Twenty-Two
Sally sat in the waiting room of Davies the lower lashes were so long, he had the look of wearing eyeliner.
The Adonis look was completed by high, sharp cheekbones and a chiselled chin.
Chiselled?
Had she just described this man as being “chiselled”?
Well, there was a first time for everything and it was the first time she’d ever been struck this dumb by simply being in the presence of such startling good looks.
‘Good evening, Mrs Edwards, I’m Nick Davies, how may I… err… help you?’
He was looking around her, clearly confused by her lack of a pet.
As she struggled to draw in a breath, Sally now understood why the receptionist had been so cagey about giving out details on which vet she’d be seeing – she’d bet most of the local female population was almost bribing the poor woman to be alone with this man for ten minutes. She dreaded to think how often poor Flopsy the rabbit or Tiddles the kitten were being dragged along here.
‘Mrs Edwards?’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. I was… err… just trying to think of the best way to go about opening the discussion I would like to have with you.’
‘Okayyyyyyyy…’ The low, deep, timbre in which the word was slowly dragged out had her all of a fluster again.
‘Would you like to take a seat?’
‘Oh, yes, thank you, Mr Davies.’
‘Please, call me Nick. The “mister” bit is best kept for my father.’
Sally sank down onto the chair he’d pointed her towards, grateful that she didn’t have to stand any longer as her treacherous knees had taken jelly wobbling to a whole new level.
‘So, may I ask why you’re here, Mrs Edwards?’
‘Well, it’s kind of like this…’
Hesitantly at first, but growing in confidence as she got into her stride, Sally filled him in on her plans for the barn and her farm.
‘So, let me check I’ve got this right – you’ve bought an old farm over by Lower Ditchley which will be part B&B and part cat rescue. The cat rescue side will have its own veterinary surgery which while predominantly for the needs of the cats in rescue, will also offer a service to the local Ditchley population for small pets and you’re asking me to help you recruit a vet because, in your own words, “you really wouldn’t know where to start!” Is that correct?’
It was difficult not to grimace when the purpose for her visit was laid out so starkly before her.
‘Yes, that is exactly correct.’
Sally didn’t know where her bold attitude had sprung up from but she was grateful to it for coming to her aid.
‘Unbelievable! You are openly saying that you are looking to take some of my clients away from me and you want me to help you do it!’
‘Mr Davies… Nick, for reasons I can’t fathom, you’re the only small animal vet around for about fifteen miles which means you have a large catchment area. I had to book this appointment over two weeks ago and I have been informed that this is the norm. Trying to get your pet seen in the same week as your phone call is impossible. I think my suggestion is a win-win for all parties but most importantly, for the pets who need more immediate care.’
‘We have emergency appointments available.’
‘Emergencies are for animals who’ve been run over or ingested poison or something else equally urgent, not for little Tiddles who’s off-colour due to a large hairball or a rabbit whose nails need to be trimmed. I won’t be running away with your whole client list, only the smallest portion of it. I don’t want a large practice but the clients we hope to have will go towards covering the bulk of the running cost of the surgery, meaning that any profits made elsewhere can go into the cat rescue.’
‘Mrs Edwards, why do you want to run a cat rescue? Do you have any idea of what it entails?’
Sally looked at him for a moment, the seriousness of his question making her forget the effect he’d been having on her up till then.
‘Yes,’ she replied quietly, ‘I am more than clued up on what it entails.’
‘Really?’
‘Mr Davies, I used to volunteer with a local rescue when I lived in the Midlands. I have felt the pain of seeing young cats come in, heavily pregnant, and give birth within hours of being rescued only for the kittens to die because the mother had been no more than a kitten herself and her little body was not able to provide the nourishment they needed. I’ve had to hand-feed day-old kittens because they were the sixth or seventh litter the mother had had and she was unable to care for them because she was exhausted. I’ve seen cats who’ve been treated in the worst possible ways by the worst possible humans – arriving at the rescue scared and scarred, traumatised and terrorised and who would shake with fear when a human came near them. I’ve seen care-givers sobbing tears while their hearts break when the decision is made to let a cat go on its final journey because it is too ill to be saved.
‘I have also seen cats grow and develop from the loving care of the rescue workers. I’ve watched them become loving, purring little bundles of fur as they learn that not everyone is out to harm them. I’ve seen flea-ridden bags of bones turn into stunning animals worthy of any pedigree show because they’ve been fed decent food and received the proper level of care. And so many times, I have cried while saying goodbye as these rehabilitated givers of joy leave to go to new homes and learn what it is to be truly loved and wanted.
‘So yes, I am fully aware of what this will entail. I know I’ll be doing it 24/7 most of the time. I know how depressing and demoralising it can be. But I also know how incredibly rewarding it is. There is no greater feeling than when a cat who used to cower away from you comes running over and headbutts you with purring affection.
‘Make no mistake, I’m in this for the long haul and I hope that I have the support of you and your father but if I don’t… then fine, I’ll find someone else to help me.’
Unable to believe she’d just made such a speech, Sally bent down to get a tissue from her bag to wipe away the tears which had gathered in the corners of her eyes.
When she looked up, she was startled to see a look of total kindness on Nick’s face.
‘I’m in! I’ll give you all the help you need. Now, what do you say to getting out of here and joining me for dinner while you tell me more of your requirements?’