And none of it had mattered because my sole focus had been Nolan.
To anyone who didn’t really know him, it would have looked like he was handling things with a certain measure of acceptance.
The problem was, he was too accepting.
From the moment he’d seen his father’s body, he hadn’t shed a single tear or remarked on the fact that his father was gone. He’d thrown himself into handling all the details so his mother wouldn’t have to, and when he hadn’t been dealing with funeral arrangements or greeting people who’d stopped by to offer their condolences, he’d been watching over his mother who’d spent the better part of the week in the guest room. Like Nolan, she’d barely eaten or slept, and if she’d cried, I hadn’t seen it.
I’d been worried enough about both of them that I’d been reluctant to leave them, but my animals were relying on me, so while Nolan and his mother had been at the hospital that first morning, I’d hurried back to the center to rush through feeding everyone. Then I’d done something I hadn’t done in a really long time.
I’d asked for help.
I’d known there was no way I could manage both the center and being there for Nolan and his mother, so I’d reached out to the only person I’d known could handle the task of managing the center in my absence.
Sawyer Brower.
The vet had been back several times to check on Gentry since the attack, and my respect had grown for him with each visit. During one, I’d ended up asking him to take a look at all the other residents of the center, since it was often difficult to get a vet out there in situations when it wasn’t an emergency. He’d readily agreed, and as he’d carefully examined each animal, he’d told me a little more about himself.
I’d gleaned enough about the man to know that he wasn’t working a full-time job yet, since he’d only recently moved to the area. He hadn’t said what his plans were, but his only obligation was as the backup on-call vet for the state.
When I’d texted him to ask if he would be able to help out at the center so I could give all my time to Nolan and his mother, he’d readily agreed and had met me that very afternoon for a quick orientation. I’d offered to pay him, but he’d waved me off. The only thing he’d taken me up on was making use of the small apartment above the detached garage next to my house so he wouldn’t have to drive back and forth to his own place, which was located closer to Greenville than Pelican Bay.
The feeling of being indebted to someone was a strange thing for me, but I had no regrets. Nolan needed me. That was all that mattered.
I double-checked my appearance in the mirror. I was lucky that the suit still fit because I hadn’t worn it in years. I loosened the tie enough so that it wouldn’t put too much pressure on my neck. I’d fix it before the funeral started.
I checked my phone to make sure I hadn’t missed a text from Nolan.
It had been a hard thing not to hear Nolan’s voice this past week. Yes, he’d spoken, but he hadn’t really said anything. He’d been polite to the well-wishers who’d stopped by and he’d been thorough when he’d arranged the funeral, but he hadn’t actually talked.
Not to me, anyway.
I’d tried a few times to get him to tell me how he was feeling, but it was like he’d closed himself off from all the emotions that made him him. He also hadn’t let me comfort him in any kind of meaningful way. The only time he’d let me hold him was at night when he slept.
I hadn’t taken it personally, but it had left me feeling helpless.
Since there were no texts, I tucked my phone into my pocket and hurried from the bathroom. Loki was waiting for me outside the door and I gave him a quick pat. I’d been tempted to take him to Nolan’s house since I knew he was missing us, but the animal wouldn’t do well cooped up all day. Sawyer had sent me pictures of Loki making himself at home in the apartment Sawyer was using, so I knew the wolf hybrid was okay.
Since I’d left my truck parked by the office so I could grab the center’s bills to take with me, I had to walk along the path leading from the house to the center. It gave me a chance to see some of the enclosures. Despite the cold weather, all the animals were going about their normal routine.
Except Gentry.
I didn’t see him, which meant he was likely in the shelter within his enclosure.