“Pull up a chair while I load this file.” Jodi’s hands shook as she attempted to connect her mobile phone to the computer, which wasn’t surprising given how much caffeine Cole had seen her consume during the day.
“I’ve got a better angle to work with,” Cole said after a few aborted attempts. She relieved Jodi of the cord and plugged it in.
“Thanks.” Jodi’s reply was short and slightly gruff. She uploaded the file and opened it on her large computer screen.
“Oh, hey, it’s Pip.” Cole smiled. Pip was the last person she was expecting to see in the video. Lucille, one of Pip’s koalas, was in the background.
“Watch this.” Jodi fast-forwarded the video where Pip swung the camera around, focusing on Lucille eating and crawling down her tree pole, then walking across the yard and towards her for a cuddle, where the video promptly stopped. “See anything?”
Cole was well aware of Lucille’s residual brain injury and coordination issues, but try as she might, she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary in the video. “No. Play it again.”
Jodi complied. Together they reviewed the video several more times. “Okay, now I’ll play the beginning part.” At the start of the video, Pip expressed concern over Lucille, that something felt a bit off, but she couldn’t identify anything definitive and therefore wanted a second opinion. “What do you think?”
Cole sat on the edge of Jodi’s table and let out a held breath. “I honestly don’t know. Does Lucille’s behaviour look normal for a koala? No. We both know she is a special girl, but try as I might, I can’t think of anything Lucille did in that video that was unusual for her.” At a loss, Cole added, “But even though she couldn’t put her finger on it, Pip senses something. And that’s worth checking.”
“Exactly.” Jodi bit her lip, seemingly lost in thought as she watched the video again. A frown marred her features. Cole felt the wave of frustration coming off Jodi at not being able to see the problem and work towards a solution for Pip.
Cole reached over and closed her hand over Jodi’s restless one atop the computer mouse. “It seems to me that no matter how many times you play that video, the answer isn’t ready to be seen yet.”
Jodi grunted and started to replay the video.
Cole brushed her thumb against the back of Jodi’s hand, stilling her movements. When Jodi looked into her eyes, Cole saw a myriad of emotions race across her face—frustration, confusion, determination—and questions. Lots of questions. “Come take a break. Maybe when we come back we might have fresh eyes that see something.” It was apparent that Jodi wanted to play the video again, to search for answers, to have something to try, but she also knew Jodi well enough to know she needed a break. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Cole stepped out of the office briefly before returning. She stood beside the desk and held out her hand. “There’s something I want to show you.” Jodi hesitated and Cole knew she was reluctant to leave the puzzle unanswered. Cole held out her hand. “Please.”
Jodi tilted her head in question, but Cole sensed that words would spoil things. She simply let her outstretched hand and gentle smile be encouragement for Jodi and hid her grin when it worked.
Jodi rose from her desk, took Cole’s hand, and followed her through the office and out the back door. They paused only long enough for Cole to snag her handbag.
Jodi opened her mouth. But Cole silenced her by gently placing two fingers to Jodi’s lips, then pointing to the passenger door of her Suzuki Swift. “In.” She grinned in triumph as Jodi complied with the direction and folded her long frame into the compact vehicle.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” Cole started the engine and headed east away from the sun’s glare and towards the ocean. Ten minutes later, Cole pulled into a secluded parking area and got out of the car, pleased to see Jodi mirror her actions. She opened the boot of the car and retrieved a bag, which she slung over her shoulder, before closing the lid and extending her hand for Jodi to join her along a pathway in front of the car.
“What are you doing?”
Cole trekked through the beachside vegetation of banksia and pigface that lined the sandy pathway with Jodi close behind.
“Do you remember last year when you made me office manager, on top of vet-nurse-extraordinaire-sidekick, I think were your exact words?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, that’s what I’m doing. Managing my office.”
The pathway opened up onto beach frontage, empty of any living sole bar them. Cole walked to a sheltered spot to the right of the pathway, out of the wind and flying sand. She pulled a cloth from the bag, spread it on the sand, and sat down. Jodi joined her.
