“I’m so sorry, Cole.”
“Shh.” Cole kissed the top of Jodi’s head. “Just relax for a minute. Don’t think about anything.”
Jodi took a deep breath and let it out haltingly. “Fuck. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve lost the plot.”
“Tell me what you need, sweetheart.”
Jodi shook her head against Cole’s stomach. “I have no idea. It’s like there’s this huge disconnect between my brain and hands. But today…Christ, today my scalp started burning and I couldn’t think. The buzzing in my head was too loud.”
Cole held Jodi by the shoulders. “Part of me says that you need a break. But I’m afraid that if you take that break, you’ll never come back. Babe, this is your life. I’ve never seen a better vet than you.”
Jodi wiped her eyes. “Yeah, some vet I am. I’m afraid of my own hands, I don’t trust any of my decisions. Unless it’s to tell the clients to go away.”
“Your talent with animals is unsurpassed as far as I’m concerned. And everybody always talks about your beautiful bedside manner. People keep bringing their animals back to you because of you. They trust you to tell it like it is and not beat around the bush like some vets do. You aim right at the heart of the problem and treat it with a single purpose: to give that animal a longer or better quality of life. You do that, Jodi. You.”
Jodi leaned back in her chair and ran her hands through her hair. “You sound like Pip.”
“You should listen to her. She’s much wiser than me.”
“Tell me what to do. Because I sure as hell don’t know.”
Cole knelt in front of her. “Look, you’ve been working non-stop for as long as I’ve known you. How about we back down on your schedule for a bit. Maybe only take appointments three days a week. We’ll send all the surgeries over to Angourie. They’ll appreciate the extra business.”
Jodi bit her lower lip. She could use a break. And what Cole was suggesting might possibly mean she wouldn’t lose any clients. “Okay. I’m willing to try it.”
Cole smiled reassuringly. “And on your days off, you’re going to swim, and hike, and just bloody well relax.”
“And make love with you.”
Cole wiggled her eyebrows. “Well, that goes without saying, darling.”
Jodi only just managed to get through the next day’s appointments. Cole spent the entire day in the examination rooms with Jodi, helping her any way she could. Jodi trusted her to give vaccines and draw blood under her guidance, which thankfully covered the majority of the day’s business.
While Cole cleaned the exam table, Jodi drew vaccines into syringes and laid them out in preparation for the nine working kelpies a cattle farmer was bringing in.
“Watching you give the injections and doing the blood draws is actually very relaxing.” Jodi laid the charts side by side on the counter so they could apply the numbered stickers corresponding with each vaccine to each dog’s chart.
Cole shot her a grin. “And why is that, Doctor?”
“Well, mainly because I don’t have to do them at the moment.” Jodi screwed her nose up at her own absurdity. She was the vet, for heaven’s sakes. She should be performing those functions. But for now, she would go with the flow. And Cole’s suggestion that she let Cole do as much as she was able to was admittedly a good one.
“In time. You’ll be back at it in time.” Cole put the cleaning supplies away under the sink. She put her hands on her hips and looked around. “Well, after we’re done with the kelpies, that’s it for the day.”
Jodi looked at her watch and was amazed to see it was nearing five o’clock. “Wow. The day went quick.”
“Yep. Sure did. Oh. By the way, will you pick me up tomorrow morning?”
Jodi shook her head in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“After your swim, would you drop by my place?”
“Yeah, I guess. So you’re not spending the night?”
Cole kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Not tonight, sweetness. I have a few things to take care of.”
Jodi wrapped her arms around Cole’s waist. “Like what? What could possibly be more important than snuggling under the sheets with me?”
Cole rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “Okay, fine. I’ll tell you.” She tapped Jodi’s breastbone with her finger. “Tomorrow we’re going on a picnic. But not just any picnic. You see, after we eat, I want you to take yourself off for a hike. So keeping that in mind, make sure you dress appropriately.”
Jodi grinned. “Really?”
