Chapter 8: An Intervention

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Kaybri was asleep on the sofa in her office when Frank touched her hand to wake her.  

     “What time is it?” she asked, raising her head groggily. 

     “It’s six a.m.” 

     “What are you doing here?” 

     “I came to relieve you.” 

     “You don’t work here anymore. I think you told me that I should read contracts more carefully,” she said, starting to rise. 

     “I did,” Frank said with a smile. “I will always be a vet, and you’re not up to seeing patients today.” 

     “I can manage it,” Kaybri said gruffly.  

     “I checked the collie,” he said, ignoring her. “We’ll know in the next forty-eight hours if he is going to survive.” 

     As Kaybri started to move toward the procedure room, Frank put a hand on her shoulder and led her to a chair. “Dorothy will drive you home. She’s waiting outside.” 

     “I have my truck,” she said as she stood. 

     “No one should be in that truck. I’m going to get you a new seat at the junkyard.” 

     “You know I can’t afford that. I had to spend twelve hundred dollars to get the collie out of the pet store. I’ll clean the truck.” 

     “No, you won’t. Noah is cleaning it. He feels bad about what he said to you. The new seat is a gift from Dorothy and me.” 

     Remembering how short she had been with Noah, Kaybri hung her head. “I said things I shouldn’t have. I have apologies to make.” 

     “Go home, get some rest, and come to dinner tonight. You can make your apologies then.”  

     Kaybri started to protest. 

     “It wasn’t a request.” 

     “You’re not the boss of me,” she asserted. 

     “Spoken like a strident young person who has an inferiority complex and doesn’t know when others are trying to help them. Oops. Did I say too much?”  

     Kaybri clucked her tongue in disgust and shooed Frank away. What made him think he knew her so well after such a brief time? How rude! But she was too tired to formulate an effective retort. “Can I at least see the collie before I go?” she asked with fake snootiness. 

     “Yes. You did some excellent work. Erika and I will supervise the collie’s treatment for the rest of the day.”  

     Kaybri did allow Dorothy to drive her home. She slept for the next eight hours. 

     At five o’clock in the evening, Dorothy texted Kaybri to arrange to pick her up to take her to dinner at their home, but Kaybri said she preferred to walk the three miles. As she ambled up their front steps, she took a deep breath and steeled herself for what was to come. She wasn’t good at being sociable. Some days she was even worse at it than others, and today didn’t feel like such a good day. 

     As soon as she walked through the front door, Dorothy pushed a glass of wine into her hand and said, “Come to the kitchen. I need your help.” 

     Kaybri hesitated. “I’m not much of a cook,” she said lamely. 

     “Pshaw.”  

     “I don’t know that word. What does it mean?” 

     “It means that meaningless objections aren’t accepted in this house. Get in the kitchen and grab an apron.” 

     Dorothy set her up with a peeler and ten potatoes that needed their skins removed and put a big pot of water on the gas stove. “We’re making mashed potatoes.” 

      “Where are Frank and Noah?” 

     “Those two idiots. They're having a hatchet-throwing contest in the backyard. It’s something they saw on television. Ever since, they’ve been trying to hit a target nailed to a tree.” 

     “Isn’t that dangerous? Frank…um…isn’t a young man.” 

     “Forget about Frank. It’s Noah I’m worried about. He didn’t play any formal sports growing up. The man has no coordination. Strong as a horse, great with dogs, but he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat,” Dorothy said with her unique laugh. 

     Kaybri giggled at the thought and found herself imagining Noah in swimming trunks at the wheel of a small yacht with one of those silly captain’s hats on his head. It was a funny image, but also a nice one. “You’re fond of him,” she stated. 

     Dorothy nodded enthusiastically. “Very fond. He came to us ten years ago when he was sixteen. He had just started his Rumspringa, a time when Amish teen are allowed to experience the excesses of the outside world. Like many Amish teens, he joined his peers cruisin' and boozin'. He quickly saw the dangers and the senselessness of these behaviors. During Rumspringa, most Amish go wild during the weekend but live at home and continue to work on the farms during the week. The parents cannot question their behaviors during this time.” 

     “I had no idea,” said Kaybri. She couldn’t imagine Noah boozing.  

