Page 51 of Never Too Late to Date

‘We’ve done all we can for her, so let’s hope it’s enough. Good luck, girl.’

For a moment, Vicky wanted him to stroke her hand too. It had been such an intense experience.

‘Can you finish up here? Deal with the surgical waste and put the instruments in the steriliser? I’ll be murdered if I stay any longer.’

‘Of course, go! And thank you once again.’

‘Don’t mention it. But you know we’re not out of the woods yet by a long way, don’t you?’

Vicky nodded.

If they hadn’t done anything, there was no doubt Dolly would be dead by now from her injuries. And if she’d agreed to Alex’s suggestion that they put her down, she’d have been helping him bury the little dog hours ago. The fact that they’d given her the tiniest of chances was enough for now. The rest she’d face bit by bit. Siga, siga, as the Greeks liked to say. Slowly, slowly.

Alex was halfway out of the door already.

‘She’ll come round fully soon. Get one of the volunteers to help you carry her over to a treatment room. The next twelve hours will be crucial. She needs monitoring every half an hour and keep up the painkillers and antibiotics. Make sure she’s not left on her own, won’t you?’

Vicky nodded furiously. She’d already planned to bunk down with Dolly. Maeve would surely have something useful like a camp bed. If not, a sleeping bag would do.

‘At least you’re the perfect person to do it with your nursing experience. I’ve not had such a useful volunteer in a long time.’

Was he actually paying her a compliment? Wonders would never cease.

‘I’ll be back first thing in the morning. Anything urgent, ring me, OK?’

Vicky nodded again. As soon as he left, her heart went into overtime at the realisation that she’d been left in sole charge of a very sick animal. It was what she’d asked for, but it was scary.

A memory swam into her mind of being left alone with a tiny baby the day Ian went back to work. Not that he’d been a whole lot of use, and he’d only taken three days off anyway, rather than the weeks or months young fathers were able to take these days. But at least there’d been someone else there with her when they’d brought their daughter back from the hospital after Tasha’s difficult birth, someone to hold her while Vicky went to the loo. Being responsible for a defenceless human on her own had sent her anxiety through the roof.

This was a very different situation, but it was giving her the same jitters. After disposing of the waste and setting the timer on the steriliser, she scrubbed her hands yet again. Someone trying the door handle made her look up. Hope flared for a moment that it was Alex saying he didn’t need to take the clinic after all. But the practical part of her knew it was impossible. The only other vet on the island was off in Athens.

It was fellow volunteer Aoife who popped her head round the door.

‘Alex mentioned that you might need some help.’

Vicky nodded.

‘Yes, thank you.’

‘Hey, are you OK? You look done in.’

If a twentysomething had noticed, she must look pretty dreadful. Vicky dredged up a smile from somewhere.

‘I’ve had better days.’

She leant over to pat Dolly. There was absolutely no response, although the dog’s breathing was a lot easier. It would be good to move her before she came round. Aoife also gave her pet a stroke. Her pet. It sounded weird, but that’s what Dolly was now. Hers. Aoife was still staring at her with concern.

‘I’m no vet. But that cute dog’s still out for the count. Let me get you a hot drink, and we can sit here a little while before we move her. I’m off shift now anyway.’

Aoife’s soft Irish accent was soothing on the ear. What her young housemate said made sense. Vicky nodded and sat down on one of the extremely hard white plastic stacking chairs, but kept within touching distance of the dog.

‘She looks so like Scout, my lovely little dog who died. I’ve named her Dolly, and she’s mine now.’

‘Well, isn’t that grand. I’ll just nip and get that drink, and I’ll be back.’

Aoife was treating her rather like an invalid, but Vicky was past caring.

The young woman returned minutes later, with a mug of tea and Maeve in tow.