The Vets at Hope Green, Part 2

by Sheila Norton

  ‘She’s not in her bed,’ Nana said, looking around the kitchen. ‘Oh, Sam! I forgot to shut her in the kitchen this time, when we went out.’

  ‘She’ll just be in the lounge, asleep in your chair,’ I said.

  But she wasn’t. She wasn’t lying in the sunshine on the windowsill, or chasing her ball under the table. The cottage was very quiet.

  ‘Ebony!’ Nana called in a quavering voice. ‘Where are you? Oh God, Sam, please don’t tell me she ran out of the front door when we opened it – you know how long I take getting up the dratted steps.’

  ‘No, we’d have seen her,’ I tried to soothe her. ‘She’s probably upstairs.’

  ‘She doesn’t go upstairs!’

  ‘There’s a first time for everything. Ssh, stop talking for a minute and just listen,’ I said, trying to sound calmer than I felt. ‘Ebony!’ I called.

  Sure enough, there was a squeaky little answering cry.

  ‘Yep, she’s hiding upstairs somewhere,’ I said. ‘She was probably scared when she heard us open the door, so she scarpered. I’ll go and bring her down.’

  ‘Oh, Sam, thank goodness she’s safe,’ Nana said when I’d retrieved Ebony from where she’d been hiding behind the bedroom door and put her in her arms. Her voice was shaking. ‘I’d never forgive myself if she ran off and got lost again. I’ve got quite fond of the poor little thing.’

  I smiled. ‘If we were to get her microchipped, you’d be able to let her out after a while – for a few minutes at a time, till she got used to the area. I mean, you could, if she lived here permanently,’ I added quickly.

  ‘If she lived here permanently?’ She gave me a funny look. ‘I thought you were taking her back with you tomorrow.’

  ‘I don’t have to. I told you, didn’t I – she’s going to the shelter. For re-homing.’ I paused, watching the expression change on Nana’s face. ‘But if someone were to offer her a home right now, she wouldn’t have to go…’

  ‘“Someone”?’ Nana said, trying to sound indignant. Then she laughed. ‘You know damn well I’d miss her now if you took her away to the dratted shelter. Poor little thing needs a proper home,’ she said, as the cat began to purr in her arms. ‘Of course I’ll keep her. You knew I would! Crafty little moo – I knew you had this planned all along.’

  ‘Well, I couldn’t plan for you to fall in love with her. That bit was up to you. But I must admit I was hoping. I love her myself, but I can’t take her. I know you’ll give her the best home she could wish for.’ I hugged her. ‘I’m so pleased you want to keep her.’

  ‘She needs someone, that’s for sure, poor little mite.’

  And so do you, I thought. But of course, I knew better than to say that. I didn’t want to push my luck!

  That evening, as Ebony dozed on Nana’s lap as usual, her ears twitching as she snored with gentle little grunts, we talked some more about my life in London and how I imagined things might work out for me. I think Nana was trying to reassure me, but the more we talked, the more depressed I felt about going back.

  ‘To be honest,’ I said eventually, with a sigh, ‘I just wish I could give it all up – my flat, my job, my whole life in London, and move … somewhere like this. Somewhere quiet and friendly, to bring up my baby. But I know that’s just make-believe. Escapism.’ I remembered what Adam had called it, and I added sadly, ‘A silly roses-round-the-door fantasy.’

  ‘Why?’

  I laughed. ‘Well, for a start I’d have to find somewhere to live. And just as important, I’d need to work.’

  ‘Don’t be daft. My spare room’s big enough to put a cot in, isn’t it? What more do you need? And I thought you said your mum and dad were going to help you financially?’

  I looked up in surprise. ‘You’re suggesting I move in with you?’

  ‘Not if you don’t want to, of course,’ she replied slightly grumpily. ‘I’m only your grandmother; it’s nothing to do with me. I suppose you’re too independent, what with your London flat-share and all—’

  ‘No! I don’t even like the flat any more, and London, well, it was great when I first moved there, but now, it’s just not really what I want. It’s one of the things Adam and I argued about.’

  ‘So what’s stopping you? You love your job, I suppose.’

