Harriet and Alfie disappeared with Maud and Lola, who had glanced at Gil before deciding she shouldn’t miss out on any adventures. Harriet’s netball camp was starting this weekend and she’d offered to cancel so she could help with Maud, but Pippa had refused, assuring Harriet that she’d manage and promising to send daily puppy updates.
Gil was behind the counter, logging into the system to register Maud’s microchip. He flatly refused the payment Pippa tried to make him accept for the consultation as she was giving up her time to help, and she thanked him.
She was used to him being in the house now. She knew from the roar of his Land Rover when he left if he was setting out on an emergency or just making a call. Each morning she would run early, leaving the bathroom free so he could shower whilst she had breakfast. Without even trying, they were creating a routine and she loved listening to him chatting with Harriet, sharing his work with her, and answering endless questions. She would never admit, not even to herself, that she’d missed his company last night when he’d been called to an emergency and had returned long after she’d gone to bed.
‘Just checking if you’ll be back for dinner so I can be sure there’s enough.’ He had a hearty appetite, and he made sure to fetch shopping too, and take his turn in the kitchen.
‘Please, unless something changes at work. You don’t mind?’ He switched the monitor off, still focused on the desk.
‘Not if you’re still prepared to eat vegetarian.’ There was a teasing note in her voice that hadn’t used to be there when she was around him.
‘I’ll eat anything.’ Gil looked up to give her a smile. ‘Thanks for finishing dinner last night. It was a late one and I was starving. I’m not used to such luxuries.’
He’d had to abandon cooking to head out to the emergency, and she’d taken over. ‘You’re welcome. Was everything okay?’
‘Eventually.’ He grimaced. ‘Prolapse in a heifer after her first calving. Not a pretty sight.’
‘You or the heifer?’
‘Oh, me for sure.’ His lips pursed together in a wry grin. ‘The heifer was a beauty and so was her calf. Not sure what you’d have made of me, flat out on filthy straw in a pen trying to push an engorged uterus back where it belonged.’
‘Urgh.’ Pippa shuddered, he’d painted a clear picture with those few words. ‘But you managed it?’
‘Eventually. Got to bed at five.’
‘Why are you so often on call?’ Pippa was watching Harriet and Maud darting around the yard. Even Posy was taking an interest from her stable, the wide-open barn door providing her with a pleasant view to stop her getting bored with her own company.
‘There’s only me and one other farm vet at the practice now and I’ve been covering holidays, so I’ve had more callouts than usual.’
‘I see.’ It was an uncomfortable reminder of his leaving eventually, the rural practice dwindling until the main branch closed it altogether. Working in the surgery, she’d seen how brilliant Gil was with his patients and their owners – caring, friendly and highly skilled – and she knew he’d be much missed in Hartfell. She made herself think of London instead, trying to picture her house, her usual routine in the city, but it was a blur, a life she had lived before this one.
‘Alfie will be with us, too. Rose has already messaged to apologise for how much he eats.’
‘You’ve almost converted me, I quite like vegetarian now.’ Gil offered his own tease, and she was the one who looked away first.
‘That was good news from Elaine, about her dad,’ Pippa rushed out, distracted by that lingering gaze. ‘You’ll be glad to get your real receptionist back.’
‘Yeah. Although I seem to be doing okay with my temp. She’s learning the ropes pretty well and hasn’t scared off too many clients.’
Pippa couldn’t find a reason to delay and Gil was done, following her to the door to watch Harriet and Alfie playing with the dogs. Harriet wasn’t quite so attached to her phone these days, and she’d given up complaining about the Wi-Fi. As long as she could keep in daily touch with Isla, she plugged into it whenever she was at Alfie’s as well, which seemed to be very regularly.
‘And you’re sure you’ll be okay?’ Harriet was snuggling Maud in her arms and Pippa nodded patiently for the fourth time. ‘Both of you?’
‘I’ll be fine, Harriet, I promise. Me and Maud. You’ll be back in no time.’
The car was packed, and Pippa was trying to prise Maud away so they could set off for the netball camp in Warwick. Harriet had also said a tearful goodbye to Alfie thirty minutes ago and Gil was waiting too, ready to look after Maud until Pippa returned later.
‘Bye Maud, I love you so much. I’ll miss you like mad.’ Harriet kissed the puppy again and reluctantly gave her up to him, laughing as Maud licked his chin. ‘Thank you for looking after her, Gil.’
‘You’re very welcome. Lola’s looking forward to it as well.’
It had been a mad few days since Maud had come home; playing with her, making sure she ate well, taking her for short walks and wiping up the puddles she occasionally left on the floor. Harriet had been dismayed when Pippa decided that a three-hundred-mile round car journey was too much for Maud right now, and Gil had kindly stepped in.
Pippa didn’t doubt her decision to bring Maud into their lives. She only needed to catch sight of Harriet with the puppy, and her own heart would melt. Maud had made herself very firmly at home in the farmhouse and although Pippa had planned to leave her in the kitchen at night, she’d cried so much when they went to bed the first time that Harriet had burst into tears too, and had run downstairs to gather Maud up. She’d settled in a flash on Harriet’s bed. Pippa’s dismay had dissolved when she’d knocked on Harriet’s door the next morning and found them snuggled together, completely content.
When they arrived at the sports university campus in Warwick, Harriet submitted to a brief hug before the car was unpacked. Then she took off in search of Isla, who’d already arrived. Both girls helped carry in Harriet’s things, and Pippa’s heart swelled when she saw how happy they were to be together once more. She didn’t find the return drive easy, leaving Harriet behind and hoping she’d have a wonderful week. Sunday would come soon enough, Harriet would be back, and Pippa couldn’t wait to see Cassie too, and spend some time with her friend and Isla.
She’d cancelled the lunch with land agent Miles, deciding that any further conversations could be conducted over the phone or online. He was keen to have her sign a contract to get the house on the market now it had been valued, and send someone round to take photographs. He was expecting plenty of requests for viewings and she really wasn’t sure she liked the idea of people tramping through.