Cole retrieved two food containers from the bag, then two plates and some cutlery, and proceeded to serve up salad, chicken, cheese, and savoury fancy biscuits. She poured a sparkling soda water for each into tall plastic glasses. “You’ve barely eaten all day. Or taken a break. So consider yourself managed. And before you say anything, Mandy knows where we are, and we’re only ten minutes away from the surgery if we’re needed. But right now, you need to eat, and more importantly, Jodes, you need to just stop for a minute.”
When Jodi opened her mouth to speak, Cole intervened by playfully shoving a small bread roll into Jodi’s mouth. “Eat first, then you can rip me a new one.” She winked before tucking into her own dinner plate of yumminess.
Jodi shook her head, and Cole was relieved to see her dutifully tuck into the prepared meal. In all honesty, Cole’s stomach had been churning for most of the afternoon while she plotted the evening meal. Now that they were here, and Jodi was chewing away, seemingly contentedly, on the offerings, she began to relax.
Jodi finished her meal, got to her feet, and began pacing the perimeter of the blanket.
“A vitamin B complex and a light anti-inflammatory shot might tide her over until we have more information. We can do that after we get a blood sample from her.” A grin broke out onto Jodi’s face, the pleasure of having created a starting point for Lucille’s care plan evident.
Cole knew Jodi’s brain rarely switched off, but the clarity of time out of the office had helped right her thinking parameters. Lucille’s care was slowly but surely unfolding into place.
While Cole prepared the medication for Lucille, Jodi retreated into her office and dialled Pip’s number. Not surprisingly, her voicemail answered, so Jodi left her a message. “Hey, Pipsqueak. Sorry it took me a couple hours to get back to you. Cole squirreled me away for a fast picnic. It gave me a bit of time to have a think. My schedule is chock-a-block full today, so I can’t get away. So I’m going to send Cole out with a vitamin B shot and to get a blood sample. She’ll also have another syringe with an anti-inflammatory drug. I’ll leave it for you to decide if you want to give it now, or wait until I get the blood results back. Anyway, hope you’re not missing—”
Beep.
Jodi pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at it. Pip’s voicemail had ended the call, but she was content enough, knowing she’d been able to tell Pip the important stuff. She shoved the phone into her back pocket and walked out into the reception area.
Cole stood chatting with Mandy, no doubt reviewing the upcoming patient schedule. A small Styrofoam cooler with the clinic’s logo sat on the desk next to Cole’s hand.
“I had to leave a message for Pip. She’s more than likely home. Probably out feeding the masses.”
Cole frowned. “I’m sure she’s really feeling the load with Charlie away.”
Jodi took a deep breath and nodded. “You better get going so you’re home before the roos start moving.” They both knew well enough the perils of driving in the country at dusk or dark with wildlife on the road.
“Right. See you tomorrow then.” Cole collected the box and walked towards the entrance.
Jodi followed her to the door. Cole reached for the latch just as Jodi stroked her arm causing her to turn.
“Hey, I want to say t
hanks for the surprise lunch and…” Jodi paused to find the right words. “The emotional support. Sometimes I—”
“I know,” Cole interrupted. “And you’re more than welcome.” She winked. “I’ve got your back.” She turned and left.
Jodi tipped her head back for a moment and closed her eyes. Tingling warmth spread through her limbs. She opened her eyes in surprise, confused at the unexpected feelings. Somehow Cole had once again managed to release all the tension in her. A pleasurable shiver ran up her spine, baffling her further. She shook her head. She had clients to see. Work to do.
Chapter Eight
Cole blew a raspberry when she drove past Pip’s well-concealed driveway, pleased that, even though she’d missed it initially, she was now aware of it to realize her mistake. She checked her rear-view mirror and backed up to correct her line of drive.
She pulled her car up and looked towards the house where she could just make out Pip in the window of the prep room. She paused briefly to wave.
