Page 40 of A Cowboy's Claim
She’d gotten away from the mishap at Greenlee’s far better than she deserved. Didn’t mean she’d stop her visits, but when something seemed off, she needed to slow down and use her head instead of blindly rushing forward.
Far more worrying was the growing urge to simply drive over to Declan’s and demand a change in their relationship. It was an impossible thought, and it irritated her like a bit of sand caught between two toes. It was always on her mind, but she didn’t have time to stop and shake out her boots.
Even if she did, she had the sinking feeling the scratchy echo would still linger.
“If you’ve given up on sleep, I need to warn you it’s not doing a thing for your beauty routine.” Edison leaned a hip on the counter beside her in the clinic staff room and eyed her judgmentally. He circled a finger in front of her face. “You usually have that whole barely-out-of-grade school, peaches-and-cream thing going on, but right now, you need to change something up, sweetie.”
She didn’t have to look in the mirror to know he was right. “Working through a bunch of things,” Sydney informed him. “Nothing about the clinic, though.”
“Not worried about the clinic. I’m worried about you,” he admitted. “You’re a fantastic boss—at least when you’re not risking life and limb. And I’ve worked with you long enough to sense when something’s off.”
One thing Sydney disliked immensely were straight-up lies, so she avoided them whenever possible. “Again, it’s not the clinic, and thank God you’re here because you’re a lifesaver.” She glanced into the main foyer where Lexie was welcoming a client. “Thank God for Lexie because she’s lightened my load immensely, and I think we’re doing more for the community. That’s a good feeling.”
Edison nodded slowly. “I’m glad to help. But to casually throw it out, that gentleman I’m seeing isn’t only a great dancer with a sexy body. He’s pretty easy to talk to, if that’s the kind of thing you’re looking for. Or if counseling is the kind of thing that makes you immediately sayhell no, you might want to consider why and talk to him anyway.”
“Thanks for the advice. Now go get caught up on those vaccination records,” Sydney ordered, pushing Edison on the shoulder to rotate him toward the door.
“Getting my excellent advice out of range, but I’ll be back,” he promised. “Like a big ol’ boomerang of caring.”
Sydney snickered. “Boomerangs have a far higher rate of contribution to concussions and cranial impact trauma than most people expect.”
He stuck his tongue out as he left her to finish eating her lunch.
Edison was a smart cookie. Too smart, and his comments got Sydney thinking in the direction of her biggest dilemma. She wasn’t emotionally ready to make a decision about Declan, but her body had already voted, and her heart kept trying to call a referendum.
Her phone buzzed, and she answered it on autopilot, blinking to discover her grandmother on video chat. “Grandma?”
“Hello, darling.” Grandma Belinda’s bright smile lit up the screen, her dark brown hair now laced with silver. As she adjusted the camera angle, Sydney’s mother, Marie, popped into view. “You get a two-fer today. Have time to chat?”
“For a few minutes.” Sydney twisted to make sure the staff door was closed then propped up the phone so she could continue to eat. “Lunch break, so excuse me if I stuff my face.”
“No problem. Marie is visiting while Grandpa Nate is away, and we realized neither of us had talked to you in a while.” Grandma Bel smiled at her daughter. “She’s also wiping the floor with me at cards every night—but that’s nothing new.”
Her mom winked, but Marie’s gaze lingered on the dark shadows under Sydney’s eyes. “How are things in Heart Falls?”
“Busy,” Sydney admitted, “but getting better now that I have a second doctor in the clinic. It means the workload is getting lighter, and I’ll eventually have some of that mythical thing I’ve heard about called ‘free time.’ Good friends in the area, lots to keep me moving.”
“Good to know. Nice you found a new doctor. Immigrant? New resident getting rural hours?” her grandma asked.
Once again the truth was the only thing she could say. “Grandpa Nate recommended her. Someone he met…somewhere, but I can honestly say she’s fitting in really well.”
On the screen, her mom and grandma exchanged quick glances before both turning back with very fake smiles. “Oh well, it’s good to hear that he’s been helpful,” her grandma said. “Shoot. Hang on a minute. My neighbour is coming to the door, and if I don’t answer it right away, she’ll take it as a sign I’ve fallen over and need the paramedics to come and save me.”
Grandma Bel vanished from the screen, leaving Sydney looking at her mother’s face.
Marie leaned forward. “Can I help with anything?”
“I’m fine, Mom,” Sydney snapped.
Her mother raised a brow.
“I’m fine,” Sydney repeated, a little less attitude in her tone. “Some personal stuff, but I’ll be okay.”
Marie nodded slowly before meeting Sydney’s gaze straight on. “I know you and I don’t always have the same priorities, and that’s okay. But the thing you need to remember is I absolutely want what’s best for you, however you get there. Right now, it looks as if the personal stuff is weighing you down.”
With her mom’s comment on top of Edison ragging on her, Sydney clearly needed to do something about her appearance or she’d be scaring the patients. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Of course you will,” Marie returned instantly. “That’s never the difficulty. The question is if you’ll ever willingly let other people help you carry the burden while you figure it out. I’m always there for you.”
