Healing the Vet's Heart

by Annie Claydon

  ‘No... It was nice of you. I’m just not that girl...’

  She seemed upset. Drew couldn’t let this go. ‘Not that girl?’

  ‘You know. Pretty girls who say the right thing and don’t speak their minds.’ Caro wrinkled her nose. Perhaps she thought that was speaking her mind a little too plainly.

  ‘You’re definitely not that girl, then. You’re a beautiful woman who says the things that should be said.’ The words came easily because they were true. And suddenly it seemed that Caro needed to hear them.

  She blushed suddenly, shaking her head. She really didn’t know how beautiful she was, and words weren’t enough to convince her. Drew reached for her.

  ‘Caro, I would like very much to kiss you.’

  ‘Would you? Really?’ She looked genuinely surprised. ‘I’d like to kiss you too.’

  He brushed his lips against hers and felt her melt against him. Then he kissed her again, this time a little more insistently. She gasped, smiling up at him, and he kissed her again.

  All thought was gone. All he wanted to do was carry her away and make love to her. And then Caro flung her arms around his neck, pulling him down for another kiss that was sweeter and wilder than the rest.

  She drew back a little, her eyes still warm with desire. Her hair blowing in the breeze. One last thread of sanity tugged at Drew. They had to stop this.

  ‘This morning... I had the best time. Thank you.’ Caro seemed to know that they had to stop, too.

  ‘Yeah. Me, too.’ He pressed his lips to her cheek in quite a different kind of kiss. One that allowed the possibility of a parting.

  ‘I think I need to go now.’

  ‘You have work to do?’ The thought seemed more bitter to Drew than usual. Caro would always put her work before anything else.

  She reached into her pocket, bringing out the stone he’d given her. ‘First of all, I have to find somewhere nice to put my milpreve. I want to be able to look at it.’

  That didn’t seem so bad. Caro’s rented house didn’t contain anything that seemed personal to her, and it was warming to think that this one thing was important enough to her to break that rule.

  ‘I’ll let you get on, then.’

  If she kissed him again, he wouldn’t let her go. Drew stepped back, and all the wild possibilities that had been swirling in his head began to fade.

  She nodded, and then turned, shouldering her heavy diving bag, and made for her car. If she looked back...

  Caro didn’t look back. She already had her eyes set on what was ahead of her, and she’d probably be working late tonight in her workshop to make up for the time she’d lost this week. He watched as she got in and drove away.

  That was the first time he’d kissed a woman since Luna had died. Apart from his mother, of course, and Ellie, but that wasn’t the same. It was the first time that his body had thrilled to a woman’s touch.

  And strangely it was all right. Gramps had said that guilt and loss wouldn’t always paralyse him, and that one day he’d wake up and find he was moving on. And Luna would have wanted that, her zest for life wouldn’t have tolerated him remembering her any other way.

  He picked up his stick and began to walk to his car. The one thing that he couldn’t move on from was the present. Caro’s work was all-important to her, all-encompassing. That was her choice to make, but Drew had choices too. He couldn’t deal with it, and this mustn’t happen again.

  * * *

  Why? Why? Caro hauled her heavy bag up the stone steps of Smugglers’ Top. The morning had been a whole kaleidoscope of delights in all shapes and sizes, the greatest of which had been the Drew-shaped one.

  She’d kissed him. It had been wonderful, and Caro was in no doubt that Drew had liked it too. He’d said that she was beautiful, and Drew didn’t lie. She’d known he wasn’t lying; no one could fake that kind of passion.

  And then she’d cut and run, like a scared rabbit.

  It was the only thing possible. If she let Drew into her life, then what happened next? The light out at sea? The rowing boat, braving the swell of the tide in the darkness? The knock on her door at midnight by a handsome adventurer? She’d trusted once before, and then she’d lost one of her most important projects and her home.

  She balanced the equation carefully in her head. On one side, Drew. On the other side, everything else. If he seemed to outweigh everything else, then that was just faulty calculation.

  She dumped her bags in the hall and walked into the bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror. Her fingers grazed her lips, and she could almost feel his kiss, still there.