     “It’s their chance to see how outsiders live and to find a marriage partner who isn’t part of the Amish community. The idea is that they 'freely' decide if they want to return, partake of baptism, and to accept the responsibilities of being an adult member of the Amish community. If they choose to stay, they are committing themselves to an Amish life. Most remain in the Amish community because they love their families and traditions. Others stay because the modern world is too overwhelming for them and they can't manage their freedom. Anyway, Noah was different. He wasn't searching like most teens for an identity. He was looking to atone for what his father was doing. He decided to give voice to his calling.” 

     “Dogs,” Kaybri said, now understanding. 

     “The thing he loves most," Dorothy punctuated. “He bought a car, and perhaps out of a little bit of rebellion grew a beard and a moustache. Do you know the significance?” 

     Kaybri shook her head. 

     “Only married men can grow beards, and they don't grow mustaches because the Amish are pacifists and associate mustaches with the military. Growing a mustache and a beard was an act of defiance and a message to his family that he was leaving the community. He came to the clinic every day. Eventually, he got up the courage to come inside and talk to Frank. A few days later, Frank started to train him, and Noah started secretly taking dogs from his father’s farm. Frank would treat them, and then Noah would quietly return them when they were healthy again.” 

     “But they’d get sick again,” Kaybri interrupted. 

     “That’s one of the horrors of the situation. When his father discovered that he was taking dogs off the farm, he threw Noah out. We offered him a home with us.” 

     “His family couldn’t see that Noah was doing the right thing?” 

     “I’m not sure what the Amish term is for betrayal, but his father forbade him from ever stepping foot on his farm again. Noah uses his mother’s maiden name. His father is Thomas Stoltzfus.” 

     Now that the potatoes had all been peeled, Dorothy handed Kaybri some sort of metal contraption. “You need to drain the potatoes and then mash them.”  

     Kaybri looked at the device skeptically. 

     “You don’t know what this is?” 

     “I’ll figure it out,” Kaybri said defiantly.  

     Within five minutes, Kaybri had burned her hand from draining the water, and two of the potatoes lay smashed on the floor. Kaybri pushed the pot away in disgust. “Why did you have me do this?”  

     Just then, Erika and her husband Kent entered the house. Erika slipped an apron over her head. “Move aside, girl scout. I’ll take it from here.” 

     Kaybri tore the apron from her body and stomped out to the backyard where she found Frank and Noah throwing hatchets into a poorly improvised target.  

     “Who’s winning?” Kaybri asked testily. She had always had a competitive spirit and was sure she could beat either of these men if they gave her a chance to throw. They didn’t. 

     “What brought you out here?” Frank asked. “I thought you were helping in the kitchen. And I don’t mean that in a misogynistic way,” Frank added quickly, chuckling.  

     “Since I’ve been here, I’m always being placed in awkward positions where I’m the butt of every joke.” 

     “I don’t think that’s true, and I can’t imagine that,” Frank said. “Everyone I know—and am married to—is careful to spread the abuse around equally. It’s almost a rule.” 

     Kaybri did not appreciate hearing her complaint dismissed so cavalierly. She wandered around the yard but made sure to keep a distance of ten feet between herself and the target, figuring that would be safe. Until she felt an object whizz past her shoulder. She spun around to see who had almost lopped her head off. Balling up her fists, she prepared to attack.  

     “Did you throw that at me?” she asked Noah. 

     “No. I wish I had aimed for you. At least then I’d have an excuse for such a lousy throw.” 

     Kaybri’s mouth hung open, as Noah took her left elbow and Frank her right. They led her to the dining room and planted her at the head of the table. Dorothy placed a newly filled glass of wine in front of her, while Erika dished mashed potatoes and chicken onto her plate. 

     “I’m starting to think this is an intervention,” Kaybri said. Seconds later, she noticed that everyone else seemed to be looking at each other from out of the corners of their eyes. “Oh, my god. This is an intervention,” Kaybri exclaimed, stunned. 

     When everyone was seated, Frank put down his tumbler and asked them to bow their heads. He blessed the meal, his wife, and his friends. He then turned his attention to Kaybri. “We are also fortunate to have in our family a gifted veterinarian and surgeon. And no, Kaybri, this isn’t an intervention, although I can see how it might seem that way. What you might not understand is that families disagree, sometimes strenuously. What’s more important is how they come together after the fighting is done.” 