“Yes. Really. When you get home, spend some time thinking about where you’d like to spread a blanket on the ground as well as a place that puts you in a Zen spot.”
Jodi rubbed her nose against Cole’s. “You’re spoiling me. You know that, right?”
“Yep.” Cole turned Jodi away from her and gave her a little shove towards the door. “Go greet your next appointment, and make it snappy. I’ve got errands to run.”
The ocean invigorated all of Jodi’s senses as she freestyled through the thirty-metre ocean pool in Yamba the next morning. All the muscles in her body worked in unison to propel her against the waves breaking over the wall facing the seasonal swells.
Built into the rocks, the pool was cleaned regularly by the changing of the tides. When a southerly raced up the coast, it would oftentimes cast small sea creatures and fish into the pool. Jodi saw a myriad of them, made all the more clear by her swimming goggles. Three starfish clung to the rocks while a school of butterfly fish skittered away beneath her. A crab crawled sideways along the bottom, alternately picking up pieces of food with its claws and shoving them into its mouth. All of it made the hundred laps go faster.
Jodi got out and showered. She retrieved her bag of clothes from the Rover and went into the bathroom to dry off and change into her hiking gear. She knew exactly where she wanted to take Cole for the picnic. Purgatory Trail. She hadn’t been back since Big Bird’s release, and it’d been even longer than that since she’d taken the time to hike the area. She was going to change that today.
Cole walked out of her house as soon as Jodi pulled up. She wore a short-sleeved Karolina shirt that sculpted an airy and fluid silhouette, accentuated by skin-hugging shorts. Jodi gawked. Man, she’s gorgeous. She then realized she should probably help carry the huge basket Cole had in one hand while juggling two travel mugs in the other. Jodi quickly got out and relieved her of the basket.
“Strewth, this is heavy. What’s in it? The entire contents of your fridge?”
“You’ll see,” Cole sing-songed.
Once they were in the truck, Jodi leaned over and Cole met her for a lingering kiss.
“I missed you last night. I hope all your errands were worth it,” Jodi teased.
“That remains to be seen. Oh, wait! I forgot to leave a note for the lawn guy. I’ll be right back.” Cole shoved the mugs into Jodi’s hands, slid out of the truck, and rushed back to the house.
While she waited, Jodi took a sip of the hot coffee and had a good look at Cole’s house. Naked was the best word she could come up with. The entire house, it seemed, was surrounded by nothing but very short grass. There were no gardens, trees, or even a potted plant on the veranda.
“Okay. Ready,” Cole said, hopping back into the truck.
“How long have you lived here?” Jodi ducked her head to peer out the windscreen.
“Five years. Why?”
Jodi shook her head. “No reason, really. I was just wondering why you haven’t planted anything to make it more natural.”
Cole shuddered. “No way. Natural equals nature. And nature means bugs and other things that I don’t get along with.”
Jodi laughed. “They’ll still find you, you know.”
“Shh. Let’s get out of here before they hear you.”
Jodi shook her head in amusement and turned the key. “We’re a pair, aren’t we?” She glanced at Cole before turning out of her driveway. “I love nature, ever
ything about it. And you absolutely abhor it. It strikes me funny that you’ll actually handle any native beasties that come into the clinic.”
“Feather and fur, baby girl. I don’t mind them.”
“What about mice? They have fur.”
Cole visibly shuddered. “Except for them.”
“Antichinus?” Jodi said, referring to the tiny marsupial.
“Meh. Pushing it. Those things look too much like a mouse with a long snout.” Cole stuck her tongue out and shook her head.
“But they’re interesting little things. Did you know that the male actually kills himself through sex?”
Cole looked at Jodi in disbelief. “Really? Hm. Maybe I could tolerate them then. But they still look like mice.” She looked out the side window. “Where are we going?”
Jodi grinned. “We’re going to Purgatory Trail.”
“Isn’t that where Charlie released Big Bird?”
“Yep. It’s a beautiful spot. My boots have left a lot of tracks on the trails up there.”
