The people all looked up at Lettie and Tina motioned for her to lower her voice. ‘Yes. Brodie had to rush off and called after him for Bethan to follow. He didn’t like to let the other patients or their owners down by rescheduling their appointments, so asked me to stay behind and keep them updated until they returned and he could see them.’ She lowered her voice further. ‘I gather Brodie had offered to do a scan but the woman didn’t think it necessary because none of her mares had ever given birth to twins before.’
‘I bet she wished she had listened to him now.’
Tina nodded. ‘Bethan suspects it’s because he’s new here and so much younger than the previous vet, so some clients are finding it difficult to trust his diagnoses and think they know better.’
Lettie couldn’t help thinking how silly that was. Much as she found being in Brodie’s company a little disconcerting, as far as she was concerned the fact that he had only a few of years before qualified as a vet meant to her that he had been trained with the latest equipment and knowledge. Surely that was something to inspire confidence, rather than the opposite?
‘He raced off and Bethan followed as soon as I arrived and she had handed over to me. He’s incredibly dedicated.’ She smiled. ‘But I sense you’ve already noticed that about him. I can see that Bethan clearly has.’
What was that supposed to mean? Lettie wondered, not missing her friend’s innuendo. ‘I’ve noticed he’s a trustworthy vet, if that’s what you’re insinuating.’
She wasn’t surprised though. She might not know him very well but everything she had discovered about Brodie since meeting him again had shown her how caring he was to others, especially the animals he looked after. How could she not have a soft spot for someone who loved animals?
‘Hey.’
She realised Tina was trying to get her attention.
‘Sorry, I was thinking.’
‘About my dishy boss, no doubt.’ Tina raised an eyebrow, lowering it when Lettie glowered at her.
Tina knew her far too well to be fobbed off with a fib. ‘Maybe.’
Tina sighed as another client entered the reception. ‘I’d better get on. Thanks for collecting Noah.’
‘I can take him with me back to the farm if you’re going to be a while. You or Kyle could always fetch him on your way home from work.’
‘He’ll be fine. He loves animals and we have snacks here he can eat if I’m longer than I expect.’
‘Well, if you’re sure. Do call me if you change your mind. I’m only five minutes away.’
‘Thanks, Lettie.’ Tina kissed her on the cheek. ‘Noah, say goodbye to Lettie.’
Lettie bent to give the little boy a hug and left Tina to attend to the new client who had just arrived, relieved her friend’s attention had been distracted just when things were getting tricky. As she walked to the car, Lettie mused about Tina’s notion that Bethan seemed to like him confirmed what she had thought seeing Bethan’s reaction to Brodie that night in the pub. Lettie knew it shouldn’t bother her, but the pang in her heart told her otherwise. It was no business of hers if Bethan and Brodie became close. They worked together for long hours and were both single, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that they might become close. It wasn’t as if she was looking for a relationship with him, not when she had so much responsibility weighing on her for at least the next three months.
She pushed thoughts of Brodie aside, irritated with herself for daydreaming about him and silly what-might-have-beens. She needed to focus on the task ahead of her if she was going to succeed in looking after the farm while her parents were away, and the only way to do that was to ensure she had no distractions, real or fantasy, to take her attention from her farm work.
17
BRODIE
Brodie stopped to let a vehicle out of the car park and spotted Lettie walking along the pavement away from the practice. If only he hadn’t been stuck behind two tractors on the way back from the stables he might have been back in time to speak to her.
He parked the car and wondered why she had called in. Remembering Tina was working on reception, he grabbed his case and hurried inside. He opened his mouth to apologise to the waiting people who had brought in their pets when something slammed into his legs. Reaching down to catch whatever it was, Brodie laughed when he recognised the little boy of about two years old with a mop of dark wavy hair who had been in the pushchair when he helped Tina with her shopping.
‘Noah, be careful. I’m so sorry,’ Tina said hurrying out from behind the reception desk. ‘He can be a little whirlwind sometimes.’
‘It’s fine. I hope he hasn’t been waiting too long.’ He looked at the other people and gave an apologetic smile. ‘I hope none of you have been here for too long and I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I’ll just go through to my surgery and then Tina can start sendingyou in. If any of you would rather come back another day, we can arrange an alternative appointment with you.’
He turned to her and lowered his voice. ‘Bethan is on her way back now too, so shouldn’t be very long.’
‘That’s fine,’ she said glancing at Noah. ‘Come and sit with Mummy please.’
‘Don’t worry about him,’ Brodie soothed, wanting to calm her. ‘He’s been very good to have to spend time here when I’m sure both of you would have rather be at home by now.’
‘It’s fine,’ Tina said.
Brodie couldn’t imagine that was the case but thought it kind of her to try and reassure him. ‘Give me two minutes then send in the first person, please.’
