Chapter 7 #2
He stared stoically ahead as Bets dabbed at the cut on his forehead.
She’d overcome so much, working hard to make something of herself.
She’d never wanted to go to university, not her thing, and had done her veterinary-nurse apprenticeship at the surgery, which is why his dad had given her mate’s rates on the rent.
‘Right, off you pop,’ said Bets finally.
‘Not going to offer to make me a cup of tea?’ he asked, despite her earlier spiky comments that had made it clear that he was the enemy. He wanted to stay and enjoy the quiet warmth and familiarity of home.
‘Now, why would I do that?’ she asked, planting her hands on her hips and giving him a bitchy smile, which oddly made him admire her. She looked like a warrior ready to go into battle. Ouch. Being here was harder than he’d thought it would be. It had never occurred to him that she might hate him.
‘Out of the goodness of your heart?’ he suggested, hoping to charm her into laughing.
‘Who told you I had a heart?’ she said. ‘I’ve learned better.’
Her sour smile, so at odds with her usual sunshine cheer, made him stiffen. The look on her face held nothing but icy disdain. With a sinking heart, he realised that Bets really had no time for him.
He winced. ‘I’ll get out of here.’
‘Good idea,’ said Bets, turning her back on him and switching on the kettle.
He stood up and looked down at the dog, which had sat staring intently throughout the whole exchange.
‘See you around.’
‘I hope not,’ said Bets cheerfully. ‘Unless it’s at work, when unfortunately I’m paid to be nice to you.’
He sighed and walked out of the house, battling to stop his face crumpling and giving away the pain. He knew he deserved this but it didn’t stop it hurting.
* * *
‘Jack. It’s Melissa.’ Her cold, curt voice cut into him.
‘Melissa,’ he acknowledged.
‘When are you coming to collect your stuff?’ she asked with an imperious huff.
‘Soon,’ he said. He had no desire to go back to Bristol or to play ball with his old flatmates. He understood a little how Bets had felt this morning.
‘You’ve already left us in the lurch by dropping out for next year. We can’t rent your room out until you’ve cleared it.’
‘I’ve paid rent until the end of the month,’ he said stubbornly.
‘You’re supposed to give notice. You owe me nine hundred pounds plus your share of the bills to the end of the quarter. And as for Daddy, he’s furious with you. We’re a vet down. He’s thinking about suing you for breach of contract.’
‘I’m pretty sure he was in breach of the contract I signed.’
‘Do you want to get the lawyers involved? Daddy’s got deep pockets.’
Jack felt a little sick but he wasn’t going to give in. ‘I’m sure “Daddy” will find someone to replace me, someone who went to the right school.’
‘Oh, Jack, you weren’t supposed to hear that.’ She tutted.
‘And that makes it okay? You lied to me.’
There was a silence that confirmed what he already knew. The amazing offer of a job at Melissa’s father’s practice, specialising in equine care, with the promise of a partnership after a probationary period of a year, had all been a pile of bullshit and he’d been too stupid to see it.
‘It’s my room until my current rent runs out.
I’ll collect my stuff when I’m ready.’ Rent he could ill afford, but then he didn’t have a millionaire father to cover his expenses.
He was up to his neck in student loans and should have started work this week to start earning some cash.
And now Melissa wanted over a thousand pounds from him.
‘You’re going to be difficult about this, aren’t you? You’re taking it all the wrong way, you know. It’s nothing personal. Just business. Our kind of people want to do business with our kind of people.’
‘Ah yes, not grubby oiks like me.’
‘Oh, Jack, you’re being childish and silly.’
For some reason this made Jack smile to himself. Being difficult felt good. Ironically, he could relate to Bets. There was a certain satisfaction in being contrary. No wonder there’d been a gleam in her eyes. Standing up to him, that was new. He laughed, and – who knew? – he liked it.
‘Are you laughing, Jack?’ demanded Melissa.
‘Hmm, not sure,’ said Jack, starting to enjoy himself.
Melissa had always ruled the roost in the house.
Not really surprising given Daddy owned it, which was why he wasn’t too worried about leaving without finding a replacement for his share of the rent.
Normally he would have done everything in his power to make sure no one lost out.
He spotted his dad up ahead on the drive. ‘Gotta go. Speak soon.’ He heard her indignant squawk as he cut the call short.
‘Hey, Dad.’ He picked up his pace to catch up.
‘Son. Ouch, what did you do to your head?’
‘Tripped over a dog,’ said Jack ruefully, thinking of the dog’s slightly distrustful stare.
‘Occupational hazard,’ sympathised his dad. ‘I’ve been talking to Devon.’
Jack stopped, nerves suddenly getting the better of him. He knew he’d come home unexpectedly and had no right to expect a job. He’d made such a mess of everything.
‘We can give you some work at the practice.’
Jack sucked in a breath. ‘Some’ sounded ominous.
‘We don’t have a vacancy at the moment. There is no job for you.’
Ouch. Jack swallowed hard.
‘We’ve only got the two consulting rooms. When you said you weren’t coming back, I took on Jane.
Admittedly we’re flat out just now and we could use another vet, but we don’t have the space at the moment.
We might be able to give you a bit of work on an ad hoc, day-by-day basis.
I’m sorry, Son, but I can’t magic up more space. ’
Jack swallowed. He felt about two inches tall. Coming home and assuming he’d be welcomed.
‘Thanks, Dad. Whatever work you can give me, I really appreciate it.’
‘There is one proviso, though. I have reservations about Bets.’
‘You don’t need to worry about her,’ said Jack, immediately jumping to her defence. She loved her job and she was brilliant at it.
‘I’m not worried about her, I’m worried about the two of you working together. I don’t want to lose her. She’s the best veterinary nurse I’ve ever had.’
Jack stopped in his tracks at the underlying implication and turned to see the apologetic look on his dad’s face.
‘I need you to assure me that if you do come in, there will be no problems with you working with Bets. Obviously she’ll work principally with Devon, but there will be times when the two of you will have to work together. We’re a small team. Any discord affects everyone.’
Jack stared at his dad. ‘So are you saying it’s me or Bets?’
‘Not at all, son. But she’s been working in the practice for a long time. She’s part of the team. If we brought anyone new in and they didn’t fit, then we’d have to review the situation.’
‘Thanks, Dad, for making me feel so welcome.’ He couldn’t help a little bitterness seeping out.
His dad clapped an arm around him. ‘Son, I want nothing more than for you to work in the practice with your brother and me. It’s been my dream to know that the family business, everything I’ve built, will continue.
I dearly want you there but it’s necessary to say it.
We’re a team and we need to work together. ’
‘Understood,’ said Jack a little stiffly, feeling as if he’d been reproached. He was starting to wonder if he should have stayed put, toughed it out in Bristol and ignored the fact that the last few years had been pretty much one big lie.