Cerella Sechrist - Tessa's Gift

She smiled at the memory. Rufus had been overlooked because he was a little homely and he seemed gruff. But the truth was, he was the sweetest dog she’d worked with during her time at the clinic. It was why she’d taken him with her when she left.

“You worked at an animal shelter?”

Dr. Brennan’s voice was so unexpected that it took a moment for it to register that he’d spoken.

“What? Oh. Yes. I mean, I did. Before I got this job.”

He cocked his head, and she felt compelled to justify her experience.

“I worked there for a little less than two years. Before that, I was a pediatric nurse at a physician’s office.”

Dr. Brennan pushed his plate aside and looked at her. His eyes were a dark gray, “storm-tossed,” as she’d read in a novel once. She was struck again, as she’d been in the coffee shop, by how handsome he was.

“That’s quite a shift, from pediatrics to pet care,” he said.

His gaze was curious, and his interest rattled her.

“Not just pet care,” she corrected. “The animal clinic also assists abused animals and finds foster placements. In fact, that’s a large part of what they do.”

He continued to eye her with curiosity. “Still, what caused you to make a change like that? Unless...it wasn’t your choice?” he prompted, arching one eyebrow.

She frowned at his implication.

“It was my choice,” she said firmly. “I had a...crisis of faith, I guess you could say.”

It was the truth, without revealing the details. He waited a beat, then when she didn’t elaborate, he looked away...but not before she witnessed a flash of some emotion in his eyes.

“I see,” was all he said.

She poked at her salad again. “Anyway, after I left pediatrics, I took a step back and decided to work with animals. Then I saw this job opening. During college, I spent summers working at my dad’s investment firm as a marketing intern. I even worked there after college for a few months until I moved to Findlay Roads. I had the qualifications for this kind of role, so I thought I’d give it a shot. And here I am!” she awkwardly declared, her voice too loud on the last few words.

She speared a piece of lettuce and forced herself to take a bite.

“How about you?” she asked in an attempt to be conversational.

Dr. Brennan’s head whipped back in her direction but he said nothing.

“How did you end up here?” she asked.

Instead of replying, he stood and gathered up the remains of his half-eaten lunch. She swallowed, the lettuce sticking in her throat.

“The same as you. I gave it a shot. Here I am.”

The clipped reply struck her harder than it should have. She was obviously being dismissed. She felt the sting of rejection. She had only been trying to build a bridge between them, since they had to work together.

She made one more effort to get past whatever dislike Dr. Brennan had for her.

“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

He tossed his wadded-up napkin onto his tray.

“No.”

The denial did nothing to reassure her.

“Dr. Brennan, I have apologized for yesterday, but if I have done something else to offend you, I would prefer you tell me. Like it or not, we have to work together, and I think it’s best if we make an effort to get along.”

He fixed her with a cool stare, but she refused to be cowed by him. She stared right back.

“I’m here to do a job,” he said, “and distractions like marketing are detrimental to the care of my patients. I understand we need to work together, but you and I don’t have to be best friends in order to do that. We’re both professionals, and I expect we can manage just fine on that level.”

Her cheeks were flaming with embarrassment and anger by the time he was finished. She had never met anyone so presumptive, so arrogant. She stood to her feet, as well, disliking how he still loomed over her.

“I suppose we can,” she returned, keeping her own tone cool, “but I’ll remind you that the very definition of ‘working together’ implies cooperation . I haven’t been here long enough to see how you run your department, Doctor, but you don’t strike me as much of a team player. So may I remind you that a medical community is just that—a community. We rely on each other, elevate each other and encourage one another. But especially, we work hand in hand to provide the best care possible to our patients. You say marketing is a detriment to your job, but you can’t care for those kids without help from others. You are not their one and only savior. Therefore, I’ll expect you to be an active participant in whatever scenario I present you with.”

He blinked, looking surprised. She didn’t blame him. She’d shocked herself with that little speech. She wasn’t naturally a forceful person. In her family, that was usually Paige. And, if pressed, maybe Harper. But never Tessa. Apparently, Noah Brennan had brought it out of her.

“The next time I see you, Dr. Brennan, I hope you have a very different attitude than the one I’ve seen thus far.”

She picked up her lunch tray, and with one last glance at Noah Brennan’s startled expression, she turned on her heel and left.

CHAPTER FOUR

“THANKS, DIANA,” Tessa said as she slipped Rufus’s monthly flea and tick meds into her purse. She’d stopped in at the clinic after work, using the errand as an excuse to check in with her former coworkers. Her week with Dr. Brennan had been rough, making her miss the simple joy, albeit accompanied by hard work, of dealing with four-legged patients.

Diana came around the counter to kneel down and greet the bulldog. He wiggled his behind in greeting.

“Sure thing, honey. I’m glad you stopped in. We’ve been wondering how you’re doing at that new job of yours.”

Diana reached out to drag her famously long nails across Rufus’s spine. He groaned with pleasure.

Tessa thought about Dr. Brennan and their most recent altercation. She liked her job, but she wasn’t sure about the pediatric oncologist. The man was perplexing, leaving her emotions in a tangle. His self-righteousness was irritating, but she couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to him than that. The way he’d spoken about hope... She’d been unable to get the words out of her head.

Do you know what hope is? It’s a disease.

The idea made her shudder. Not only because of the heartbreaking defeat it promoted but also because it made her certain Noah Brennan must have suffered something truly devastating in his life. How was she possibly going to deal with him over the course of the next year? And would she ever be able to win him to her side?

“Tessa?”

She snapped to attention.

“What?”

Diana frowned at her. “I asked how the new job was going?”

“Oh. Right.” She cleared her throat. “Um, good. I’m working on a bunch of fund-raising ideas right now to present to the hospital board.”

Diana beamed. “Good for you, honey. We all knew you’d do all right.” Diana originally hailed from the South, and despite having lived in Findlay Roads for twenty-plus years, she still carried a slight twang when she spoke.

“Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

Rufus jumped up on Diana, placing his paws on her knees in a bid for attention. She reached down to scratch behind his ears.

“How are things here at the clinic?” Tessa asked.

Diana made a face. “Well, we’re understaffed as usual, sugar. Alexis up and quit without notice last week.”

Tessa furrowed her brow. “Really? I thought she loved working here.”

Diana waved a hand in dismissal. “She did, but her boyfriend decided he’s moving to New Mexico, so she’s going with him.”