AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His thoughts drifted to Abigail and he wondered whether she was at school stewing and would be upset when he collected her later, angry he hadn’t let her spend time with her mum, or whether her excitement at the impending visit from her mum would overshadow her frustrations today. Perhaps he should be turning his focus to managing her expectations if Julie cancelled.
Gus inhaled the summer air, sure he could smell the sea out here, even though it was some way away. Perhaps it was wishful thinking, or maybe with the breeze it was possible. Time for him to stop stressing over things he couldn’t control. And thinking about the sea reminded him of Hazel and she was a distraction he didn’t need when he had to keep his mind on the business. He retreated inside and closed the back door before rinsing his coffee mug in the kitchen sink. The kitchen was still functional, although old, but it would do for his needs at the practice.
He checked his watch. Fifteen minutes to go until his first appointment of the day. His first appointment ever. And he let himself smile because this was how it started, first one client, then a second, a third, a fourth and so on until you had a practice so busy you couldn’t imagine it any other way.
A knock made him jump to attention and he went to the front door to find a big bunch of flowers and a woman who introduced herself as Valerie. ‘We’re business neighbours,’ she beamed, ‘these are to say welcome to the Cove.’
‘Wow, thank you.’ He took the flowers and gestured for her to come in.
‘No can do, I’ve dashed out quickly. Honestly, the flower business is hectic 24/7, all year.’
He laughed. ‘Good for you. Hopefully I’ll be that way soon.’
‘I’m sure you will be. Folks are very happy you’re here.’ She bent down and picked up something else. ‘You’ll be needing this, doubt you’ve got a vase.’
He had to laugh as he took the box with a picture of a glass vase on the front and held it beneath one arm. ‘Quite right, the last thing on my mind in a veterinary practice.’
‘Thought as much.’ With a wave, she was about to dash away.
‘Quick question, if I may.’ His voice stopped her. ‘Barney handed me a card for someone called Sandy, said to call on her if I need her for childminding.’
Valerie swished her hand through the air. ‘Don’t even hesitate. Wonderful girl, responsible, trustworthy. And she’s not one of those teens who just sit and watch reality TV with your kids either. She’ll have them cooking, playing games if they like; she earns her money.’
‘Appreciate the recommendation,’ he smiled as she went on her way. When he’d been in the pub with Joan and Abigail, he’d discreetly asked Terry the landlord about Sandy too and Terry, much like Valerie, was very complimentary.
Gus had only just set the flowers in water in the vase and placed them on the desk out in the reception area when the door opened and in came his first appointment: Lucy. And it was the same Lucy who’d been at the art class with Hazel and seen him naked, but he did his best to omit the association from his mind and focus on what this was today. His first patient.
‘Come in,’ he smiled. ‘Welcome.’
‘Am I the first?’ she beamed. ‘Ooh, nice flowers.’
‘Thanks. And you’re not the first, but whoever is in there is.’ He dipped his head down towards the cat carrier she was holding and more importantly the slate-grey cat cowering inside, as though it suspected nothing good could come of this outing.
‘Shadow, you’re honoured,’ she told her cat, setting the carrier down. ‘Took me ages to get him into the carrier, he knows it means it’s time for the vet.’
‘Cats aren’t daft, are they?’
‘It’s brilliant having you so close, much better than heading out of the village.’
‘That’s good to know. And I’m so close that you can nip out during work hours.’
‘Caught me,’ she smiled, hands wafting down from the top of her khaki dungarees to the bottom. Looking around, she said, ‘I feel a bit guilty, it’s so clean in here and now I’ve lowered the tone.’
‘No need to apologise at all. I understand you are the Lucy from Lucy’s Blacksmithing?’
‘That’s right. Did you get the local run-down from Barney?’
‘How did you know?’
She began to laugh, her blue eyes dancing. ‘Barney welcomed me to the village when I was new too, everyone has been wonderful. Once you’re here, you do realise we’ll make it hard for you to leave, don’t you?’
‘I wouldn’t want it any other way. And while I did get a good run-down from Barney, lots of which I’ve forgotten, this mention of you came from Arnold. We’re stabling our horse at Heritage View and Arnold showed me the little name plaques in the tack room. Denby only has hand-written name signs for now.’
‘And you want to upgrade?’
‘My daughter would love it. I thought I might get some special signs made in time to give her for her birthday which is coming up soon.’
‘Pop in whenever you pass by. I’m there early on until late most days, when the girls aren’t persuading me to knock off early. I’ve got plenty of examples of other work I’ve done that I can show you.’
