by Karin Baine
Her hand automatically rested on her stomach, already protecting him or her. The movement didn’t escape Charles’s notice as his gaze followed the action.
‘Bryony’s suffering twenty percent spasticity in her limbs. She was mobile, but the pain has become too much for her lately. There’s no guarantee on how long the pump will last, so that means another operation further down the road.’ Charles shared that extra difficult news out of Bryony’s earshot.
Harriet’s heart broke a fraction more for the family she’d become attached to in such a short space of time. If it was her child she’d want everything humanly possible done to stop her hurting.
‘How can I help?’ she asked, knowing she’d committed to coming back to Heatherglen.
CHAPTER FIVE
CHARLES HADN’T BROUGHT Harriet here to guilt her into assisting him with Bryony’s treatment. He would’ve been here regardless of his ex’s presence, but he wouldn’t apologise for wanting Harriet to see the difference she could make at Heatherglen. The little girl had had a tough time of it as had her parents, and he would do everything in his power to make things easier for them.
When he had the ear of an orthopaedic surgeon with Harriet’s experience it made sense to get her advice. It was simply a bonus on a personal level if she got involved and maintained an interest that saw her return, or stay for good.
‘I’m going to show Harriet around the rest of the clinic, but I’ll be back to see you all later.’ He shook hands with Bryony’s parents, who knew he couldn’t spend all day at their daughter’s bedside when they had other children at home on a post-Santa high. But he’d do his best to call in and provide some company for Bryony when he could. He knew Harriet well enough to expect her to want to do the same. Perhaps spending quality time with a child would show her what could be gained by sharing parenting responsibility. She could easily walk away, deny him any access to the child she was carrying, after the way he’d treated her in the past, but he wanted her to see they’d be better as a team. That their baby would be better off here, with both parents. A family.
The triumphant smile he was wearing as Harriet was saying her goodbyes to the family died on his lips. A wagging, panting bundle of fur streaked past him as he opened the door to leave the room.
‘What the—?’
‘Isn’t this Esme’s puppy?’ Harriet scooped up the excitable animal, which had been causing havoc recently.
‘He’s so sweet. Is he for me?’ Bryony’s voice matched the excitement of the canine intruder and he cursed his sister’s generous heart. If Esme hadn’t insisted on keeping this nuisance around, he wouldn’t have to upset a young patient.
‘Sorry, Bryony. He must’ve escaped from the house.’
‘You can stroke him if you want.’ Harriet stepped in with a compromise and took the dog over to her before the tears had an opportunity to fully form.
‘He tickles.’ Bryony giggled as Dougal licked her face. Charles wasn’t pleased that Dougal had made an unscheduled, unsupervised visit but it was good to see her happy. Harriet too. Although the dogs were part of the ongoing therapy around here, he’d still have to have a word with Esme about keeping a closer eye on her four-legged friend. He didn’t want Dougal getting in the way when staff were doing their rounds.
He lifted the hand sanitiser and passed it to her mother. ‘I’m so sorry about this.’
‘Don’t worry. He’s the best therapy we could have asked for.’ Bryony’s mother joined the group fawning over Dougal as though he were a newborn baby. Now, that kind of interest he could understand. When their child was born he’d expect the whole world to take notice. But a dog?
He understood their importance in terms of therapy here. He’d seen the results for himself. They calmed patients as well as providing a distraction from illness and treatment. However, on a personal level he didn’t know what the fuss was about. He’d never been a dog lover. Probably because his parents had stressed how much mess and destruction they could cause in a place like this where every stick of furniture had historic and monetary value. As proved by their canine companion. Sure, Dougal was cute, but he didn’t do anything for Charles except generally make his life more difficult around here.
‘We should get him back where he’s supposed to be.’ Charles stood back and let Harriet and her new friend leave before him.
‘’Bye, Dougal.’ There was a chorus as they left, indicating there was only one of them who’d be truly missed.
‘Just wait until I see Esme. I’d prefer he had a bath at least before he starts wandering around the place.’
‘Oh, poor baby, don’t listen to the nasty man. You smell like home to me.’ Harriet covered Dougal’s ears against the insult and peppered him with kisses, completely losing her own professional image to let her soft-hearted mothering instinct take over.
‘You lived in a kennel?’
She tutted. ‘We always had a dog in the house when I was growing up with Mum. They’re great company and totally devoted to their owners. If I wasn’t so busy with work, I’d still have one, but it wouldn’t be fair to leave one at home alone all day.’
‘Exactly why he shouldn’t be in the castle, unsupervised, while Esme is at work.’
Harriet had talked about her parents and how difficult her childhood had been, with an absent father and an over-dependent mother, but she’d never mentioned having pets. She took so much joy from being around Dougal, a picture of their little family, complete with raucous pets, flashed into his head and suddenly he didn’t mind at all.
‘He’s only a baby. Esme is the expert and she only has his best interests at heart. How could you be mad at this little face?’ She held Dougal out towards him. The dog’s tail was wagging so hard his body nearly folded in two.
Charles stared into the pair of soulful eyes begging for his love. A little pink doggie tongue shot out and began slobbering over his face, making it impossible to remember why he was being a grouch.