  ‘I’d miss my favourite clients and their pets, of course, and I’d miss Claire, but other than that, well, I’ve been feeling for a while that I needed a change. But Nana, I know I’m going to need Mum and Dad’s help and I’m grateful for it, but I don’t want to be dependent on them any more than I can help.’

  ‘’Course you don’t. But you’ll get a job sooner or later won’t you, and meanwhile you’ll be saving on your rent, and your fares on the dratted Tube trains, and your mum and dad can afford to help out, so let them! It’ll be their grandchild!’

  ‘That’s what Mum said too. I think she was just relieved I didn’t want to move back in with them.’

  Nana laughed. ‘I can imagine! Well, I’m not going to try to talk you into anything. I’m saying nothing, I’m only your—’

  ‘—grandmother!’ I finished for her, laughing.

  ‘Exactly, and you’re not to worry about me, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’ve loved having you here, but I’ve got company now, thanks to you.’ She nodded at the sleeping cat on her lap. ‘But think about it. That room upstairs is yours, whenever you want it. I wouldn’t want any rent from you or any nonsense like that. Just some help with the shopping, perhaps. And Hope Green is a lovely place to bring up children.’

  I knew that. And Nana’s offer was a complete surprise, but I had to admit I was very tempted. I thanked her and said I’d think about it and went to bed with my head buzzing. I tossed and turned all night, trying not to imagine a cot next to the bed, baby clothes in the chest of drawers, a chair by the window where I could sit, for the endless night feeds I’d heard all about from Claire. Could I really move in here? Make a life here for myself and my baby in Hope Green? If I was honest … I couldn’t actually remember the last time I’d felt so excited by anything.

  Chapter 12

  Claire thought I was being too impulsive. She was so shocked by my decision, she was nearly in tears. It was hard, knowing I wouldn’t be working with her any more, and I knew she was worried about me. But I couldn’t let myself waver. If I started thinking about the people I’d miss, I might change my mind – and I didn’t want to. Claire and I would keep in touch, and when I reminded her how long I’d been feeling unsettled and explained that Nana needed help and company now, she could see where I was coming from.

  Mum was equally gobsmacked. But without either of us actually saying so, we both understood that it would be a huge weight off her mind to know I was keeping Nana company and looking after her. She was obviously concerned that I was giving up my job, without having a new one. But as the holiday season was approaching, I’d look for a hotel receptionist post in one of the nearby seaside resorts. And if I didn’t find anything else there was always the Old Black Horse or the village shop which would both need temporary summer staff.

  I handed in my notice straight away. Now it was all settled, I didn’t want to waste any time. The time spent in London just seemed to intensify my longing for a new life in Hope Green. It seemed to be calling me back, and Nana was bubbling with excitement, telling me how pleased all her friends in the village were about me moving in, and how much she and Ebony were looking forward to it.

  ‘I keep telling her: “Little Sam’s coming back!”’ she said happily. ‘And she puts her head on one side and purrs at me, Sam! It’s like she knows exactly what I’m saying.’

  I couldn’t wait to see the little cat again. I was missing her almost as much as I missed Nana. Everything seemed to be falling into place. My landlord happened to have a niece who wanted a room, so he was happy to take a fairly short notice from me. And the practice manager at the vet clinic had deducted some notice in lieu of holiday I hadn’t used, so it looked like I’
d be able to make the move quite quickly. The only person who’d been really negative, not to say sarcastic, about my news was Adam. But his (so predictable) comment that I was finally getting my little country cottage fantasy out of my system just made me laugh.

  ‘Well, good luck, then, let me know how it goes,’ he’d said, not sounding particularly sincere. I was sad to think that he wasn’t even a little bit interested in the baby. I wondered if he’d change his mind and regret it later. I decided I’d make a point of emailing him updates and pictures of the scans, but other than that I thought it was unlikely we’d be in touch again until I had the baby. The thought didn’t bother me. I had too much else on my mind.

  During my remaining time at James Street, I spent my lunch breaks on job websites. Looking back, I can’t imagine how I failed to realise what later became blindingly obvious. I was so focused on the presumption that I’d have to settle – at least in the short term – for hotel work or something similar, it didn’t even cross my mind to look for anything else. And then, one day as I scrolled down the lists of temporary vacancies being offered by yet another Dorset-based employment agency, Mr Fulcher paused as he passed me.