Pip was wiping her hands on a dishcloth when Cole went in. She appeared a little tired but otherwise well in Charlie’s absence.
“Hello, stranger—long time no see.”
Cole laughed softly at the irony of it all, a second visit in only a handful of days after having never been to Pip’s place. “Hello, yourself. How’s it going? I imagine with Charlie gone you’re flat to the boards.”
Pip smiled and leaned against the counter. “Ah, well. You know yourself—when it comes to looking after animals, sleep is overrated.”
“Have you heard from Charlie at all?”
“I have. She landed safely and caught all her connecting flights to where she had to be. She’s busy getting stuck in to sorting things out.”
“Can’t be easy. On either of you.”
Pip shrugged. “Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.”
“True enough that.”
“You got time for a cuppa while you’re here?”
“Absolutely.”
“Great. Let’s go and get the business done. Then we can come back and put our feet up and chew the fat for a while.”
As Cole followed Pip to the koala enclosures, she marvelled again at how well set out Pip had her place. Each enclosure had its own space, and there was an abundance of native shrubs and trees which no doubt supplemented many of the animals’ diets. Everything was superbly neat and tidy. Pip unlocked the gate to Lucille’s pen, stepped inside, and closed the door behind Cole. They quietly watched Lucille as she sat in the Y frame of her perch.
Lucille raised her head slowly and swayed a little on her perch before climbing down and sauntering over to Pip. She raised her arms, asking to be picked up. Once in Pip’s arms, Lucille put her head on Pip’s chest and snuggled in.
“Is she eating?”
“Yes. And she still likes her milk in the morning, but she seems to be sleeping more and is very cuddly. More so than usual. It’s almost like she doesn’t want me to put her down.”
Cole wasn’t sure if she should be amused or concerned at how floppy and completely relaxed Lucille was against Pip’s body. “Hm. Well, let’s get some bloods. Jodi sent along a vitamin B shot and an anti-inflammatory dose. What would you like me to do?”
“I think we go with the vitamin B and I might get you to leave me the anti-inflammatory until we get the blood tests back.”
“Jodi said you’d probably go that route, but she wanted you to decide.” She knew koalas posed many veterinary challenges, with so much being unknown with regard to their care. Their liver and ilium were large and very proactive in order to process the toxins from eating eucalyptus leaves. Any drug in a koala’s system had the potential to upset their digestive system, and could be fatal or be processed by the liver and passed out of their body at a rapid rate, before it had time to be effective.
Cole located a vein and drew a vial of blood from Lucille’s arm. She followed up with the vitamin injection, noting that Lucille was extremely compliant throughout the process. Cole frowned. Pip had good reasons to be concerned.
Pip put her head on top of Lucille’s and rocked her.
Cole gently brushed her fingers across Lucille’s shoulder. “We’re gonna try our best to get you sorted, my darling.”
With a kiss atop her head, Pip walked over to the Y frame and urged Lucille to climb on, where she promptly went to sleep.
Back at the house, Pip held the kitchen door open for Cole. “If you want to go on through and wash up, I’ll put the kettle on.”
Upon her return, Cole found a plate of homemade oatmeal biscuits on the table, a teapot, and two steaming mugs of tea. “Ooh, yummy. Real tea.”
Pip laughed. “It’s nice to have someone to share it with. Charlie prefers coffee, so there’s not much point in making a pot for one.”
Cole sniffed the tea appreciatively. “This takes me back to growing up. My karani”—Cole smiled at the quizzical look on Pip’s face—“my granny, we used to sit up after dinner and share a pot of tea and talk over the day. So thank you. This is really lovely.”
“Truly my pleasure. So, how are things at the practice? Last time you were here, I got the impression you were a bit worried about Jodi.”
Cole looked into the depths of her mug. “Mm. She’s working all the hours that God made, and then a few more.”
“She’s always done that. Why is this different?”
