Chapter 23
Brodie pushed a hand through his salty, damp hair. He had lost track of time, the surf had been so perfect. It was the best surfing he had enjoyed since his return to live on the island. Exhilarated, Brodie wondered what he should do for the rest of his evening. He had some bills to sort through but that could wait until his lunch break the following day as nothing was urgent. He indicated and turned into his parking area behind the practice noticing a car parked there.
Unsure why anyone would park at the surgery after hours, he pulled in to park his car by the cottage and spotted someone with a dog on a lead. He turned off the ignition and got out of his car, seeing that it was in fact Lettie and she had a dog that he didn’t think was hers on the end of what looked like blue baler twine.
His heart raced. ‘Are you waiting to see me?’
He listened while she explained what had happened and why she couldn’t take the dog home with her to the farm. ‘I’m not sure what to do next but now you’re here I’m hoping you’ll be able to give him a quick examination just to check he’s OK.’
He was happy to. ‘Let me just get my keys and I’ll meet you at the front door. I won’t be long.’
He saw her looking him up and down before smiling. ‘You’ve been for a swim.’ He wasn’t sure if it was a statement or question, then remembering Lettie was from the island and no doubt used to seeing people who’ve just come out of the sea assumed it was a statement. ‘It was brilliant down there tonight. Do you surf?’
‘No, I’ve never learnt. I prefer swimming.’ She bent to stroke the dog.
‘Sorry. You go ahead and I’ll catch up with you. I need to fetch my keys.’
He realised it was the second time he had mentioned his keys and hoped she didn’t pick up how awkward he felt finding her there so unexpectedly.
Shortly after, Brodie unlocked the front door and switched on the lights before holding the door open for Lettie and the dog to come inside.
‘If you follow me through to the surgery, we can have a good look at this sweet little guy.’
Lettie smiled and he could see that she had already fallen for the stray. ‘He is adorable. I’m not sure if it’s because of the odd way he looks, or despite it.’
Brodie wasn’t sure either but as soon as he picked up the dog and it nuzzled him, he felt his heart melting. He put a hand on either side of the dog’s head and stroked his ears between his thumbs and forefingers. ‘Where have you come from then?’
‘I don’t think he’s chipped,’ she said frowning. ‘I tried to feel for a chip as I stroked him, but didn’t come across one.’
Brodie lifted the dog onto the examination table and after a bit of snarling and comforting, the dog calmed down and let him check his paws.
Carefully checking each pad on the paw, then in between each one, Brodie spotted something thornlike sticking into the area between two of the paw pads. ‘Ah, this looks like what could be upsetting him.’ He selected a pair of tweezers while Lettie soothed the dog. ‘If you keep hold of him in case he decides to jump off that’ll be great.’ He carefully parted the two pads and extracted the offending piece of material. ‘I think it’s from a thistle or something. Poor little guy. No wonder he couldn’t stand on it.’ He put antiseptic onto the paw and tidied up while Lettie cuddled the dog.
Relieved that it hadn’t been too difficult to resolve the poor dog’s issue, Brodie placed the tweezers into a basin and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.
‘What will we do with him now?’
He couldn’t miss the concern on Lettie’s face and not wanting her to worry said, ‘I’ll keep him with me.’
‘You will?’ She gave a relieved sigh. ‘That’s wonderful.’
‘I’m happy to take care of him until we can trace his owners.’ It occurred to him he wasn’t sure how best to do that. ‘I’ll quickly scan him to check if he’s been microchipped but if we don’t have any luck with that we’ll have to place an advert about him being loose somewhere.’ He picked up the scanner and tested it was working. ‘This shouldn’t take longer than ten to twenty seconds.’ Brodie positioned the scanner above the dog’s shoulder blades, then moved it slowly over the dog’s sides. ‘I’m going to check again to make sure I haven’t missed it,’ he said, disappointed. ‘It doesn’t look like he has one though.’
‘What are we going to do now?’ Lettie asked.
‘Is there a parish or village paper or magazine or something?’
‘There is but it’s quarterly and only came out last week. Leave it with me. I’ll take a photo of him now, if you want to hold him still.’ She took her phone from her pocket and took a few photos and checked them. ‘This one will do don’t you think?’ She turned the screen to face him and Brodie bent forward to have a look.
‘Yes, that’s a good one.’
‘Great. Now I’ll ask Tina where best to post it. I’m a bit out of the loop with local groups and there’s bound to be a couple on social media. We can take it from there.’
‘Good thinking.’ She really was lovely, Brodie thought, his pulse racing when she caught his eye and stared at him.
She frowned after a few seconds. ‘Is everything all right?’
Brodie realised they hadn’t been having a moment, but that she had been wondering why he was staring at her. He nodded and turned away. ‘Yes, I was just, um, wondering what his name might be.’