     “Why would they do that?” Kaybri asked petulantly. 

     “Because they love each other,” Frank said earnestly. 

     Kaybri felt tears stinging the corners of her eyes. She’d rarely heard the word love used around her.  

     Frank continued, “Noah and Erika told me about the work you performed on the collie.” Then to the rest, he continued, “I sincerely believe that under Dr. Lynn’s leadership our clinic will save more dogs than ever.” Kaybri noticed how strongly he stressed the word doctor. 

     Everyone at the table stood, raised their glasses, and toasted Kaybri.  

     “I…don’t…know,” she stammered. 

     “That’s partially why we are here this evening. Kaybri. I hope this is the first of many evenings when we come together to learn about each other and how each of us is important to the other’s success and the health of our patients. When you bought my practice, there were some things that I didn’t tell you. I wanted to make sure I had found the right person. Even though you’ve only been with us for a brief time, I’m quite sure that you are the one.” 

     Kaybri closed her eyes. “I’ve shown you nothing but disrespect, and I’ve pushed Dorothy away when she has done nothing but embrace me since I’ve arrived.” 

     “You do have some interesting personality quirks,” Erika said with an affectionate smile. 

     “Isn't there something called distemper shots?” asked Kent, which started everyone giggling. 

     Kaybri hoped that Frank would put a stop to the laughter, which she felt was at her expense. Instead, he fueled the fire even more. “Careful, Kent. Those axes are still in the backyard, and I am sure she’s a better shot than Noah.” 

     Kent feigned fear and tried to climb under the table.  

     The jokes eventually subsided. Judging from Frank’s expression, Kaybri was sure he had gotten a good kick in the shins from Dorothy that caused him to return to his point of discussion. “If you had not taken Noah, your fake husband”—she saw Noah’s face turn bright red—“to that pet store, we would never have discovered that some of the older dogs given to us by the Amish were suffering from parvovirus. Truthfully, every dog we boarded or treated was in danger because we didn’t test the older dogs for the virus.” 

     “Why would you?” Kaybri asked. “They weren’t showing any symptoms.” 

     “That’s kind of you, Kaybri. But you know full well that older dogs can still be carriers even if they aren’t displaying parvovirus symptoms. I used to know that. I didn’t remember.” 

     The table grew quiet. Dorothy left her chair and stood behind her husband, as she said: “In our fifty years together, we have raised three children, all successful professionals, but none were interested in veterinary medicine. Frank is a good father and an even better grandfather. He wished to see his grandchildren grow to adulthood. However, he knows now, it won’t be more than a year, maybe two, before he won’t remember their names or how they are related to him.” 

     Frank looked lovingly over his shoulder at his wife. “Dorothy has told most of you about my deteriorating condition. There’s no sense in calling the disease something that it’s not. I have Alzheimer’s. I am still in the early to middle stages. However, at my age, the doctors expect it to progress quickly even if treated with the newest medications.” 

     People around the table began to offer words of support.  

     “We love you, Frank.” 

     “We’re all here for you, Frank.” 

     But Frank put up his hands and gave out a fake scream. “Aaaaah! Stop! This is getting maudlin.” Then his next words were spoken in a British accent that came out of nowhere. “I’m not dead, yet.” 

     Everyone except Kaybri laughed, despite the seriousness of the subject. 

     Kent chimed in next, in the same accent. “Well, he’ll be dead soon. He's very ill.” 

     “What?” Kaybri blurted out. Everyone ignored her. 

     “I’m getting better!” Frank said in an upbeat voice. 

     Now it was Noah using the same inflection. “No, you're not. You'll be stone dead in a moment. We’re all waiting for the undertaker to ask us to throw you out to the street.” 

     Everyone cracked up. 

     Erika was next. “He won't be long.” Her accent was a pretty bad imitation of the others. 

     Kaybri had had enough. She stood and wagged her finger at the three of them. “This man has just trusted us with very dire news, and you are all making fun of him.” 

     As she refilled Kaybri’s wine glass, Dorothy asked her, “How old were you in 1975?”  

     “I wasn’t born yet,” Kaybri responded. 