“I’m glad you’re going hiking today.”
Jodi met Cole’s eyes and smiled. “Me too.” She took Cole’s hand in hers and squeezed. “Thank you.”
The rest of the drive went quickly, despite little conversation. Jodi relished the warmth of Cole’s hand in hers and held it continually. Even when shifting gears necessitated she let go, she didn’t hesitate to quickly relink her fingers with Cole’s thereafter.
The turnoff was even more disguised than the last time she was here by vegetation that had grown towards the middle, each side reaching to mingle with the other’s leaves.
“Wow. How’d you ever find this place?” Cole leaned away from her side of the truck as branches tried to press their way in, even though her window was closed.
“It’s not as overgrown in winter. But it was this time of year when I first came here,” Jodi explained. “I must’ve driven by the blasted road half a dozen times before I finally saw it.” She slowed the truck, shifted into low gear, and engaged the four-wheel drive.
“How far in does it go?” Cole seemed to relax a little.
“A fair bit. But we’re not going as far back as the release site. There’s a perfect little picnic spot close to the river that I want to show you.”
The truck had no problem going through the rutted and bumpy area. Jodi silently thanked the Land Rover for being tenacious and rugged. Just before the road rose up into the mountains, Jodi edged the truck onto a nearly imperceptible logging trail. She navigated over river rocks, through a small stream, and into a small clearing on the opposite side where she braked to a stop.
“Okay. We’re here.” She beamed at Cole and flung her door open. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Shards of sunlight pierced the lowest branches of the trees like golden swords.
Cole got out and joined Jodi. “It’s so quiet.”
“Come on down to the water for a minute. I want to show you something.”
The trail soon gave way to the trickling of water. They ventured down the embankment to where the river joined a stream that swirled and churned over rubbles of rocks.
Since Jodi’s hiking boots were waterproof, she didn’t hesitate to walk right into the shallow water. She stretched her arm out and beckoned to Cole. “Come on. Take my hand.”
“Nope. I’m not setting one foot in that water. I saw the cows we passed just before the turnoff. They probably pooped in here. There’s no telling what kind of nasty shit is floating around in there.”
Jodi rolled her eyes. “Really?”
Cole stood with her feet firmly planted on dry ground.
“Fine. Suit yourself. Just don’t go anywhere, okay?”
“I won’t.”
Jodi bent over and scanned the bottom of the clear running stream. She reached into the water, ran her fingers through the myriad of rocks, and waited for it to clear. She repeated the action several more times. When nothing of interest showed up, she sidestepped a few feet upstream.
“What exactly are you looking for?” Cole fanned a fly away from her face.
“I’ll know it when I see it,” Jodi said, resuming her search. Her efforts finally revealed a small stone. Exactly what she was looking for. She plunged her hand into the water and grabbed it between her thumb and index finger.
Holding her prize tightly lest she drop it, she waded back to where Cole waited.
“Have a look.” She opened her hand for Cole to see.
“What is it?” Cole picked it up and twisted it between her fingers.
“It’s a raw garnet. Put it up real close to your eye. Closer. Good. Now hold it up towards the light and look through the very top of it. That’s called the table. What do you see?”
Cole played around with the stone, changing its angle. “Oh, wow! A rainbow! How cool.” She looked at Jodi. “How’d you know what to look for?”
“My dad used to take me fossicking when I was a kid. The first time I came up here, I spent hours looking into the water. I have a couple big ones at home.”
Cole held the rock up to the light again. “This is just beautiful. Wait. I don’t see green or yellow in the rainbow.”
“Wait! What? Give it here a second.” Cole handed it to Jodi, who held it up to inspect it. “I’ll be damned.”
“What? Tell me.”
“It’s not a garnet at all.” When Cole’s face fell with disappointment, Jodi divulged her secret. “It’s a ruby.”