  ‘No luck yet?’ he asked.

  I shook my head. ‘There seem to be at least fifty people going after every vacancy – even for temporary summer jobs.’

  ‘You don’t want to stay in this same line of work, then?’

  ‘I didn’t think there’d be much chance of that, at such short notice. These jobs are so popular, aren’t they – they get snapped up …’

  ‘Well, have a look at one of the vet staff job sites, if you haven’t already,’ Mr Fulcher suggested. ‘I’ll obviously write you a good reference.’

  And then it suddenly came back to me. Daisy-May was retiring. Had I deliberately blanked that out of my mind? Well, let’s face it, I’d rather work for the rest of my life in a dead-end, low-paid, no-prospects job than put up with that particular person as a boss! But to stay working in a vet’s was too much an opportunity to pass up…

  If I’m honest, I was kind of hoping that, when I looked at the website, the Hope Green vacancy might have already been filled. But no, there it was, glaring back at me, the proposed salary naturally lower than mine in London, but higher than the hotel jobs I’d been applying for. I knew that anyone in my position with an ounce of sense would be rushing off their application and praying with all their might that they’d get the job. Anyone who didn’t know Joe Bradley, that is.

  I sat for several minutes thinking about it. Okay, I had to go for it, didn’t I? The timing was perfect and I was ideally qualified for it. It would be immature of me to ignore the opportunity because of what amounted to … a personality clash. Stop being such a wimp, Sam, I thought to myself. What’s the worst that could happen? I might not even get an interview – Joe Bradley didn’t seem to like me any more than I liked him. He’d probably be horrified to see my name on the application. Well, I’d email it off now, and then put it out of my mind. And keep hoping something else would turn up.

  Of course, nothing else did. And on my very last day in London, there was an email from the recruitment company, offering me an interview the following week. Nana was full of excitement when I told her.

  ‘What a stroke of luck! Just when you needed it! Silly me, I forgot Daisy-May was retiring, or I’d have put you forward for the job myself.’

  ‘I’m not even sure I want it,’ I said. But she didn’t hear me.

  When I arrived at Meadow Croft cottage, the car full to the brim with my belongings and a bright smile on my face, I was greeted with a gratifying display of purring and tail waving from Ebony and the aroma of Nana’s usual freshly baked cake emanating from the kitchen. I could see straight away that the little cat was already looking more healthy and energetic. And after lots of hugs and cuddles with both her and Nana, I started carrying my stuff in from the car. I was just struggling to get through the door with a box full of extra kitchenware that I knew Nana would never use, when David passed by with Mabel and Tess.

  ‘Good to hear you’re back to stay this time,’ he called out cheerfully, adding, ‘That looks heavy. Can I help?’

  ‘No, you’ve got your hands full with the dogs. I’m okay, honestly – that’s the last one.’ I put the box down just inside the front door and pulled the door closed behind me. ‘Got to keep the door shut – can’t let Ebony escape.’

  ‘Oh, yes, your nan’s little cat. Is she still not allowed out?’

  ‘I’m taking her to be microchipped tomorrow, then we’re going to start letting her out. I wanted Nana to wait till I was here. She’s panicking a bit about the thought of losing her.’

  ‘Of course. Understandable, in the circumstances, her having been a stray, I mean.’ He smiled. ‘I’ve got a cat myself, did I tell you? So I know how worrying it is if they disappear. Good idea to get her microchipped, just in case.’ He pulled a face. ‘Pity it means you have to face our miserable vet, though.’

  ‘Yes.’ I hesitated. ‘Although, as it happens …’ And I explained about the job interview, wondering if he’d tell me I must be raving mad to consider it. But he was apparently far too tactful.

  ‘Well, good luck, then. It’d be really convenient, wouldn’t it? If you get the job. I’d see you when I have to bring KitKat in for his vaccinations—’

  ‘KitKat?’ I asked, laughing.

  He shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. ‘I couldn’t think of a name when I first got him, so I started calling him that as a kind of nickname, and, well, it stuck. He seems to like it,’ he added.