  Beautiful. The word made her smile.

  ‘Nonsense,’ she reproved her reflection. Drew had reclaimed a part of his life this morning, and it was natural that he would feel a sense of euphoria. He’d got carried away.

  She took the milpreve from her pocket, turning it over in her hand. It had been a wonderful morning, and the glistening stone, worn smooth by the sea, would always remind her of his kiss. But now she had work to do.

  CHAPTER NINE

  CARO WAS BRIGHT and early on Monday morning, and looking as smart as she always did when she visited the clinic. The briskness of her manner told Drew that she’d made the same resolution as he had. Their kiss had been wonderful, and if it had settled the question about whether Caro was beautiful or not, he would be completely happy. But it was something that shouldn’t be repeated.

  ‘I made something. It’s a thank-you gift for the clinic.’ She dumped the box she was carrying in front of him on his desk.

  ‘That’s nice. May I open it?’

  ‘If you don’t, it’s not going to be a great deal of use, is it.’

  Okay. Logic trounced pretty much everything else in Caro’s book. Drew flipped open the lid of the box and saw a small robot dog crouched at the bottom.

  ‘Oh. That’s great. Thank you.’ Drew wasn’t quite sure what they were going to do with it, they had enough real dogs around here, but it was a nice thought.

  ‘You haven’t seen what it does yet.’

  He lifted the dog out of the box and tried to stand it on its legs on his desk. The legs weren’t stiff enough to hold the body and the dog collapsed into a sitting position. Maybe there was something wrong with it.

  ‘It’s supposed to be lying down. This is a very specific, sole-purpose dog.’

  Sole-purpose dogs were a new one on Drew, but he went with the flow. No doubt Caro was about to dazzle him with something clever. ‘What’s its sole purpose?’

  She rolled her eyes as if that should be obvious to him. ‘I noticed last week that there was a pup in an incubator. It seemed a bit lonely.’

  The pup had been very sick, although it was improving now. It had had blankets and a favourite toy but hadn’t taken much notice of either. Drew found the on switch for the robot, hidden behind its ear, and pressed it. The robot’s small frame began to expand and contract in a regular rhythm.

  ‘It’s breathing!’

  Caro gave him a reproving look, but obviously decided that she didn’t need to tell him that it wasn’t actually breathing, just that its chest was moving up and down.

  ‘I’ve heard about breathing pet comforters, and it seemed like a good idea. If the pup’s mother were with it, she’d be breathing.’ Caro frowned. ‘She’d be furry, too.’

  ‘Well...yes.’ There was that to it, but breathing was a good start. ‘I guess we could make it a coat.’ He wondered how Caro might feel about the clinic making alterations to her designs.

  Finally, she smiled. ‘Yes, that’s what I was hoping you might do. You know best the kind of thing that would be most comforting and what’s hypo-allergenic and so on. I’d like you to complete the design.’

  Drew was conscious of the honour that was being accorded them. Caro never hesitated in asking for the information she needed.
But she didn’t just turn her half-finished designs over to someone else for the finishing touches.

  ‘Thank you. This is really amazing. Perhaps we can get Tegan to sew it a furry coat while she’s sitting at the reception desk.’ Perhaps not. On second thoughts, Tegan probably didn’t do a lot of sewing but Drew didn’t rule out the possibility that she might have hidden talents in that direction. He decided that the question of who would actually do the sewing could be shelved for the moment.

  ‘So you like it?’

  ‘It’s a brilliant idea Caro, thank you. You did this at the weekend?’ Drew wondered whether she’d had any sleep at all.

  ‘It didn’t take long. I’ve got templates for all kinds of dogs that do all kinds of things. The thing that took longest was printing out the body, and I just set the printer going and went to bed.’

  That was a relief. ‘I’m going to show Ellie and Lucas.’ He picked up the dog, switched it off again, and made for the door. ‘Are you coming?’

  It seemed that the appeal of the dog had ended now that he’d confirmed that it was fit for purpose, and the problem at hand had been solved. ‘You go. I’ll go and calibrate the equipment in your surgery, if that’s okay.’