He turned back to her with an antiseptic wipe ready to clean down the examination table.
Lettie was whispering something to the dog then looked up. ‘I know, we could call him Thistle, just until we discover his actual name. What do you think?’
‘It’s as good a name as any.’ Brodie narrowed his eyes. ‘I have an inkling that you’re getting a little too attached to Thistle already.’
Lettie harrumphed. ‘I could say the same about you. You’re the one who’s offered to keep him.’
She was right. ‘I was only being professional.’ He laughed when he saw she didn’t believe him. ‘Never mind me,’ he said pulling a face. ‘I suppose I should let you get back to the farm.’
Was that a disappointed look? No, but it was wishful thinking on his part. When she didn’t move, he wondered if maybe she might want to join him for something to eat. ‘If you’re not in a rush and haven’t had supper I’ve got a lasagne and salad I’ll be happy to share.’
‘I, oh.’
Damn, he had misjudged her reaction. ‘No, you’ve probably got something to eat already. Or maybe you’re meeting someone for supper?’ Why had he said that? Fool.
‘Um, no. None of those. I was just wondering how much I owed you for checking Thistle.’
Hurt that she expected him to charge her for examining the dog, Brodie had to bite back a retort. ‘There’s no charge.’
‘Are you sure?’
He bent to stroke Thistle’s head, not wanting her to see how offended he was by her question. ‘Yes. You’ve been good enough to bring this little guy in to me and I’m happy to take care of him for now. Why would I charge you for that?’
She frowned. ‘Because you’ve given your professional time when I’ve asked you to.’
He decided he needed to get to know this girl better so she would read him better in future. ‘I tell you what. I won’t charge you if you’ll keep me company and help me eat the food I bought earlier. Agreed?’
Lettie’s expression softened.
He suspected she was feeling as awkward as him. ‘Well?’
‘Only if you have something for Thistle. I only had two gravy bones to give him, so he’s probably very hungry.’
‘We can grab a bag of dog food from reception and I’ll settle up with Bethan in the morning.’
‘Good idea.’ She lifted Thistle down from the steel examining table, giving him a cuddle before placing him on the floor. ‘In that case, Thistle and I are happy to accept your invitation to supper in your cottage.’
He led the way out of the surgery and opened his cottage door and held it back for Lettie to lead Thistle inside. She stopped and looked around the tiny hallway, ‘I was wondering what this place was like inside.’
‘Run-down.’
‘It is a little, isn’t it? This way?’ She pointed to the door on the left.
‘Yes, unless you want to go to the kitchen and start the cooking.’
Lettie shook her head. ‘I’ll leave that to the host. I’ll make Thistle’s supper though, if you can find me a bowl for him.’
Thistle fed and drinking water from the second bowl, Brodie stabbed the film on the top of the lasagne and popped it into the microwave before he set to work washing the salad. ‘It’s not exactly the sort of fare you’re used to.’
‘How do you know that?’ Lettie asked leaning against the opposite worktop to where he stood at the sink.
‘I’ve been in your mother’s kitchen, don’t forget. I’ve seen the cakes she made and tasted one. I can imagine how well she feeds her family.’
‘Ah, but I haven’t been living at home for several years,’ Lettie reminded him. ‘When I was in my flat in London I tried to cook proper meals but most of the time I was too hungry after work to be bothered. This sort of meal is very much what I’ve been used to.’
‘So you don’t consider this a proper meal then?’
She laughed, clearly embarrassed. ‘Sorry, that did sound a little insulting.’
‘It’s fine. I’ll have to make sure to show you just how well I can cook another time, won’t I?’ He expected Lettie to continue the banter that had been flowing between them but when his only answer was silence, Brodie turned to face her to see what was wrong. ‘Sorry, did I say something I shouldn’t?’
‘No, it’s just that…’
She was embarrassed and he had inadvertently put her in an awkward position. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to make things awkward between us. I know you’re seeing someone, so I understand that you coming here for a meal probably isn’t appropriate.’
‘Seeing someone?’ She thought for a moment. ‘Oh, you mean Joe.’
Who else could he mean? Brodie wondered. ‘I just assumed. That is, seeing you in the pub with him last night.’
She stared at him thoughtfully and he couldn’t work out whether she was trying to decide if she was seeing Joe on a romantic level, or if she was trying to work out how to let Brodie down gently. Either would be a disappointment. Then he remembered his promise to himself not to get involved with clients. Was she a client though? He thought of her farm and supposed she was as she was now running things for her father.
‘Brodie, are you all right?’
Brodie’s stomach growled in reply, making them both laugh. ‘I think that answers your question.’
‘It does.’
‘Lettie,’ he said just as she was leaving the kitchen. She turned an expectant look on her face. ‘I just wanted to say that I know you’ve got a lot on your plate with the farm, but I hope you know I’m here if you ever need me for anything.’