  ‘That’s a good enough reason to call him it,’ I agreed.

  The dogs were straining on their leads by now and I needed to go in and get on with my unpacking.

  ‘See you soon, Sam,’ he said, and then stopped suddenly and added, ‘Look, if you ever fancied joining me on a dog walk, you’d be very welcome. I do a couple of evening walks for the Crowthers – they’re always working late – and I walk the beagle and the Jack Russell every weekend.’

  ‘Oh, thanks. Yes, I’d like that,’ I said.

  We arranged that he’d call for me on the Saturday morning, and I was smiling to myself as I went back indoors. I’d been resident at Hope Green for less than an hour and already I’d got a play date with a friend and two dogs! It was so nice to have met somebody I could have a laugh with, someone fun and uncomplicated who seemed to enjoy the same things as I did – walking, and animals, and generally not taking life too seriously. I was already looking forward to seeing him again on the Saturday.

  The following day, with Ebony in her new carrying basket, I walked down the road to the vet’s. It was a beautiful morning, with apple trees laden with blossom in people’s gardens, the clematis in full bloom climbing up the wall of the pub. I breathed in the fragrant air as I passed the lilac bushes bordering the teashop’s little patio and felt glad to be alive, glad to be out of London, away from the traffic fumes and, yes, the dratted Tube trains! But then I pushed open the door of the vet’s, and my good mood evaporated as I remembered just how unpleasant and arrogant Joe Bradley could be, and how embarrassing it had been to bump into him at the petrol station.

  Daisy-May was busy on the phone, looking stressed out as usual, so I just waved at her to let her know I’d arrived, and didn’t even have the time to sit down before Joe called me in. I was uncomfortably aware of the fact that he knew I’d be coming back for a job interview with him a few days later. I wondered if he would mention it, and couldn’t help getting the feeling that he’d be assessing me even while I was here as a client, and finding me lacking in some way.

  ‘I’ve brought Ebony in for microchipping,’ I told him, doing my best to sound assertive.

  ‘Ah, yes.’ He raised his eyebrows at me. ‘The little cat you left in your car at the petrol station.’

  ‘It was only for a—’

  ‘Few minutes, yes I know. And the car was locked. So no harm done,’ he finished for me. So why b
ring it up? ‘Okay. Pop her up on the table for me, would you? She’s a cute little thing, isn’t she?’ he added in his gentler voice that I had come to recognise.

  He stroked the little cat’s head as she tried to shrink away from his touch. I watched, suddenly aware of how strong and brown his hands were. Then he looked up at me and I flushed and looked away. The young nurse Natalie was handing him the microchip implanter and I concentrated on giving her the details for the register.

  When it was time, I held Ebony still for Joe as he pinched the skin between her shoulder blades and swiftly inserted the microchip. ‘It’s all right,’ I soothed her.

  ‘Good girl, that’s it, all done,’ he said, stroking her again. ‘You’d better not start letting her out yet, though,’ he added. ‘She hasn’t been spayed. Would you like to book her in for that?’

  ‘Oh – yes, I’d better. I don’t want Nana to have the worry of a litter of kittens!’

  ‘Good. She looks like she’s already in better health. Your grandmother must have been looking after her well – and you, I suppose, now you’re here,’ he added grudgingly. He turned back to me, looking as if he was trying to force a smile. ‘It’s good that your grandmother’s got a new companion, after losing her dog.’

  ‘Oh, well,’ I said, flustered. ‘I’m just pleased to be here, to look after her and help her a bit.’

  The smile disappeared.

  ‘I meant the cat,’ he said flatly, and turned away to update his computer.

  I paid Daisy-May, booked an appointment for the operation and left, feeling stupid, wondering why I let him get to me, wishing I didn’t. Feeling in need of a friendly chat, I went over to the shop to see Izzie. She waved to me from the till as I headed in her direction.

  ‘Fantastic news that you’re here to stay!’ she exclaimed. ‘It’s so nice to have someone new here. Most of the villagers – including my family – have been here since the year dot.’

  ‘Well, my nan’s been here since she and my granddad retired. And I’ve been coming for holidays every year. I just never seemed to meet you before.’