With perfectly efficient precision, he explained all the papers, and I signed where he indicated. Grandpa having taken care of everything made it easy. I had to choke back tears as Wesley restated all my assets. I had already been set because of my parents’ estate, and now this made my future even more secure. My father had been a successful computer programmer in Silicon Valley. I’d never have to worry about money. But I would trade it all to have my family back.
I laid down the expensive fountain pen after I scrawled my last signature.
“So, what are you plans now, Sydney?”
“I think I’m going to go through with the clinic expansion next spring. In the meantime, I’ll work on getting quotes. I ran the numbers, and as long as I can stay within the budget, the new area will be turning a profit within six months. As a fairly new vet, it’s going to be stressful.”
For a year, I had been working on expansion plans to include boarding, grooming, a boutique, and a doggie day care. The change in business model structure would make Burch Animal Clinic a one-stop shop for all animal needs. The other clinic in town had opened in the last year and had more of a corporate feel. The people of Salem wanted to have the small-town, personal feel when bringing their beloved pet to a vet.
Wesley opened the file I’d sent him to get his feedback on my analytics. “I looked it over and agree with your projections. Have you started working with any contractors?”
Running a business alongside treating animals was easy to talk about. I loved the thrill of an uphill battle. “No, I plan to tackle that after I determine a few more things. I don’t want to rush any decisions since I’m several months out from starting.”
“Sounds good. I
f you need any recommendations, let me know.” He closed the file folder and placed it to the side.
“Of course I will.”
He slid another file toward me. “This is something your grandfather dropped off at my office to add to his will about two months before he passed.”
I opened the manila folder to find a large sealed envelope with my name scrawled on it in Grandpa’s writing. It was heavy, and something slid around inside when I picked it up. “Do you have any idea what it is?”
“No, I figured it was a letter to you.”
Curiosity piqued, I opened the cream-colored envelope with the Burch Clinic logo on it. A medallion on a thin chain fell out. The coin spun on the table a few times before settling. The side facing up had an odd symbol on it, and there was an A in the middle of the coin.
Pic of medallion with an A inside of a circle.
It was a beautiful light gold. I picked it up to get a better look at it. It definitely wasn’t a government-issued coin. It was a little larger than a half-dollar and looked almost handmade. On the back was an inscription in a circle around the name Alchemist.
Insert pic of medallion.
I read the words aloud. “We are united with no beginning and no end.”
“What did you say?”
I must have mumbled the words as I read the old coin. “It’s on the inscription on this medallion. Does it sound familiar?”
Wesley reached across the table, and I handed him the gold coin. With a furrowed brow, he examined it closely, flipping it over a few times to get a good look. “This looks like an antique for sure. I haven’t heard of anything like this. It looks like it could be a collector’s item.”
He handed the coin back to me, and I flipped it over again as I considered what I knew about alchemists. Primarily, an alchemist was a person who who were able to transform something through a seemingly magical process.
Interesting.
I opened the note from Grandpa.
Here’s an adventure I found for you. It seems like the ultimate scavenger hunt. I miss you, punkin pie. Remember to live each day with no regrets.