Cole tried to find the words to describe what she felt. “I know. It’s just that…” Cole chewed her bottom lip in thought. “It concerns me.”
“Well, if anyone can make her see sense, it’s you.”
Cole shook her head and frowned. “I’m trying, but…” Thoughts and words jumbled around in her brain, confusion running rife.
Pip poured fresh tea into her mug.
Cole took a large sip and tried to settle her thoughts. “She’s working too hard. Not sleeping. Not looking after herself like she should. She hasn’t been swimming in nearly a week, and that never happens. I think it’s time she started to look at getting in another vet to help with the workload. Then maybe she can take a break, or at least relax a little. Take better care of herself. She’s lost weight, won’t even take time off for a haircut…”
“You’re worried about her.”
“Of course I’m worried about her!” Cole grimaced apologetically at the unintended sharpness of her words.
Pip tilted her head. A soft smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she topped her mug up. “Feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but I get the impression there’s more to it than worrying about Jodi’s working hours.” Pip sat back in her chair, cradling the mug between her hands.
Cole’s breath caught in her throat, shocked at Pip’s implication. She squirmed in her chair. Could Pip see things that she didn’t even fully recognize herself? She felt heat rise up her neck to steal over her cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think you do.” Pip’s voice was gentle. It held the promise of an open door for her, an unconditional safe space for her to voice her thoughts out loud.
Long moments passed before a tiny bubble of bravery rose to the surface. “How…how did you know that you were interested in women?” Cole whispered timidly, but it felt like something was screaming inside of her with fear and doubt at having uttered the words out loud. “I mean, are you supposed to be born knowing? Can you swap sides? Or does it…just happen?”
Oh, Charlie. Pip’s heart warmed. While snuggling together late one night in bed, Charlie had voiced her thoughts on Cole and Jodi. Looks like you were right, my love.
Pip sympathized with Cole’s confusion. She recalled her younger years and talking to her parents. Well, trying to talk to her parents. She knew enough about Cole’s past to anticipate that the concept of falling for her boss, let alone a woman, must be scaring the crap out of her right about now. “Do you have any more calls to go to after here?”
“No.” The fact that Cole couldn’t even lo
ok at her spoke volumes.
Pip retrieved two wine glasses and a bottle of wine from the fridge. She held out her hand to Cole. “Good. Because I think this is a good cause for a girls’ night in.” Pip knew the pathology lab in town would be closed by the time Cole got back and she wouldn’t be able to submit Lucille’s samples until first thing in the morning. So she took a gamble that Cole might be convinced to stay for a while.
Cole grasped Pip’s extended hand and rose, followed her over to the couch, and sat stiffly on the edge.
Pip poured them each a glass and curled up alongside Cole, feet tucked up beneath her.
Cole’s hand shook slightly as she took a sip, quickly followed by a second, before carefully placing the glass back on the coffee table in front of them.
“I guess,” Pip said, “thinking back to high school, I had boys who were mates, but none of them ever rocked my boat. But the girls did. And boy, did I have a crush on my English teacher. I would have walked a thousand miles on cut glass just to sweat in that woman’s shadow. But it wasn’t until I went to uni that I truly knew, and that I could say it out loud to myself. And of course, back then, it was a bit don’t ask, don’t tell, but there was a small group of us and we kept each other safe.”
Cole took a few more sips of her wine and stared across the room.
“It’s different for everyone. For some, there is no mistaking—they know right off the bat. For others, it takes a bit longer to recognize, act on, and be comfortable with their feelings. And for some people, it’s not about which way you swing—it’s about the person you’re in love with.” Pip let the concept that everyone was different sink in for a bit. “We’re brought up in a predominantly heterosexual world. Some people fall in love with the opposite sex, as expected, only to discover later that something is missing, or something unexpected and different comes along that makes them question who they are, and what they’re doing. There are a whole heap of differences of opinion about those few simple sentences. At the end of the day, it all comes down to who you love. You were engaged once, right?”
Precipice of Doubt Page 9