“I love it.” She turned to Morgan with the most open expression Morgan had seen on her face. “Thank you.”

“No problem. You can’t live here and not get the Sally’s experience, even if you’re just here for a little while.” While she kept her words light, her heart felt heavy as an anchor.

Emilia walked at her side up the ramp. Her hand brushed Morgan’s several times, and each time she managed not to twine her fingers through Emilia’s, but it was a close thing.

“Do you want to eat outside or inside? It’s getting a little chilly,” said Morgan.

Emilia looked like the decision pained her.

“The restaurant isn’t going anywhere. I can always bring you back later in the summer.”

If there was a later.

“Inside, then,” said Emilia, although she hesitated one more time as she looked at the wooden tables by the water.

The air inside Sally’s hit them with a wall of warm steam from the kitchen. Morgan explained that they placed their order first, then chose a table, and brought Emilia to the counter. The menu listed the seasonal offerings. Lobster, oysters, clams, scallops, catch of the day, crab, chowder, and the usual assortment of fried American cuisine. If Emilia stuck around, perhaps she’d take her to the high-end Italian restaurant that served squid ink pasta and overpriced wines, just for the pleasure of staring at her across a candlelit table, but Sally’s had its own charm.

Emilia ordered a bowl of chowder after some deliberation. Morgan, grinning at the older woman behind the counter, ordered the same, along with a side of steamed clams and two beers.

“Glad to see you, Dr. Donovan,” said the woman as she took Morgan’s card.

“You don’t—” Emilia began.

“You got drinks last time. How’s your flock doing, Sue?”

“Oh, the usual. Lambs all good this year. I’ll have you out soon to take a look at them, along with Bruce.”

Bruce was Sue’s livestock guardian dog, although the dog was so old that the only real deterrent from predators he provided was his bark.

“Client?” Emilia asked as they sat at a small table.

“Yeah. She has a flock of Jacob sheep.”

“Are those the ones with the double horns?”

“Someone paid attention in class,” said Morgan.

“I wanted to go into mixed practice when I was in vet school.”

“What changed?” She tread carefully, remembering the pain on Emilia’s face the last time she’d spoken about her career. Emilia took a drink before answering.

“Do you really want to know?”

“When you put it like that, yes.”

“I fell in love with one of my professors.”

Morgan tensed. “Was it mutual?”