“What does that mean?” she asked.
“Digging into her past. Digging into mine. Weighing who’s better for Pearl.” He sighed. “I don’t want to lose Pearl, but I don’t want to deprive her of her mother. If Georgia’s turned her life around, Pearl deserves to have her in her life.” But his heart hurt at the thought of not seeing her every day. He hadn’t planned on being a father. Now that he was, he didn’t want to be part-time. His arms tightened around Tandy, needing her comfort. But she stayed rigid, almost braced. He frowned down at her. “What’s wrong?”
“I heard what he said. About me staying here.” Her voice dropped. “I think he’s right.”
“I don’t,” he argued.
She pushed out of his hold. “I do.”
He tried to stay calm, gripping the porch railing for support. “Tandy, I need you here—”
“No, you don’t.” She shook her head. “You need to do what’s right for Pearl. And you. And I need to do what’s right for me.”
Warning bells went off in his head. She wouldn’t look at him, wouldn’t touch him... “Talk to me.”
“I just did.” She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I... I’m not going to complicate things with Pearl and her...mother.” She blew out a slow breath. “We’ve both been through too much. You’re stronger than me. You have a reason to keep fighting.” She glanced his way. It was quick, but it was enough. The pain and fear in her eyes gripped him by the throat.
“We can do this,” he rasped. Two months ago he was alone. The possibility of a family, a home or making plans for the future never entered his mind. Now he had Pearl and Tandy and this place.
“I don’t think I can,” she admitted. “I need space.”
Headlights appeared.
“That’s Scarlett,” Tandy said.
Click’s heart thudded heavily in his chest. All he could do was stand there, watching, while she loaded her suitcase into Scarlett’s truck. If she said something else, he didn’t hear it. She’d said he had a reason to keep fighting. He’d hoped she had one, too. He’d hoped she’d fight for him, for them. And it tore his heart out to know he was wrong.
Chapter Seventeen
The next week had her falling into a sort of routine. As long as Tandy didn’t give herself time to think, she managed.
After breakfast at Fire Gorge, she drove one of the old ranch trucks into Fort Kyle—to Dr. Edwards’s clinic. Some days she worked at the clinic, other days she was in the mobile unit. Dr. Edwards was still disorganized and distracted, but Tandy didn’t let it get to her. Her new philosophy was all about wearing herself out, no matter how many extra hours she put in or how many patients she saw.
No matter how hard she worked, every night was the same. Her heart ached for Click and Pearl. She’d pick up the phone to call him, to hear his voice and know he was okay. Every day she doubted what she’d done.
“You got a letter today,” Scarlett said, handing her the gold-embossed envelope.
University of East Texas College of Veterinary Medicine. “Guess they weren’t sure I got the first rejection letter,” she said. “I’m going to shower.”
“You’re not going to read it?” Scarlett asked.
She closed the bathroom door, shrugging out of her clothes as she called out, “Go ahead.” She stood under the hot water, washing away the dust and animal hair. Her stomach growled loudly. There’d been so much to do she’d forgotten to eat, again.
Scarlett’s pounding had her turning off the water before she was ready.
“I’m coming,” she said, wrapping a towel around herself and stepping out. “Give me sec.”
“Open the door, Tandy,” Scarlett said.
Tandy yanked the door open. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She held the letter up to Tandy’s face. “Nothing at all. Read it.”
We are pleased to inform you that a space has become available for the next academic year. In order to accept the spot, please reply by... Tandy snatched the paper from Scarlett’s fingers and read it again.
“You’re getting it all wet,” Scarlett argued.
“I was in the shower,” she murmured, stunned. She was in—finally. Which was good. Great. Wasn’t it?