  ‘Sure. Go ahead. And thanks again, Caro, this is an innovative solution.’

  That made her smile. Caro was all about solutions. Drew tucked the dog under his arm, surreptitiously switching it back on again as he walked along the corridor. Caro had got the movement just right, and it really did feel as if it were breathing. Unless he was very much mistaken, Ellie would love this.

  * * *

  Back to normal. It was a relief, even if it was a disappointment as well. Drew hadn’t mentioned the kiss once. Caro had thought that was an excellent idea and neither had she.

  Ellie had made a great fuss over the breathing dog, although its movements and reactions were so simple as to be verging on the mundane. Drew seemed to want everyone to like the robot, and Caro was secretly pleased at the pride with which he showed it around.

  Caro had agreed to make another two of the dogs, and Ellie had insisted that the clinic should pay for them. When Caro had refused any payment, Drew had stepped in and settled the matter by ordering a box of printer filaments in return for the dogs.

  He’d promised to help put the dogs together, and Caro had left the larger plastic pieces to print overnight. But almost as soon as he arrived at Smugglers’ Top the following morning, his phone rang. He listened carefully to the voice at the other end of the line, his face darkening.

  ‘I’m sorry. I have to go.’

  ‘You’ve only just got here.’ It wasn’t like Drew to allow anything to interrupt what he was doing, and this must be important. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘That was Ellie. There’s been an oil spill out at sea...’ He shook his head, running his fingers through his hair.

  ‘Is it bad?’

  ‘We don’t know the scope of it. Just that an oil tanker’s run into trouble, and the crew have been airlifted off. Apparently it’s still afloat, and it’s being towed, but there is an oil slick forming.’

  He looked worried. Ashen.

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘Ellie says that there’s help on the way from the environmental agencies, but they won’t arrive until later in the day. We’re here now.’ He’d already pulled his jacket on and was halfway to the door. Phoenix seemed to sense the urgency in his movements and was trotting quietly behind him.

  ‘Wait. Drew, I’ll come with you.’

  He turned, his hand on the door latch. ‘It’s not your battle, Caro.’

  ‘What, because I’m not from Cornwall? We’ve only got one sea, and it’s as much mine as it is yours. Don’t you dare tell me it’s not my battle.’

  ‘It’s going to be hard work. Distressing at times, too.’

  ‘Well, if you’re up to it, I’m sure I am.’

  Drew smiled suddenly. ‘Okay. Bring a warm sweater and your drysuit. We can lend you an oilskin jacket.’

  Luckily, the drysuit that she’d been lent was packed neatly away in her diving bag, along with the warm underclothes that she wore with it. Caro pulled on a thick sweater, following him down the stone steps and onto the beach. They bundled into his car, and Drew stopped off outside a stone cottage in the village, going inside for a moment and then reappearing with his own diving gear. When they reached the harbour, it seemed full of people who knew exactly where they were going and what they were doing, loading boats and setting out to sea.

  She saw Lucas and Ellie exchanging a kiss before they split up to board separate boats. Jake wound his way through the crowd, catching up with them.

  ‘Can I hitch a lift?’

  Drew nodded. ‘Of course. I need to speak to Lucas before we go. I’ll catch up with you at the boat.’

  Caro could see Drew’s father’s boat further along the quay. A woman, with shoulder-length blonde curls, dressed in a woollen coat that incorporated all of the colours of the rainbow, was hurrying towards it, carrying two large bags. The man on board, who looked too much like Drew not to be his father, stopped to greet her.

  Jake nudged her. ‘That’s Diana, Drew’s mother. She never lets Peter go to sea without sandwiches and a flask.’

  The bag that Diana handed to Peter looked as if it contained a lot of sandwiches and more than one flask. Caro watched as Drew’s parents hugged, Diana’s long scarf fluttering in the breeze.

  Diana bade Peter goodbye and then turned away, catching sight of Caro.

  ‘Ah! You must be Caro.’ She thrust the second bag into Caro’s arms. ‘Drew texted me and asked me to bring my oilskin jacket for you. Here.’