“Bloody hell! You found a ruby?” Cole looked back at the stream. “I don’t care what’s in the water any more. Let’s look for some more.” With her hands stretched out at her sides for balance, Cole waded in, exchanging grins with grimaces.
Jodi threw her head back and laughed. She pocketed the gem and joined Cole in the water.
Chapter Thirteen
Cole had laughed more in the last hour looking for precious stones than she had in ages. But more amazing than finding the stones was seeing glimpses of the old Jodi begin to uncurl and relax, shining as she should in the great outdoors that she loved so much. Each precious stone they found together not only held amazing colours within its hardened structures, but it also captured and held their moments of love and joy, each pebble safely stored away in their pockets, a treasured rich memory in and of itself.
It was only through the stark contrast that Cole realized how on tenterhooks she had been of late, watching over Jodi and the client workload. Not that she minded, nor would she trade for an instant, but it was good for both of them to be away from the practice, if only for a little while.
The weather was kind, the sun was out, and although humid, under the canopy of the sclerophyll forest, the air was pleasantly cool. With pockets full of precious stones, they sat on a large boulder, midstream, their knees bent, fingers entwined, resting against each other in peaceful bliss. Jodi sat behind Cole, arms wrapped around her. Who was leaning against whom was debatable as they moulded against each other.
Cole felt more than heard Jodi humming in her ear. The sound was barely audible, but the buzzing resonance of it was soothing. She closed her eyes and allowed her body and mind to melt into Jodi, with total trust and abandon—something she didn’t think she had ever truly given, or offered in kind, to anyone else. This thought surprised her and made her think about not only what she and Jodi had shared as friends, but also where and how their relationship was metamorphosing.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” Jodi’s voice tickled in her ear. “Shh. Don’t make any sudden moves. If you stay very still and open your eyes, you’ll see a platypus off to your right.”
Cole stiffened as she digested Jodi’s message.
“Shh, now. Just open your eyes.”
Cole supressed the sudden need to move, instead taking a slow, deliberate, measured breath before willing her limbs to stillness.
As if anticipating Cole’s move, Jodi tightened her arms briefly in an acknowledging hug. “Just off to the left, under that large willow branch overhanging the
water. There’s a half-submerged rock. Just watch. Keep your eyes on the rock.” Jodi’s voice was so whisper soft that it made her shiver.
Cole stared so hard she felt like her eyeballs were going to dry out. A head emerged, the bill scuttering across the surface, testing and tasting. Cole knew patience and stillness were the keys to potentially witnessing something wonderful.
In a most astounding moment, a tiny head appeared next to the emerged adult’s. Both Cole and Jodi took in surprised breaths when the parent platypus raised its head, tasting the air at the significant change and influence they, as intruders, brought to the quiet creek.
After what felt like an eon, the adult appeared to appreciate their non-threatening presence and relaxed, dropping its head, taking turns preening itself and its offspring.
Cole leaned back and whispered. “That’s amazing.”
“I know. I can’t believe what we’re seeing. In all my years, I have never seen anything like it.”
The awe in Jodi’s voice reverberated in Cole’s heart. If she could bottle this moment, she would gladly do it a thousand times over in order to have Jodi so happy and enthralled.
They sat transfixed for half an hour, watching the adult and baby platypus play. It was fascinating watching the youngster swim and dive and clumsily preen itself. With a last dive, they disappeared under the water and both Cole and Jodi sighed.
Jodi stretched behind Cole. “I don’t know about you, but I think my bum’s gone numb. I need to stand. You up to stretching your legs?”
“That was mind-blowing. But next time, remind me to bring a cushion.”
Jodi laughed as she stood and held out her hand, pulling Cole up on stiff legs. “Come on, princess.”
Hand in hand they stepped on rocks, manoeuvring through the stream back onto the grassy bank and to the Land Rover. Cole looked at her watch. “How about you go off on your bush toddle while I set things up here. I’ll have lunch ready when you get back.”
Jodi turned and encircled Cole’s waist with her arms. “Why don’t you come with me? We can both set up when we get back.”
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