Forty-One
‘So, how was your first day, Jools?’
‘Not too bad, not too bad at all although a number of the owners looked disappointed to see me – what’s that all about?’
‘Ah, they were probably hoping for Nick. He’s considered to be the “Catch of the Area” in these here parts.’
‘Right! I see. That would explain it.’
‘I wouldn’t worry about it though – Essie tells me they were all singing your praises when they came out. Your first impressions went down well.’
‘Let’s hope they stay that way.’
‘Did you have a look at Tabitha? Anything to report?’
‘On the outside, she looks good. Healthy coat and clear eyes but I’ve taken a blood test to check out her innards. Unsurprisingly, no microchip. Once I have the results, we can take it from there.’
‘Had she stopped trembling by the time you arrived?’
‘No, but she quickly perked up when I put some food down for her. She’d also used the litter tray and that’s a good sign.’
‘Fab. I’ll pop over later to put more food down and settle her for the night.’
‘Thanks. I can get on with sorting out my unpacking. Peggy was most put out that we couldn’t find her favourite dolly last night.’
‘Oh, the poor love. I hope she soon feels at home.’
‘I think the nice, secure garden Matt has provided for her to run around in will help with that.’
‘Look, I’ve got a stew going in the slow cooker and there’s plenty of it – why don’t you come over for dinner. I’m sure cooking is the last thing you want to do after your first day on the job and surrounded by cardboard boxes. Bring Peggy with you.’
‘Won’t your cat object to a dog being in his home?’
‘He can go upstairs if it’s a problem but I’d really like the two of them to grow used to each other given the close proximity we’re living in here.’
‘Then we both accept your kind offer, thank you. Is half-an-hour okay? I’d like to take a quick shower first – get rid of the smell of the surgery.’
‘That’ll be perfect.’
By the time her guests arrived, Sally had set up the small table Matt had cleverly concealed within the breakfast bar, sliced the fresh crusty loaf into doorsteps and opened a bottle of Merlot to breathe. The good thing about Juliet being just over the courtyard was that she didn’t have to drive home.
‘Ah, great minds…’ Jools placed the bottle of wine she’d brought over on the table alongside the Merlot.
‘Oh, there was no need to do that but thank you.’
‘I couldn’t possibly arrive empty-handed, that would have been very poor form. Although, I’m now worried you’ll think I’m a complete lush because most of my stuff is still packed up yet I managed to lay my hands on the alcohol!’
Sally burst out laughing. ‘Jools, I’d have been more concerned if you’d managed to move house without resorting to alcohol!’
She poured them both a glass and handed one to Jools.
‘A toast. Here’s to you, your good health and to helping a great many cats find happier, healthier lives. For the cats!’
‘For the cats!’
Once they’d sat down to eat, with bowls loaded with rich hot stew, and Peggy lying in front of the wood burner with a hopeful look in her eyes, Sally asked, ‘Do you find it hard being a vet at times?’
‘In what way?’ Jools replied while dunking some butter-lathered bread in the thick, beefy gravy.
‘Well, seeing animals that are poorly or suffering? Or worse, being asked to put healthy animals to sleep? I just couldn’t face that.’
‘I agree that having to deal with sick animals is difficult but knowing I can ease their suffering in some way does help. I can’t express how it feels when you’ve had an animal come to you in a bad way but you save it and bring it back to health. You can feel the animal’s gratitude and there’s no better feeling in the world.’
‘But, what about the flip side of the coin? That must be tough?’
‘Like you wouldn’t believe, Sally, but that’s the Yin and Yang of life – for every up there must be a down. When an animal is in pain, and there’s nothing I can do to make it well again, then the kindest thing is to let it go to its eternal sleep. It hurts like hell and I’ve cried more tears than I’ll ever be able to count for them but I find solace in the knowledge they are in a nicer place.’
‘You believe that?’
‘I have to.’
‘If it’s not too rude, may I ask what made you choose to be a vet?’
‘I love animals. I always have done, ever since I was born. We had a family cat, Tilly, when I was a baby and I’ve been told that I wouldn’t go to sleep until she was lying beside me. My mum panicked in the beginning, scared the cat would harm me, but then she saw Tilly’s presence soothed me and after that, the cat and I slept together for the next ten years. When she began to grow old and frail, I saw how the vet did his best to help her and when it was her time to go, he talked my mum into letting me be there with her at the end. He understood that I needed to be with her, that it was important for me to be allowed to say my goodbyes. That was the day I decided I would be a vet. I wanted to give to other animals and owners what he had given to us. Although I suspect the calling was always there, that was simply the day it became set in stone.’
‘Oh, how so?’
