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had everything within hand’s reach. Rooney poured cleaning
solution into a bowl and, taking a swab from the packet she tore open, cleaned
the jagged tear in the dog's belly as best she could.
    "What were you
thinking, little man? This is the second time you've ripped yourself open on
the fence chasing those blasted cats. I'll have to have a serious talk with
your dad when he picks you up. There has to be a way to curtail your fence
jumping." Once the wound was clean, she checked the dog's internal organs
and breathed a sigh of relief. There was no damage inside. With deft hands,
Rooney threaded a needle and pulled the skin together. She joined the edges of
the wound with tiny neat stitches.
    Once the sleeping dog
was inside a cage in the recovery room, Rooney cleaned the operating table and
prepped it for the next emergency. Voices sounded in the waiting room and she
poked her head out the door.
    "Pete, hi."
She moved forward and kissed the older man on the cheek. "I didn't know
you were coming in today."
    He looked over at Tara
and dropped his gaze to the ground.
    Rooney's stomach
lurched. Pete was normally so happy and relaxed. Now his shoulders were slumped
forward and he was doing his best to avoid making eye contact with her.
    "What's wrong,
Pete? Has something happened with Julie, has there been an accident?"
    Rooney put her hand on
his shoulder, gripping with tense fingers while her knees trembled.
    "No, no nothing
like that. My wife is fine although frail as you know." He finally met her
gaze with watery eyes and gave a feeble smile. "Rooney, can we go and talk
in the office."
    She managed to nod her
head and slipped her arm through his for the short walk down the hallway, past
the sterile operating room to her office. Closing the door behind them, she
walked over and sat on the edge of her desk, her gaze on the face of the man
who had been her mentor and father figure the last eight years.
    "This is hard for
me, honey." He wiped a shaking hand over his chin and sat down in the old
brown leather chair in front of her. "You know Julie is having health
issues, has been for years. We spoke to the specialist yesterday and I'm afraid
it's worse than we thought." He gave a bitter laugh that ended on a
strangled sob. "Alzheimer's, Rooney. My darling wife is being taken away
by the most devastating disease of all, and there is nothing I can do to stop
that from happening."
    Rooney gasped and
lifted her hand to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. "No. God Pete,
I'm so sorry."
    "Yeah, me too. I
thought now I’d retired and you were taking care of the practice for me, Julie
and I could do things. Travel the world and spend time with the grandkids. All
the things we’d planned to do and now…" his voice caught, "now I have
to think about how to care for her."
    "Pete, if there is
anything I can do, just ask. You and Julie have been there for me always. There
is nothing I wouldn't do for you guys." She reached over and wrapped her
arms around his shoulders, feeling the tremors running through his body.
"Did you want me to come over after surgery tonight? I can sit with her if
you have anything you need to do. You only have to ask."
    "I know you would,
dear but there is something else. You know I was making noises about selling
the practice? Well, I think it's time."
    "But I don't have
enough money saved yet, Pete. I have a good down payment but it will take me a
while longer to get what you would expect for a vet practice this size. I doubt
the bank will look at me for another year or so at least."
    She gazed into his eyes
and suddenly she knew. Her stomach lurched and the breath stalled in her
throat. "You've already sold it, haven't you?"
    "I have an offer
but I haven't said yes to it yet. I'm sorry, Rooney, truly I am. But when this
guy approached me I decided it was a deal too good to turn down and the way
Julie is…well, the kids are trying to talk me into it. I know you wanted it but
the money the prospective buyer is