‘Um, thank you, Brodie. That’s very kind of you.’
There was an awkward silence, which he felt the need to fill. ‘I was thinking about Spud.’
‘Spud?’
‘Yes. If you have a sheepdog, does that mean you used to have sheep on the farm?’ he asked feeling foolish for the random question. He could see he was making things more uncomfortable between them and wished he had the charm he had witnessed Joe exuding.
Lettie smiled. ‘We used to,’ she said clearly happy to talk about familiar things. ‘Dad bought a flock after he sold the dairy herd to my uncle, but only kept them for about six years before selling them on too and deciding to go completely into organic farming. I’ve learnt so much more in the past few weeks working here than I ever did before my interest was piqued about farming this land.’
He took a couple of plates from the cupboard and some cutlery. ‘Don’t you miss your life in London at all then?’
She looked thoughtful as she considered her answer. ‘I had expected to but I’ve been far too busy to think about anything much other than the work I need to do each day.’
‘I’m not surprised.’ He realised he should be getting on with serving their food. ‘Why don’t you go and sit in the living room and I’ll bring it through.’
‘Yes, of course. Shall I take the cutlery and the salad?’
‘Yes, please.’
Left alone for a moment in the small kitchen Brodie gathered himself. He really was useless sometimes. He grabbed a tea towel to take the hot carton from the microwave and accidentally kicked the water bowl he had put down for Thistle, causing the dog to jump out of the way and knock into him. Shocked, Brodie almost dropped the lasagne but caught it at the last minute, saving it but burning his fingers in the process.
‘Damn.’ He dropped the carton on the worktop and blew on his fingertips.
‘What’s happened?’ Lettie asked, appearing in the kitchen. She took in the scene and, seeing his raised hand, grabbed his wrist and led him to the sink, turning on the tap and holding his burnt fingers under the cold running water.
‘Are you always this clumsy in the kitchen?’ she asked after a moment.
Brodie went to try and explain what had happened when she looked up at him, an amused expression on her face. ‘They might be sore but I think you’ll live.’
Amused by her banter, he tried to look serious. ‘I’ll have you know I’m suffering, a lot.’
She took them from the water and then studied them. ‘I think they’ll be fine in a little while.’ She lifted them to her lips and kissed them. Brodie stilled. The touch of her soft lips on the tips of his burnt fingers was a salve in more ways than one.
Lettie gasped before lowering his hand, avoiding his gaze. She cleared her throat. ‘I, er, I’m not sure why I did that. Sorry.’
Brodie had to swallow to find his voice. ‘It’s fine. Please don’t apologise.’ Why were they being so formal all of a sudden? Wanting to take away her embarrassment, he added, ‘Actually that felt nice.’
She looked up at him then and his insides felt like they were dissolving. ‘You don’t mind?’ she whispered.
He couldn’t speak but shook his head. ‘No,’ he managed to say his voice strained. ‘I didn’t mind at all.’
As she stared up at him silently, Brodie reached out to her with his good hand and, sliding his fingers down her messy hair, only vaguely aware of his other hand stinging, he gently pulled her head towards him, leant forward and kissed her.
For a second Lettie didn’t react. He wondered if he had, yet again, read the situation wrong. But just as he was about to stop, she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Brodie had been kissed before, many times, and lots of those times he had really enjoyed himself, but this was on another level and he never wanted it to stop.
Thistle barked and Lettie jumped away from him. ‘What’s the matter?’ she said bending down to check the dog was all right. She looked up. ‘I think he’s OK.’
Brodie hoped Thistle wouldn’t make a habit of ruining kisses with Lettie, if indeed he was lucky enough to have any more. ‘I think he just didn’t like the attention being taken from him.’
Lettie stood again. ‘You could be right.’ She stared at him for a moment, then indicated the living room. ‘Should we eat something before it gets cold?’
Brodie nodded. He had lost his appetite and would much rather stay in the kitchen with her and kiss her again, but sharing his supper and spending the evening with Lettie was still a very welcome option compared to sitting alone in front of the television, watching something he’d already seen many times.
They ate in silence for a little while until Thistle came through to the living room and made himself comfortable on the rug in front of the unlit fireplace. Brodie saw Lettie shiver and realised it was cooler now that the sun had gone down. Not wishing to give her any reason to want to leave too soon, he stood.
‘Is something the matter?’ Lettie asked her fork halfway to her mouth.
‘I thought I’d light the fire.’
‘Please don’t worry on my account.’
Brodie had to think quickly. ‘I don’t want you to be cold but when you just shivered then it made me think that maybe Thistle could do with a bit of warming up. It won’t take a moment anyway and I love having a fire going, don’t you?’
