Shoving the thoughts aside, she got out of her truck. Danielle had some more applications she wanted her to take a look at, and for some reason—despite Morgan’s rational explanation of how email worked—she wanted to do this in person. Stevie had chosen to eat her lunch inside where she was no doubt complaining to Lillian about Morgan’s behavior.

August heat baked the parking lot. She killed the truck and jogged across it with Kraken to spare his paws. Inside, even the front desk staff greeted her warily. Guilt flickered into irritation. It wasn’t like she’d snapped at any of them, but they’d probably heard Stevie ranting. Another apology loomed over her future.

Danielle motioned for her to shut the office door behind her when she skulked inside, having managed to avoid everyone she might have felt obligated to interact with on the way.

“Good news,” said Danielle before Morgan could open her mouth. “I’ve found a replacement for Sellers.”

“What?” Morgan stared at the folder in Danielle’s hand. Her words took longer than they should have to make sense, and then she blinked. “Really?”

“Excellent references, good track record, and she has family in the area so she knows what she’s getting into.”

“May I?”

Danielle handed the folder over as she continued to speak. “She’s been working at an equine practice out in Colorado, but she’s been looking to move back east. Cornell grad, too.”

Morgan opened the folder and stared down at a familiar face.

You’ve got to be kidding me, she addressed the universe at large. She recognized the name on the CV in her hands. “Can you pull up her picture?” she asked Danielle. “I think I may have gone to school with her.”

“You did,” said Danielle. “She speaks highly of you and Lillian.”

Lillian. Her mind worked quickly. Lillian would lose her shit if she knew that Danielle was considering hiring the girl who had tormented her all through vet school although, to be fair, the hatred had been mutual. Lillian hadn’t ever pulled her punches when it came to Ivy Holden.

“Something wrong?”

She couldn’t bring herself to lie to her boss. “She and Lillian didn’t . . . get along.”

“Is it something Lillian can get over? I don’t think I need to tell you that this is the only decent application we’ve had all summer, and unless you want to downsize we need to strongly consider it.”

“I need to talk to Lil.”

“No you don’t.” Danielle leaned forward. “I’m hiring this woman for your service, not Dr. Lee’s. I’ll schedule them on different days if I have to. Do you, based on what you remember of Ivy Holden, think she would be a good addition to our large animal team?”

“Yes,” she said, mentally apologizing to her friend. “I think we’d be lucky to have her.”