Then a warm trickle of liquid soaked through his suit and reminded him.
‘Dougal!’
‘Whoops. I think he got too excited.’ Harriet could barely contain her laughter as the puppy promptly forgot all the house training Esme had no doubt instilled in him.
* * *
Harriet didn’t know how Charles was going to react to a little pee as she laughed at his expense. It was understandable he would be upset at the dog running amok in the clinic but there’d been no real harm done, other than to his suit.
Charles rolled his eyes, took the pup from her, and held him at arm’s length as he headed towards the front door.
‘You can’t abandon him outside. It’s too cold.’ Even with his jaunty Christmas jumper he’d freeze to death out there. She wouldn’t stand back and let that happen. She’d never forgive herself and Esme would never forgive either of them.
‘What do you take me for, Harriet? I’m not a complete monster.’ Her accusation stopped Charles in his snow-covered tracks. It highlighted how much work was required on her trust issues with him before the baby arrived.
She didn’t dispute his intentions were honourable in his desire for them to raise the child here, at least in his eyes, but sometimes that wasn’t enough. This time she’d need more than promises to persuade her to change her life for him.
After all, this was only a helpless pup and a baby was going to cause much more disruption. She would do whatever it took for her child to have a stable home life and history had shown Charles couldn’t always be counted on.
Nevertheless, she followed him to the canine therapy centre and was blown away by the changes there too. The old stables had been modernised with huge windows, opening the building up to welcome people inside. A huge investment of time, money and love had gone into the clinic and the centre. A commitment Charles hadn’t managed to make to her.
‘I’m sorry. You didn’t seem v
ery sympathetic to him.’ If he couldn’t put up with Esme mollycoddling an abandoned pooch in her own home, it didn’t seem so far-fetched to think he’d chuck it out in the snow.
‘The dogs are a great asset here but they’re Esme’s responsibility. I don’t want to spend my days chasing after them when I’m trying to work. It’s my job to make sure the patients are comfortable during their treatment and Esme’s to train the dogs. I’m sympathetic to a point but I can’t have puppies running amok in the clinic. As well as the professional issue I have with what happened today, I guess I’m just not a doggie person. We were never encouraged to have pets in the castle because of the potential mess and damage they could cause and that has stuck with me. That doesn’t mean I’m incapable of showing love and compassion to a baby. Despite whatever is going on in that head of yours.’
It sounded so ridiculous out loud she blushed. Charles was justifiably upset by the accusation. She’d overreacted. This was the real reason she’d agreed to spend time here—to find out who he really was now and decide if this was the right environment to raise their child after all. If his ego took a bashing in the process he’d simply have to get over it. As a father-to-be he was going to have to put the needs of the baby above his pride.
‘Charles! Harriet! It’s nice of you to stop by.’
‘I believe this is yours.’ Charles presented Esme with the canine criminal who didn’t look the least bit guilty as he licked her face.
‘What are you doing out here, mister?’ Esme nuzzled her face into the bundle and Harriet wondered how the siblings could interact so differently with the animal.
‘Good question. You can pay the dry-cleaning bill for my suit.’ Charles arched an eyebrow at them both.
‘Oh, dear. He didn’t, did he? Dougal loves you, that’s why he gets so excited to see you.’ She too was doing little to hide the laughter at her brother’s misfortune.
‘Yeah, well, the feeling is definitely not mutual. You’re going to have to increase his security detail.’
‘He’s not some sort of criminal mastermind. He probably slipped out through the door when you weren’t looking.’ Esme inadvertently tripped Harriet’s guilt switch. It was possible she hadn’t been paying close attention to anything other than Charles’s sunny disposition when they’d left this morning. It seemed such a long time ago now.
‘It might be my fault. I think I was the last one out this morning.’ She confessed her misdemeanour, glad something more serious hadn’t happened if it had been her who’d left the door ajar.
‘It’s not your fault.’ Charles was quick to absolve her of responsibility, though he’d been keen to hold Esme to account for the same incident.
‘It’s no one’s fault. What my brother has neglected to tell you is that this isn’t the first time this has happened. As much as I’ve tried to partner Dougal with Max, he prefers Charles’s company. The dog, not Max.’
‘Goodness knows why.’ Charles brushed off the idea, but Harriet had witnessed the puppy’s love for herself.
‘We should’ve called him Houdini. It doesn’t matter where we put him, he always manages to escape and track down his favourite person in the whole world.’
‘I wish he wouldn’t.’
‘You’re fighting a losing battle, dear brother. Just give in and accept you’re the leader of Dougal’s pack.’
‘Never.’ Despite his refusal the scowl had broken on Charles’s face, hinting that he wasn’t as immune to the cute little mongrel as he made out. It was nicer to imagine him sitting in his armchair with a dog curled up contentedly in his lap than a man capable of leaving a puppy out in the snow. Then it wasn’t such a stretch to picture him cooing over a baby.
