Chapter Five
When I arrive at the vet surgery on Wednesday morning to let the cleaners in, an elderly man with an ancient straw hat is standing at the gate.
‘G’day, there.’ He holds out his hand. ‘I’m Jimmy, Julia’s gardener.’
‘Amelie Peterson.’
He grins at Keith Urban. ‘Hello, mate. Gordon told me you were coming back. How’s your master really getting on?’
After telling Jimmy, on Keith Urban’s behalf, that Gordon’s health is slowly improving, I collect my bags from the ute and wait for Jimmy to step aside.
‘I’ve already let the cleaners in,’ he says.
‘They’re here for the kitchen and living spaces.’ I put the bags down. ‘I’m doing the waiting and treatment rooms myself.’
‘No access till next week.’ Jimmy taps his head. ‘Safety hats and all that with the scaffolding.’
I pick up the bags again. ‘I want to get in.’
‘Didn’t Julia explain?’ He grimaces. ‘She must’ve had one of her off days yesterday.’
‘I’m sorry she’s been unwell, but … explain what?’
‘Your hazmat crew will get rid of the dead cat and all that other palaver in the kitchen, but I’ve got strict instructions from Julia to get the whole of the terrace, the surgery and living space, cleaned up good and proper.
You’ll be good to get into the surgery once the builders have set themselves up, but the accommodation will be out of bounds until the end of January. ’
‘That’s not possible.’ I drop my bag at my feet. ‘I want to live in the rooms behind the surgery. Dr Brown agreed to that.’
‘You’ve got the cabin at Cam’s place. That’ll see you right.’
‘I said I’d be there for a week.’
‘As soon as the cleaners are out, that’ll be sometime later today, the builders will gut the back of the terrace. Kitchen, ceiling, internal walls, they’ll strip it out and start fresh.’
‘Why now?’
He puts his hands on his hips. ‘I’m thinking a dead cat might’ve had something to do with it.’
‘Yes, but—’
‘Dr Brown was Julia’s tenant, but he’s been cagey about letting her into the kitchen and sitting room.’ He rubs under Keith Urban’s chin. ‘It all makes sense now, him drinking himself almost to death, but he put on a good show in daylight hours.’
When my hands flutter in agitation, Keith Urban sits at my feet. ‘Why do the builders have to start now if they can’t finish till the end of January?’
‘They’re working either side of Christmas with a break in between. Sounds fair enough to me.’
‘I can’t live in the cabin until the end of January.’
‘Nice little place, in my opinion.’ Jimmy’s hat bobs up and down when he scratches his head. ‘And it’s not like anyone else is living there.’
‘No, but—’
‘Cameron’s property is coming along nicely. He’s got a lot of work to do yet, but it’s a nice patch of dirt—he paid a lot less than it was worth given it was on the mine side of the highway.’
‘I need to run a practice, Jimmy. That’s why I’m here in Summerfield.’
‘Julia says exactly the same.’ A slow and thoughtful nod. ‘With you medical types, people or pigs, it’s a vocation.’
‘Yes, Jimmy, but—’
‘It’s good to have a vet around the place again. What’s your specialty? Dogs and cats?’
‘Cattle and sheep.’
‘A slip of a thing like you? I wouldn’t have thought it.’ Jimmy’s face creases when he smiles. ‘Then again, I’m a landscaper by trade, and we’re getting more women into that. Did you come across Gordon’s granddaughter, Mackenzie, at school? She’s a saddler like Gordon.’
‘I don’t remember her.’
‘What with her parents at loggerheads, she was in Summerfield one minute then shipped back to Sydney the next.’ He holds out his hand. ‘You got business cards on you?’
‘I have a box in the ute. I’ll get you one.’
‘Give me the box.’ He rubs his hands together. ‘Dr Brown walked out of here months ago, so his clients had to go to other vets. How about I share your cards around and drum up a bit of business?’