I’d have messaged them when we returned to Peartree Cottage but Caleb had asked me to hold Clemmie still while he cleaned her up so, as far as they knew, she was still missing.
‘No worries. I’ll see you out.’
He opened the front door for me and I stepped outside. ‘Thanks again.’
‘My pleasure.’
It made a change to see him smiling at me instead of looking grumpy or confused. I wasn’t sure whether it was the smile or the discovery that he was also a vet but now I could see that he had a kind face and smiley eyes. A feeling of guilt prodded at me once more. I was usually good at reading people but it seemed I’d been very wrong about Caleb. Mam had suggested I might be projecting my frustrations with Maddie onto him and it looked like she was right.
‘See you around,’ I said, giving him a warm smile. Even though he had no way of knowing what had been going on in my head, he might have picked up some negative vibes from me and I wanted to start over on a more positive footing.
‘Will do. And if you do ever fancy that brew, just knock.’
Mam and Maddie were in the kitchen and Maddie burst into tears as soon as she saw Clemmie.
‘She’s all right,’ I said. ‘She’s got a cut on her leg – long but not deep – so she’s had some meds and needs to wear the cone.’
‘Where did you get the cone and meds?’ Mam asked.
‘Caleb’s a vet too so he helped me find her – one of his cat’s favourite haunts – and then he fixed her up.’
‘I’m so sorry, Mum,’ Maddie said.
I was still angry with her for being so careless, but the important thing for now was that Clemmie was home and safe.
‘We’ll talk about it tomorrow.’ I kept my tone strong so Maddie was clear that it wasn’t going to be an easy conversation. ‘Right now, I want to get her settled in her bed and soak my hoodie to get the blood out.’ I groaned as I realised that I hadn’t picked up my hoodie after wrapping Clemmie in the towel. ‘My hoodie’s still at Caleb’s.’
It was my favourite and, if I didn’t soak it tonight, the blood might not come out.
‘I can get it for you,’ Maddie said, ‘or I can settle Clemmie.’
I pictured Caleb’s expression as he’d invited me to drop by for a brew another time and wondered if he’d been reflecting on our less-than-friendly encounters so far. The offer could have been him holding out an olive branch, which I probably should have accepted. He’d said he’d explain why he was a vet and a farrier after he got Clemmie fixed up and presumably he’d planned to do that over a drink, but I hadn’t given him the chance.
‘Please trust me to do something right, Mum.’
The pleading tone in Maddie’s voice brought tears to my eyes. This was my olive branch moment with her too and letting her retrieve my hoodie would not demonstrate any trust in her. I had to let her look after Clemmie.
I fixed my gaze on Maddie. ‘If I leave Clemmie with you, do you promise to stay with her for longer than a few minutes?’
‘I promise.’
‘I mean it! I might have a brew with Caleb.’
‘I’ll stay with her until you get back.’
I carefully passed Clemmie over as though she was a newborn baby. Maddie cuddled her close and whispered that she was sorry before leaving the kitchen.
‘She knows she messed up badly,’ Mam said in a hushed voice.
‘I’d be worried if she didn’t. I can’t talk to her about it yet. I’m so annoyed with her that I need overnight to calm down or I’ll make things worse.’
‘Completely understand. I’d be the same. Let’s hope some good will come of it and this’ll be a wake-up call for her to start listening and stop being so selfish.’
‘Would be good if it was.’ I sighed and shrugged. ‘Are you okay if I leave you again?’
‘Take your time. What was that about staying for a brew?’
‘Caleb offered me one and I said no but I’m thinking I should maybe have accepted, especially after how helpful he was tonight. I might have misjudged him. He actually seems really nice.’
