Page 44 of Home Between Homes

While they settled back into their home, I carried the suitcases inside. It didn’t take a second before the house was busier than I’d ever seen it. Mrs. McCormac immediately turned on the radio and got the laundry going while Mr. McCormac brewed some tea. Maggie rushed between the three of us, unable to decide who she wanted to spend time with.

I asked them how their trip was, and instead of a minute of small talk, they spent an hour telling me every detail of their journey. At first, I wasn’t eager to listen, but the longer they reminisced, the more I welcomed the opportunity to not have to make a decision about whether or not to go on the road. As they spoke with new life in their eyes, I understood why Jack had told me he sometimes felt that talking to his clients was more his job than what they actually paid him to do.

Eventually, they asked how everything went here, and I praised Maggie and our time together. I told them about the blizzard and confessed that Jack had stayed at the house, too, figuring it wouldn’t remain a secret for long in a town like this anyway. They didn’t mind. They were just happy that we were okay and that they weren’t around for all that snow.

After another ten minutes of pleasantries, I could finally excuse myself and pack up the rest of my belongings.

I hoistedmy duffel down the stairs, backpack slung over my shoulders, and found Maggie with her back against the front door, blocking my way.

“Looks like she doesn’t want you to go,” Mr. McCormac called from the kitchen.

I set the bag on the floor and crouched in front of Maggie. I ran my fingers behind her ears, scratching them to see the cheerful face she always made one last time. “You’ve been a very good girl. It was a pleasure meeting you.” I leaned close and whispered, “And thank you for keeping everything I did with Jack a secret.”

Mr. McCormac came up behind me with an envelope in his hand. “This, young man, is for you. There’s a little extra in there for all the trouble with the blizzard and for taking such good care of our beloved Maggie.”

“It was my pleasure. Thank you for entrusting her and your house to me. I know it must be difficult to have a complete stranger take care of your home.”

“To be honest, I was a little skeptical when we first talked because it made little sense that you would go to vet school just to apply for a job as a dog and house sitter, but talking to you on the phone made it clear that you are a trustworthy man.”

“Ask him if he’s heard of Dorian’s clinic?” Mrs. McCormac called from the kitchen.

Mr. McCormac raised his head a little as if he needed a second to figure out what his wife was talking about but then nodded when the penny dropped. “Oh, right. You heard my wife! Did you hear they’re looking for a new vet here in town?”

“I did,” I said, but before I could think of any words to get out of the conversation, my head dropped to my chest.

Mr. McCormac knitted his brows. “But?”

My stomach churned. I shrugged because I didn’t have an answer that would probably satisfy him. Heck, I didn't even have an answer that would satisfyme.

He leaned in slightly to hear me better. “What is it, young man?” He shifted his weight from his left leg to his right, but then he groaned, his hand rushing to his hip. “These damn airplane seats.”

I took a step closer, raising my hands to catch him if he fell, but he waved me off, turned around, and walked over to the couch to sit on the back.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Even with my back, I’m probably better than you are right now.” He smiled at me again. “What’s on your mind, son? You suddenly have a face like a wet weekend.”

My chest rose as I inhaled as much air as my lungs would hold.What the hell was I doing? Why was I still here? Why didn’t I just say goodbye, go to my car and drive away?

I couldn’t possibly tell him what was going on. How I spent all last night thinking about staying and applying, not because I was eager to work as a vet again but because I couldn’t stop thinking about Jack. How I wanted to use any excuse I could find to stay, just to spend more time with him because he was the best thing that had happened to me in years. As much as I needed to talk to someone about it, the old straight guy whose dog I'd been taking care of didn't seem like a wise choice.

I glared at Mr. McCormac, a welcoming smile on his face.

Damn it.

“I’ve heard about the open position, yes. I’ve even thought about applying, if I’m honest, but...” I wetted my lips. “Have you ever been in a situation where you faced an impossible decision, where all the options you had felt rightandwrong in some way?”There. I did it. I asked the stranger for advice. For the record, I only told him what was going on because I didn't have a betteroption. If I had called my parents about it, they would have freaked out as soon as I told them I was thinking about quitting another job before I had even started.

He crossed his legs and put his hands on his knees. “What do you mean bywrong?”

“Like they come with a high risk and an impossible-to-know outcome? But all the options are like that?”

“I understand.” He clasped his hands together. “Of course, I have. More often than I wanted to.”

“What do you do in such a situation?”

“Do you really want to know? The truth isn’t very pleasant.”

Of course, I did. “Please,” I begged him.

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