‘Other little girls had dollies, I had animals. Stuffed kittens, puppies, horses… you name it, if it was an animal in toy form, I wanted it. I still played nurses like other girls would do but it would be my animals lined up with bandages on or getting injections to keep them well. Clearly the latter came from Tilly receiving her yearly boosters. One story, which I was never allowed to forget when growing up,’ Jools gave a small laugh, ‘happened when I was about six. I was at my grandparents’ house and had followed my grandad up into the loft when he went up to get the Christmas decorations. While he was sorting out what he was looking for, I went exploring and found, tucked away at the very back, an old toy of my mum’s. It was a stuffed dog on wheels – I don’t know if you’ve ever seen them but the dog looks like an Airedale Terrier and it’s set on wheels allowing it to be pushed along. Anyway, I dragged this moth-eaten, threadbare thing over to my grandad and insisted I wanted it. He tried to talk me out of it – which was probably a mistake because that would’ve made me even more determined to have it – but to no avail. He brought it down from the loft and we compromised that if he took the dog off the wheelie-trolley thing, I could have it. Well, allegedly, my mother just about died when she came to pick me up and found me clinging on to this monstrosity for dear life. No amount of persuasion would make me give it up and, one snotty tantrum later, it came home with me. To add insult to injury, when Christmas Day arrived two weeks later, I dutifully opened my presents, said my thank-yous, pushed them to one side, and spent the rest of the day playing with Toby.’
‘Toby?’
‘Yup, that’s what I named the dog. Don’t ask me where it came from but it certainly suited him. With hindsight, I can understand why my mother was mortified because he really was a worn-out old rag of a thing but it didn’t stop me loving him and taking him with me everywhere.’
‘Do you still have him?’
‘Sadly, no. He “mysteriously” disappeared when I went off to university. I reckon my mum saw an opportunity to finally get rid of him which is a shame as I told him all my secrets while growing up and I would have liked to have kept him.’
Jools looked melancholily at her glass of wine before taking a large slug and emptying it.
Sally refilled both glasses with the rest of the bottle before clearing the empty bowls from the table.
‘Do you know what I find to be a good cure for lonely walks down memory lane?’
Jools looked up at her.
‘No, what?’
‘Large slices of warm lemon meringue pie accompanied with equally large, hefty dollops of thick cream. What do you say?’
The radiant smile which came back said it all.
‘I think that sounds like an excellent cure!’
Jools passed the remaining crockery from the table over the breakfast bar while Sally took the pie out of the oven, the warm sweet and tangy smells assaulting her as she did so.
‘Oh my, Sally, that smells delish! And it looks amazing. Did you make that?’
Sally felt herself blushing at the compliment.
‘Yeah. I like to bake and cook although I don’t do it as much as I used to.’
‘Why not? Blimey, if I could create something as yummy as this, I’d be baking and cooking every day.’
‘I used to, when my husband was alive but when he died… well…’
‘No fun cooking for one?’
Sally gave Jools a small smile.
‘Pretty much, yeah. It was easier to throw beans and toast together than to cook proper meals.’
‘Do you plan to do evening meals for the B&B? I mean, if what I’ve tasted tonight is anything to go by, you’d be daft not to.’
‘No, it would be too much work for me on my own, especially with having the rescue to look after too. I have been pondering on offering an afternoon tea for any guests who arrive early but, again, it’s a lot for one person and I don’t want to employ anyone as that would eat up any profit I would stand to gain.’
‘You could put out a small buffet, along with coffee and tea-making facilities, and folks could help themselves. You know, maybe some scones and a couple of cakes. Perhaps get some of those gorgeous big glass bell-jars which you could place over them to keep everything fresh.’
Sally looked at Jools and smiled.
‘That is a fabulous idea. It would provide the warm welcome I want our guests to receive without tying me down to the house. I can be here to greet them, show them to their rooms and inform them of the facility. That’s genius, Jools. You are clever.’
‘Oh, not at all. Just glad it’s a suggestion you can run with.’
‘Oh, I definitely can.’ Sally’s head was already running full of things she could make which would be quick, easy, and tasty.
‘Well, on that happy note, I’m going to love you and leave you. I don’t think Peggy will forgive me if she has to go a second night without her dolly.’
‘Thank you for coming over, it’s been lovely to have company.’
‘No, thank you for giving me a decent meal and letting me off cooking. I really appreciate it.’
Sally walked Jools to the kitchen door and watched as she made her way over the courtyard. She waited until the light went on in the lounge of the cottage before closing the door and locking it. Sure, it was only a small walk over the courtyard but that’s what women do for each other – make sure they’re always home safe.
As she pulled the heavy, winter curtains together across the large, patio doors, Sally thought back over the evening and found she’d really enjoyed Jools’ company which served to reinforce to her that she’d definitely made the right choice for her vet.
‘Did you enjoy having some company tonight, Herbie?’ she asked, as she plonked herself down beside him on the sofa and pulled her laptop over.
Herbert gave her a look that told her he’d been less than impressed with having a dog in his home but she knew he wasn’t as fussed as he was trying to make out – after all, if he had been, he would have headed upstairs to sleep on her bed and not remained curled up on the sofa, less than two feet from where Peggy had been lying.
She smiled as she typed “Glass Bell Jars” into the search engine and gave a warm sigh of contentment as she began scrolling through the results.