‘He certainly made an impression on Bryony, the young patient whose room he barged into.’ Harriet attempted to shift her thoughts to someone who wasn’t a part of her soon-to-be family. She wanted to remain objective where a potential work environment was concerned and keep her confused feelings about Charles out of any career decision. He’d taken the last one out of her hands and now she wanted control of the next. Minus his influence.
Esme grimaced as she heard about Dougal’s exploits. ‘I’m so sorry. Max and I have been checking on him regularly. I don’t want to have to lock him into a dog crate. It’s important he gets used to a home environment.’
‘Preferably without wrecking it in the process,’ Charles added.
‘Charles and I can take him with us and keep an eye on him until you’ve finished here. We’ll have to go back anyway.’ Harriet indicated the ruined suit, which wasn’t going to do anything to improve his attitude towards Dougal with the constant reminder of his humiliation.
‘Would you? That would be so helpful. I have my hands full here.’ Esme passed the pooch parcel again as a dozen others sounded their demands for her attention.
‘You owe me one, sis.’ Even Charles seemed to realise her workload could do without one more demanding dog as he accepted his fate of puppy-sitting for the rest of the afternoon.
Harriet feared for Dougal’s future if he got on Charles’s bad side again or damaged more than the Laird’s cool façade.
‘Excuse me if I’m speaking out of turn, but there was one positive to come out of this mishap.’ All eyes were on Harriet now, including Dougal’s, begging her to save him from eviction.
‘I’m dying to hear this.’ Charles folded his arms and waited for the defence.
She ignored the cynicism and the childish urge to stick her tongue out at him. ‘Bryony, Charles’s patient with cerebral palsy responded well to Dougal and I know you train therapy dogs here. Is there a chance you could partner the two together?’ It would solve the immediate problem by finding Dougal alternative accommodation and at the same time provide the young girl with a much-needed companion.’
Charles was so busy laughing it was left to Esme to explain the flaw in that plan. ‘Unfortunately, I’m not sure Dougal is going to be suitable for training. Not unless we use Charles as an incentive. We can look into alternatives for Bryony if the family is interested. We train a lot of dogs to help cerebral palsy patients. They seem to get a lot out of having therapy dogs.’
Harriet nodded. She understood the joy of having unconditional love from a pet during tough times. A dog could only aid Bryony through the challenges she endured.
‘I can mention it to her parents and get them to come and talk it over with you if they’re interested.’ Now they were on the subject of his patient Charles resumed his professional manner and took the suggestion seriously. Although it didn’t help with the Dougal problem, Harriet was satisfied her idea hadn’t been as ridiculous as she’d initially feared.
‘Great. I can give them a tour and put them in touch with some of our other CP families.’ Esme gave her brother a swift kiss on the cheek and did the same to Harriet before disappearing back into the kennels, leaving Harriet and Charles to mind her fur baby.
* * *
‘Stay!’ Everyone in the vicinity could’ve told him it was a pointless command by now, but Charles attempted to assert his authority all the same.
Dougal had that same goofball expression, tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, tail wagging, with no intention of doing anything he was told. Charles had no idea why he was so irresistible when there was a bowl of dog food and a comfy bed waiting nearby. He knew where he’d rather be. Especially when there were belly rubs and Harriet kisses on offer elsewhere.
Naturally, the little mongrel had made a run for it the second Charles turned his back and it was only Harriet’s quick reflexes that had saved him from further dog slobber.
‘I’ll keep him company while you get changed,’ she promised, burying her face in Dougal’s fur.
‘If you wouldn’t mind, I think I’ll grab a quick shower.’ A cold one. Then he might burn his Dougal-scented suit.
‘Go. I’ll be happy to get
some snuggles without you scowling at us.’ He thought she was joking but he and the mischievous pup were going to have to get along if he was going to impress Harriet. Besides, if Esme had anything to do with it, Dougal was going to be a long-term resident. Charles was simply going to have to get used to changes around here.
Some breathing space between him and Harriet was good, he realised, casting off his clothes to step into the shower. He’d jumped in with that offer to Harriet to join them at the clinic on the basis he’d be closer to the baby. However, the more time he spent with Harriet the more he could see what he’d given up twelve years ago.
If that one night in bed had reminded him what they’d had together physically—and, boy, it had improved with age—being in her company today had brought out that caring side he’d admired so much in her. She was good at her job, that had never been in doubt, but it was her extra interest in Bryony, and that stupid dog, that took him back to the reasons he’d fallen for her in the first place.
It was a shame she’d made it clear she didn’t trust him to commit to more than one night together. He didn’t blame her but the reasons for wanting her to stay at Heatherglen were becoming more personal by the second.
He wanted to have it all—a successful career, a memorial honouring his brother and father, and a family of his own, including a partner to share it all with. Yet he knew it was selfish. Something that always spelled disaster for those closest to him. The ones he was supposed to love.
He was pushing her to transfer to Cluchlochry for the baby’s sake because he wanted her to. Really, what was in it for her? There were better career prospects in London and that was the reason he’d sacrificed a life with her in the first place. It wasn’t fair to pressure her. Hopefully they could resolve this with a proper conversation about what was best for all of them. It wasn’t the first time he’d had to rein in his feelings for her and he’d survived. They both had.