‘I do. It’s so rom—’ She glanced at her plate, and without looking up again, said, ‘So calming.’
‘It is.’
Could she possibly like him as much as he liked her?
Her mobile rang interrupting his thoughts.
Lettie took it from her pocket, then seeing the name on the screen gave Brodie an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry, I’m going to have to get this.’
‘Hi. Joe?’ Lettie laughed, clearly surprised by something. ‘Sorry, I had no idea you were the one who does the shearing. Talk about a man of many talents.’
Not wanting to appear to be listening to her conversation, Brodie busied himself by taking the kindling and began setting the fire, then lighting it. He wondered what exactly there might be between Lettie and Joe. Handsome, charismatic, confident Joe. So different-seeming to himself. His joy in their evening so far dissipated when it occurred to him that maybe she had only reacted to his kiss so that he didn’t humiliate himself yet again. She was such a kind-hearted girl, he knew that much about her. He thought about how she had rescued Thistle and taken him to the surgery and then his cottage so Brodie could check the dog was unhurt. Maybe it was the sort of thing she would do. His mood dropped but not wishing to make her feel uncomfortable, he finished lighting the fire.
‘Yes, come up whenever you’re free. The alpacas will be waiting.’
He wondered if she would be too and immediately pushed the thought away, annoyed with himself for being jealous. ‘There we are,’ Brodie said going to wash his hands, wincing as he dried his burnt fingers with too much vigour. He returned to the living room and sat back down at the small table.
‘You’re right,’ Lettie said finishing her food and sitting back in her chair. ‘It is lovely with a fire burning.’
‘It helps the room look more welcoming too.’
She cocked her head in Thistle’s direction. ‘Someone is making full use of it.’
Brodie saw her look down at the dog stretched out in front of the fire on the rug.
‘He does appear very at home already,’ she said. ‘He doesn’t seem much like a street dog.’
He hadn’t come across any of those on the island. ‘I didn’t realise there were stray dogs here. I’ve not seen any.’
Lettie considered the question. ‘Nor have I, actually, but I know there are some feral cats because the supermarket down the road collects tins of food from shoppers and someone goes out to feed them.’
He was relieved to hear it. ‘Then Thistle must belong to someone. We just need to find out who he needs to be reacquainted with.’
‘I’ll be sad to say goodbye to him.’ Lettie pulled a face and leant forward to stroke the snoozing dog.
‘So will I,’ Brodie admitted.
He wasn’t sure if it was having company in the cottage for once or having a dog snoring by the fire but the place felt like a home to him for the first time since he had arrived, and he rather liked it. ‘I think that when I’ve found Thistle’s owners I might look into rehoming a rescue. I’d like the company.’
‘That’s such a lovely idea. There are always dogs needing homes and who better to take one in than a qualified vet?’
He was glad she thought so. ‘It might take a while though. I’ll have to find out who to contact to find this new housemate.’
Lettie laughed. ‘I’m sure there will be many people offering to help you.’
‘Maybe you could help me choose one?’ He wasn’t sure why he had said that but knew he didn’t want their connection to end too soon. Regardless of his promise to himself he now knew that he liked having Lettie around and even if she was seeing someone else and they could only be friends it would have to be enough. ‘What do you think?’
‘I’d like that.’
He was delighted to hear her say so. ‘Great, then we can start looking into it soon.’ He thought of Bethan and how she seemed to know everyone on the island, or at least a lot of them. ‘Maybe Bethan can help lead us in the right direction.’
‘We’ll have to ask her.’
Thistle yawned and took a long, slow languorous stretch before falling back to sleep. ‘I have to admit I’m already enjoying having Thistle in the house,’ he said not meaning to voice his thoughts.
‘You are?’
Hearing Lettie’s surprise, he turned to her. ‘I shouldn’t let myself get attached to him.’ He said it mostly to remind himself.
‘No, I suppose you shouldn’t.’ Lettie looked at Thistle and smiled. ‘Then again, I can see why you would. He’s a character, isn’t he?’
‘He is.’ Brodie saw she had finished eating and stood to take her plate, waking Thistle. ‘Sorry, boy, you go back to sleep.’
The dog did as he suggested and, surprised to have been listened to, Brodie looked at Lettie and they both laughed, keeping their voices quiet. ‘Listen to us trying not to disturb the dog who neither of us knew existed before this evening.’
‘He’s a prince among strays though and assumes we know our place.’
Brodie agreed. He stood and took her plate through to the kitchen, laughing to himself. This evening was turning out far better than he could ever have dared imagine. He turned on the tap to fill the sink and recalled his promise not to become involved with a client. What had he been thinking kissing her like that? What had he started? It was a stupid mistake and he couldn’t help feeling it was a shame that tonight and their kiss could only be a one-off.