     “Ah, you just witnessed a very strange and funny scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It’s a movie,” Dorothy said. 

     “Oh. I’ve heard of it. How does Noah know about this movie? He told me that he didn’t watch movies growing up on his father’s farm.” 

     “Because I live in the home of Lancaster’s most enthusiastic Monty Python fans. To not know those lines, in this house, is inexcusable. We’ll watch it tonight after dinner. You’ll love it.” 

     As the laughter died down, Dorothy changed the subject. “When Frank decided to retire, we advertised that the practice was for sale. We told everyone who applied that we were looking for a veterinarian who would continue the traditions and relationships we have built with the community. No one who applied fit the bill. Fortunately, our cousin Abigail told us about Kaybri. She was number one in her class. She worked so hard in school that she never had the time to indulge in frivolous movies…like some other people at this table.” Dorothy stared at each of the culprits who had joined in with Frank making fun of his illness. 

     Erika turned to Kaybri and said, “Honey, maybe this is a good time for you to tell us a little of your story.” 

     The attention she was receiving made Kaybri feel uncomfortable. And the thought of sharing any of the details of her childhood was terrifying. Kaybri took a deep breath.  

     “I think I’m an orphan.”  

     “You think you’re an orphan?” Noah asked. He seemed puzzled. 

     I never knew my father. I spent my first six years being raised by my mother, who was depressed and addicted to pills and who knows what else. She disappeared one night, and I never saw her again. I don’t know if she’s alive. All I know is that she never reclaimed me. I didn’t have relatives who wanted to take me in. I was placed in California’s foster care system but was never adopted. I lived in a group home for hard-to-place children, mostly older kids like me or kids with disabilities. Three different families took me home to foster me and consider adoption. I was returned to the group home each time. I can see now that I was cantankerous, headstrong, and disrespectful. When I didn’t get my way, I’d get angry and sometimes violent.” 

     “Imagine that,” Noah said quietly. 

     “You be quiet,” Dorothy admonished him. “Please continue, Kaybri. Ignore him. Did you ever try to find your mother?” 

     “I assumed she died on the streets.” Kaybri felt the tears welling up. She fought the urge because she didn’t like having everyone feeling sorry for her. So, she sat up straighter and forced a chuckle. “Woe is me.” She rolled her eyes. “We all have problems, don’t we?” 

     “Oh, my,” Dorothy said. “Well, let’s focus on the positive. Tell us why you became a veterinarian?” 

     “There were dogs at the group home that were abandoned…like I was. Many of them had health problems or had been abused.” Kaybri hesitated before continuing, “They were all…” Kaybri then abruptly excused herself and apologized for ruining everyone’s evening. She left the table and retreated to the front porch and sat in one of Frank’s rockers. 

     A few minutes later, Frank joined her. He waited patiently until Kaybri addressed the problem that hung between them. “I can’t abide by your decision to accept the damaged breeder dogs from the Amish. You’re perpetuating their cruelty. They abuse those dogs so they can sell sick dogs to unscrupulous pet shops. The families, like we’ve seen, are devastated when their dogs get sick.”  

     “I was hoping we could avoid that subject this evening,” Frank said, sadly. He called for Noah to join them on the porch and said to him, “Our new friend, your new boss, is not going to be satisfied with the status quo. Contact your father and set up a meeting. She needs to see for herself what she’s up against. Then she can make an informed decision.” 

     “I don’t want to meet with my father,” Noah said testily. 

     “Maybe it’s time for you to talk to him. It’s been ten years,” Frank added. “Maybe he’s changed.” 

     “No,” Noah said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. “Stoltzfus men do not change their ways.” 

     “We need to do something. I don’t want to lose Kaybri,” Frank said soberly. 

     “There’s another way,” Kaybri said. “I have an idea for how to check things out without your father knowing. But I will need your help, Noah.” She described a plan she’d devised during her walk over to the house. 

     “It’s better than facing him,” Noah said. He turned, and as he walked back into the house, he added, “Although I think it’s a stupid idea.” 

     “I guess you won’t be watching a movie with him tonight. I’m so glad he’s not as stubborn as other Stoltzfus men,” Frank said to Kaybri with a laugh and a roll of his eyes.