Rachel Goddard 01 - The Heat of the Moon

that? I opened my mouth to speak but closed it in consternation. What was I going to do, tell my mother to shut up?
    It was a moment before Luke turned to me and said, “This is the first I’ve heard about any panic.”
    I shrugged. “You know how it is, somebody new taking over. People talk and wonder. But everybody settled down after we got to know you.”
    He was clearly disturbed, maybe because the staff’s worries had escaped his attention, or because I’d discussed this with my Mother but not with him. He frowned at his plate.
    “I’m sorry,” Mother said. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
    The talk stopped dead for a minute and I rushed to fill the gap. “You should see Luke work, Mother. I watched him perform heart surgery on a German shepherd yesterday. A mitral valve replacement. It was amazing.”
    She nodded. “I’m sure it was. What made you decide to specialize in canine and feline cardiology, Luke?”
    He seemed distracted, but he pulled himself back to the conversation. After a sip of water, he said, “I was planning to be a general practice vet, but I worked on a cardiology research project in school and got interested in the field. A lot’s happening, new developments and treatments coming along all the time. We can do a lot more now than we could a few years ago. It’s a good feeling to turn things around dramatically, give an animal a chance to live out a normal life span.”
    “How long did it take to become a specialist?” Michelle asked.
    “Three years, after vet college.”
    With apparent absorption, Michelle asked half a dozen questions about specifics of his cardiology residency, a subject I was certain didn’t interest her in the least. All the while, Mother watched him, assessing, taking in every detail. I could tell, in the way his gaze flicked toward her repeatedly, that he was acutely aware of her scrutiny.
    After a few minutes Mother smiled and said, “Some people might say you should be using your skill to help humans instead of cats and dogs.”
    “Mother,” I breathed, a faint appeal that she seemed not to hear. 
    I saw Luke draw back into himself, bar the door, and peer out at her with eyes alert and wary. “Some people can say what they want to.” His voice was tight, strained. “I couldn’t care less. I’ve never met a cat or dog that didn’t deserve a longer life. I can’t say the same for humans.”
    I gulped my wine.
    Mother laughed lightly. “Well, if you’re a confirmed misanthrope, it’s just as well you’ve avoided human patients.”
    The silence following this was more than I could stand. I blurted, “Cats and dogs have been research subjects in a lot of experiments. It’s only fair for the species as a whole to get some benefit from the suffering of—”
    “Rachel,” Mother broke in, her expression bemused. “I agree completely. Why don’t we talk about something more pleasant?”
    Hot blood rose to my face. I pressed my napkin to my mouth, removing beads of perspiration from my upper lip.
    Mother said to Luke, “You’re obviously very successful, to be able to purchase a facility like Dr. McCutcheon’s clinic.”
    “I do all right,” Luke muttered. He cut a sliver from his chicken but didn’t raise it to his mouth.
    “I was surprised when Rachel told me how young you are,” Mother went on. “I wouldn’t have thought someone your age would have the resources for such a big investment.”
    Slowly Luke laid his knife and fork on his plate. “Dr. Goddard,” he said, a faint humorless smile pulling at his lips, “I’m in hock up to my ears, if that’s what you want to know. I couldn’t have done it if Dr. McCutcheon hadn’t financed part of it. But I won’t fail, because I know what I’m doing.”
    Mother’s puzzled face said she had no idea why he’d bristled at her comments. “I’m sure you do.”
    I had to turn this around somehow. It wasn’t beyond the point of rescue yet.
    While I was casting about for something to say, Michelle spoke up. “It must be easier to manage without a family to support.”
    Oh, great. Thanks a lot, Mish. I kicked her under the table and was gratified to see her mouth drop open in surprise.
    “Maybe so,” Luke said, his expression guarded, suspicious.
    Mother sipped her wine, set down the glass, and asked, “Have you ever been married, Luke?”
    The quick “no” I expected didn’t come. I met Luke’s troubled eyes, and felt my stomach lurch with shock even before he