Izzie laughed and broke free.
Caroline reached toward Izzie’s tousled hair. “You messed up her—” She dropped her hand. “Not my business.”
No, it wasn’t. Izzie’s hair and his parenting style—which he was all too aware lacked a feminine touch—was none of the lady vet’s business.
She shoved the turtle pool farther into the truck and slammed the tailgate with a bang.
Izzie plucked at Caroline’s shirt. “But how will I know if Turtle Mama is okay?”
As if she couldn’t help herself, Caroline brushed a stray ringlet out of Izzie’s face. “I’ll give you a call later and let you know how Turtle Mama—I mean the turtle—is doing. Okay?”
Her words were directed at Izzie, but she glanced at him. “I’ll get your cell number from Roland.”
“Roland?”
“Dr. Teague at VIMS.”
Weston shifted. “I’m assuming you’re a doctor, too.”
She dropped her gaze and stared at her coral-painted toes. “I don’t use the title much. Most people just call me Caroline.”
Why did this feel like he was pulling line on a hammerhead shark? “Caroline... What?”
Her gaze skipped to the top of the lighthouse before returning to him. “It’s Duer. Caroline Duer.”
Weston rocked on his heels. “Seth Duer’s absentee daughter?” His heart raced. “The daughter who abandoned her family for her career.”
Could he pick ’em or what? He scowled. Yet another instance of epic misjudgment on his part. Good thing he’d found out before it was too late. Too late for Izzie. And for him?
Tensing, he pulled Izzie closer and put distance between them and Caroline. The gesture wasn’t lost on the intelligent lady vet.
She swallowed. “I see my reputation precedes me.”
Then her face blanked like a hurricane shutter nailed over a window. “And yes. I’m that Caroline Duer.”
Recalling Weston Clark’s fierce scowl, Caroline felt tears burning her eyelids the entire journey from the Neck to VIMS. Izzie tugged on heartstrings Caroline didn’t know she possessed. And Caroline had been getting along so nicely with Izzie’s handsome ex–Coast Guard father, too, until—
Until she told him her name.
“What can’t be cured, must be endured.” A saying of her father’s, which had become a self-fulfilling prophecy for Caroline’s life thus far.
At the sloshing sounds from the back of the SUV, Caroline monitored the Kemp’s ridley from the rearview mirror. She sighed as she bypassed Kiptohanock for Wachapreague. She might not be able to bring about reconciliation with her family, but she could make a difference in the endangered turtle’s life and with the other sea creatures she’d have a chance to save over the course of the summer.
She was pleased to find her interns moved into the dormitory when she arrived at the makeshift surgical center. She’d need their assistance to help Izzie’s turtle mama.
Caroline bit her lip. In her experience, it was best not to get too attached to the animals. Much less attached to humans, who were unpredictable and unreliable. When and if the female was deemed sea-ready, the turtle would be tagged for tracking and released into the open ocean once more.
Hours later, Caroline emerged from surgery and wiped the sweat off her brow with her hand. Her students would settle the Kemp’s ridley into the tank and monitor the turtle’s vital signs.
She’d managed to save all but a small portion of one of the turtle’s flippers. Barring infection, she was optimistic as to the turtle’s chances of survival and eventual release into the turtle’s natural habitat. Which, of course, was the ultimate goal of the pilot program.
Behind the westerly horizon of the trees, the setting sun cast a molten glow upon the water in the harbor. Still in scrubs, she paused on the steps of the institute to take in the view of an Eastern Shore sunset. Her stomach growled. Lunch at the Island House with Roland had been hours ago.
After she’d been on her feet for hours in surgery, dinner was her next priority. Perhaps she’d try the Sage Diner, a longtime Shore favorite, near the motel on Highway 13. It probably wouldn’t be a problem getting a table, since the tourist season hadn’t properly begun yet.
She was startled to find her sisters waiting for her in the institute parking lot.
Amelia gazed at her across the roof of the RAV4. “We need to talk, Caroline.”
Caroline’s bracelets jangled as her fist tightened around the key. “I think Daddy pretty much said everything there was to say.”
Honey came around the car. “Daddy is like an old sea dog. His bark is worse than his bite.”
“She’s right.” Amelia nodded. “Anger is easier for him to acknowledge than the hurt.”
“Hurt I caused.” Caroline gulped. “Anger I deserve.”
“Daddy will move beyond both if you give him time.” Honey touched her arm. “I’m sure of it.”
Caroline shuffled her flip-flops in the gravel. “You’re more confident of that than I am.”
“I’m sure enough for both of us.” Honey gave Caroline a small smile. “It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you.”
A lump the size of a boulder lodged in Caroline’s throat. “I missed you, too, baby sis.” She turned her face into the wind blowing off the water. “More than you’ll ever know.”
“We all missed you, Caroline.”
Caroline angled at the pensive note in Amelia’s voice.
“I hope you’ll stick around long enough to work through this thing with Daddy. He’s not been the same since you left.”
Caroline chewed the inside of her mouth. “I’m sorry for hurting all of you. But when Mom died, I had to leave. I can’t explain why—I don’t expect you to understand—but I just had to go.”
“I heard this afternoon about the pilot program. Everyone in Kiptohanock is speculating on where the permanent marine center will be located.” Amelia joined them on the other side of the car. “It’s a good thing you’re doing. And if anybody can make it happen, it will be you.”
Caroline sighed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Something else I don’t deserve after abandoning the family.”
Amelia caught hold of her hand. “Some of us know what you did, Caroline.”
She stiffened. “You do?” A throbbing low in her skull began to ache.
Honey tilted her head. “When the hurricane last September nearly destroyed the inn and the loan to rebuild came through so quickly, Amelia, Braeden and I made inquiries at the bank.”
Oh, that. Caroline willed her heart to settle.
“While others had to wait much longer for federal funds, we were able to begin rebuilding immediately.” Amelia squeezed her hand. “It was you who put up the money. I don’t know how you did it, but it was you who saved the house and put us back in business.”
Honey’s mouth quivered. “You saved my dream and something far more precious, time to rebuild my relationship with Sawyer so we could have our happily-ever-after.”
Tears stung