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“Still with that guy?”
Bianca beams. “Yes! He’s amazing. I’m, like, so over the moon, thinking about him.”
“That’s awesome,” I gush. “I’m really glad that you’ve got someone.”
“Yeah. He’s not a rich guy like your man, but he makes me happy.”
“That’s what matters,” I insist. Being with Robert is kind of a fluke. It wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. If nothing else, I’m just happy to at least have a relationship.
After I finish my shift, I head over to the sanctuary. The builders have managed to finish the housing for the horses. When I get into the stall, I look around. Instead of it being shuttered and worn-down white walls, sleek metal now covers everything. All the edges are smoothed or covered so thereshould be no injuries from them. The walls are higher, and the stalls are equipped with temperature-controlled functions for the winter and summer. It’s like the “Hilton for Horses,” I giggle to myself.
“Hey there, Clover!” I say, rushing over. Clover snorts as I walk over and begin to brush her coat. I pet her mane, and she nuzzles me. I chuckle and pass her the apple from my pocket. “Miss me?”
She neighs, and I nod. “I know. I’m sorry for not visiting as much. I’ve been busy with work and getting ready for school.”
“There you are! I thought I heard you?”
I jolt, looking at May. She grins, walking Orchid next to her. She touches his snout, and he snorts.
“He’s already warmed up to you, hasn’t he?”
“Of course. He’s a horse. You know how it is.”
“True,” I remark. I’m ecstatic to see May looking so much healthier. Whatever her doctor is doing for her is working and I am so grateful.
May hugs Orchid around the neck as she walks him to his adjoining stall, and then looks at me. “So, you put in your two weeks?”
“Yep. They took it about as well as I thought they would.”
“It is what it is. Besides, I can give you a better salary now.”
I nod, searching Clover’s ears to make sure that she doesn’t have any gunk in them. She shies out of the way, but I gently whisper to her, keeping her there and relatively quiet.
“It’ll be lonely not having you here every day while you’re at school, but . . . .”
“I’ll be here on the weekends. Trust me,” I reply.
I plan on going part-time once I start school again, but I hope to be here as much as possible during summer and winter breaks. After I finish with Clover, May and I walk around the sanctuary.
“This place is looking so good.”
“Sure is. It’s amazing what can happen once you have money,” May says with a little chagrin in her voice.
“And now we have some for other renovations as they are needed?” I ask.
“That andsomuch more. Sara, I plan to give this place a full facelift, you know.”
“I’m excited to see the changes when I’m here next time!” And turning to face May, I tell her how much she means to me, regardless of any sanctuary. When I tell her how glad I am that she looks and says she feels better, I know that the primary reason is that so much stress has been taken away. Just another reason to chalk up to Robert’s generosity.
But just as I had figured, May also lets me know that her new doctor has helped her with some serious changes in her health care plan, and that she credits him with her improvement. She even does a quick two-step, making me laugh out loud!
We walk to the end to see the Tesla pulling up to park next to me.
“Your boyfriend’s here.”
I pause, staring at the car. He isn’t supposed to be here. Robert said he wouldn’t mind coming over later but didn’t say if he would. A moment later, Robert steps out of the car. He waves, and I rush over to him, excited to see him.
We see each other a lot, but being away from each other is hard. He catches me as I do a full-on jump into his arms, legs around his waist. Hugging me tightly as he takes a few steps back, he laughs and tells me that he may be getting too old for that much enthusiasm in my welcome. That makes me laugh myself as I tell him to bulk up because I have no intention of stopping it.
