showing interest in food again.

” Robert studied her over the rim of his coffee cup.

“You know, the place has been running smoothly even with you in Montana. Not that we don’t appreciate you dropping everything to come back, but it seems like you’ve trained us well. ”

Lynda smiled at the compliment. “You’ve done an excellent job, Robert. I couldn’t have stayed away so long if I didn’t trust you completely.”

“Speaking of staying away,” Robert said, his expression curious but kind, “you seem different since you’ve been back. Distracted, maybe? Or just not quite here.”

Lynda sighed. It didn’t matter what she was doing. Her thoughts kept wandering back to Montana. “I am a bit distracted,” she admitted. “Sapphire Bay has a way of getting under your skin.”

“Is it Sapphire Bay,” Robert asked with gentle perceptiveness, “or someone in it?”

Lynda felt heat rise to her cheeks, surprised to find herself blushing like a teenager. “There is someone,” she acknowledged, finding unexpected relief in saying it aloud. “His name is Matt Reynolds. He’s the veterinarian there.”

Robert’s smile widened. “Now that makes sense. Two vets with similar values and a shared passion for animals. No wonder you’ve been checking your phone every five minutes.”

“Have I been that obvious?” Lynda asked, slightly mortified.

“Only to someone who’s known you for a long time,” Robert assured her. “The staff just thinks you’re monitoring patient cases back in Montana. Do you have time to talk about selling the practice to me?”

“Of course I do,” Lynda told him.

Robert placed his coffee mug on Lynda’s desk. “I was worried about some of the more tricky exotic cases we get at the clinic. If you’d be willing to consult on some of the more difficult cases, I’d love to buy the clinic for the price we negotiated.”

Lynda’s heart leaped in her chest. “That’s the best news I’ve had all day.”

Robert smiled. “I thought you might say that. But I can’t imagine you retiring from being a vet. If you move to Sapphire Bay, what will you do there?”

“The animal shelter desperately needs someone with exotic animal experience. They get everything from injured eagles to orphaned bear cubs, and the nearest wildlife rehabilitation center is hours away. I want to set up the shelter so we can treat a wider range of animals before they’re moved to more appropriate facilities. “

“That sounds like something you’d enjoy,” Robert said. “There’s no rush on my offer. I’m happy to sign the contract whenever you’re ready.”

Lynda smiled. “What if we set the sale date to six weeks from today? That’ll give me time to sort out the business side of the changes and bring you up to speed with anything you don’t already know.”

“Sounds great to me.” Robert pulled himself out of the chair and smiled. “I’ll sign the contract and bring it back to your office.”

As soon as Robert had left her office, Lynda’s phone chimed. This time, it was a message from Kathleen. The c offee shop was packed today! Three different people asked when you’re coming back. The town’s not the same without you.

A warmth spread through Lynda’s chest at the simple message.

In just a few months, she’d become part of Sapphire Bay in a way she’d never managed in Denver, despite decades of living here.

In Sapphire Bay, she’d found not only Matt but a community—friends, a purpose, and a place where she felt genuinely needed and valued.

She picked up the wooden wolf carving sitting on her desk. Its presence was comforting, a tangible reminder of the connection she’d formed with Matt and the puppies they’d saved together.

Her phone chimed once more. Matt again, this time with a video of Star attempting to climb onto a table by herself, her determination evident in every failed but persistent attempt. The final frames showed her triumphantly reaching the top, tail wagging furiously as she surveyed her accomplishment.

The video is from Star’s last checkup. She reminds me of someone else I know, Matt had written. Determined, resilient, and unwilling to give up.

Warmth spread through Lynda at the comparison.

Seven days into her Denver stay, with another week stretching before her, she found herself counting the hours until she could return to Sapphire Bay.

To the shelter animals who needed her expertise.

To her friends who’d welcomed her so completely into their lives.

And to Matt, who was waiting for her with patient understanding and a growing place in her heart.

Picking up her phone, she typed a message to Matt. I’m counting the days until I come home—seven more to go.

His reply came moments later. I’ll be waiting.