  ‘Thank you. I’ll look after it and make sure I get it back to you.’ Caro put the bag at her feet, holding out her hand to Diana, who shook it vigorously.

  ‘I’ve been telling Peter that he must make sure that Drew doesn’t hurt his leg again.’ Diana leaned confidingly towards Caro and Jake. ‘Of course he’s a Trevelyan, so he doesn’t listen. They all think that they have everything under control and no one needs to worry about them. They’ll never change.’

  ‘I’ll keep an eye on him,’ Jake volunteered.

  ‘Would you, darling? Thank you.’ Diana turned to Caro. ‘I’ve been hearing all about you. You’re up at Smugglers’ Top, inventing marvellous things...’ Diana gave a wave of her hand to cover the full range of marvellous things.

  ‘I’m doing my best.’ Caro smiled, warming immediately to Diana.

  ‘Fabulous. Creativity’s such an important thing. And Jake’s been giving you diving lessons...?’

  ‘Try not to make it sound as you’ve been stalking her, Mum.’ Drew’s voice sounded behind her. ‘Caro’s not used to village gossip, she’s still under the impression that not everything she does is common knowledge within ten minutes.’

  Diana waved her son away. ‘Don’t listen to him. I’d be fascinated to hear more about your inventions, we must have tea together. There’s a little place overlooking the harbour that does a very passable afternoon tea.’

  ‘Thank you. I’d like that.’

  ‘Wonderful.’ Diana smiled at her, and then turned to her son. ‘Drew, darling, you will be careful, won’t you? I know that there’s no point in asking you to stay behind, but I just couldn’t bear it if you were hurt again...’

  Drew wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulders, taking her to one side and speaking to her quietly. They must have been words of reassurance because Diana was nodding, and when Drew let her go, she seemed reconciled to his leaving.

  Gramps came hurrying along the quay and got into the boat. Drew and Jake followed him, and Drew turned to help Caro. Peter gave Diana a cheery wave, and she waved back, her bright scarf fluttering in the sunshine as they drew away from the dock.

  Drew and Jake were talking to Peter, who w
as at the helm. Gramps patted the wooden bench beside him in an invitation to join him.

  ‘All right, lass?’

  ‘I think so. This is all very sudden, and everyone seems so concerned.’

  Gramps nodded. ‘Oil spills have done a lot of damage along this coastline. Drew doesn’t remember the worst of them, but he’s seen the effect it had on marine life. It strikes a cold feeling in the heart.’

  ‘Maybe it’s not so bad. Drew said they don’t know yet.’

  ‘That’s right, lass. We all need to hope for the best.’

  The boat lurched, and Caro felt suddenly sick. She clapped her hand over her mouth.

  ‘Bit queasy?’ Gramps leaned towards her.

  ‘When I came out last time, I felt a bit sick for a while. Then it passed off again.’

  ‘Come and stand by the helm. You’ll feel better there.’

  Whatever worked. A cold sweat was beginning to form on the back of her neck and Caro was glad of Diana’s thick oilskin jacket.

  ‘Out of the way, lads.’ Gramps selected the spot where Caro should stand and pointed to it.

  Drew turned to her. ‘Feeling sick? Take a few deep breaths. And don’t look down at the deck, look at the other boats. If your brain can gauge the movement, then your stomach will feel better.’

  ‘Or you could just give her a ginger biscuit.’ Peter glanced around at her. ‘I dare say Diana’s packed a few, she usually does.’

  ‘Yeah. That’s a good one too.’ Drew reached over to the bag that Diana had packed, unzipping it and bringing out a box of home-made biscuits. ‘There you go. Mum never forgets.’

  Caro nibbled at the biscuit, chewing on the small chunks of ginger. It was difficult to say which of the remedies had worked but she was feeling better now and ready to take on the task in hand. Up ahead, there was an oleaginous sheen across the water, and as they came closer, Caro could see that the white specks that dotted the surface were sea birds.

  Drew’s face became grim again. Caro moved out of the way as Gramps took the helm and Peter started to talk on the radio. He turned to Drew.