‘No. But thanks all the same. Joe’s here for the alpacas but has stayed on to help me. He’s worked on a farm in the past so knows what’s needed. Oh, and I’ve got the workers Dad took on before he left harvesting the last of the Jersey Royals, so at least they’re taken care of.’
‘No worries, mate,’ Joe said. ‘We’ll be fine.’
Lettie saw Brodie studying Joe’s face, unsure what he was trying to work out.
‘Fine. If you’re all OK here then I’ll leave you to it. Do call me if you need anything though won’t you?’
‘I will do. Thanks.’ Lettie gave him a wave and watched him drive away. ‘Well, that was a little odd.’
‘You think so?’
Surprised by his question she looked at him. ‘Why? Don’t you?’
‘No, Lettie. I don’t think it was odd at all.’ He handed her his mug. ‘Shall we get on with the next job then?’
‘Yes,’ she said setting both mugs onto the wall. ‘We better had.’
25
BRODIE
Six weeks to go
Each time the phone rang in reception, or a notification pinged on his phone, Brodie tensed wondering if Lettie had changed her mind and needed him to do something for her. He looked at the sweet dog snoozing in a basket he had placed for him next to Bethan’s chair behind reception and didn’t relish the thought that he might not still be there at the end of the day. After his impromptu visit to Hollyhock Farm two weeks before and seeing Joe and Lettie so comfortable with each other it reminded him how awkward he sometimes felt in her company He really didn’t need his day to get any worse. Why had he thought it a good idea to go there in the first place?
‘Stop staring at him,’ Bethan whispered bending to feed a treat to Thistle. ‘I know you’re worried he’ll be claimed but I’ll check them out thoroughly before we return him. I won’t let this little guy go to just anyone.’
Brodie loved Bethan’s dedication to the animals that passed through the practice. ‘I know you won’t.’
‘And,’ she added looking up at him a serious expression on her face, ‘if his owners do come for him then we’ll just have to focus on the fact that he’s happy and has been reunited with them, won’t we?’
Brodie lowered his voice so none of the people waiting in front of reception could hear him. ‘I’m not sure why you’re talking to me like you’re my primary school teacher?’ He grinned to let her know he was only teasing, not that Bethan would be bothered either way.
She nudged him with her elbow. ‘We could always go for a drink later to take your mind of everything,’ she suggested giving him a cheeky wink.
Thrown by her suggestion, Brodie swallowed. ‘Um, er, right.’
‘Never mind that now,’ she said, beaming at him. ‘Mrs Bellows is here with Tigger.’ She gave him a pained look before turning her attention and addressing the woman on the other side of the reception desk with the pet carrier on her lap and a hissing tabby inside it. ‘Mrs Bellows, Brodie is free to see you now.’
He had been hoping to make himself a quick coffee before seeing the next patient and wondered why Bethan seemed to have forgotten he usually took a few minutes to have one to refresh himself each day at this time. Had she forgotten because she was thinking about their drink in the pub? The thought worried him.
‘If you’ll follow me please, Mrs Bellows.’ He held his left arm out in the direction of his surgery and waited for her to accompany him. He already knew from experience that Tigger was a vicious spit-cat, not that Mrs Bellows thought so. ‘Thanks, Bethan,’ he said, narrowing his eyes at her before giving Mrs Bellows his most charming smile. He closed the surgery door behind Mrs Bellows and waited for her to lift the carrier onto the examination table. ‘What’s the matter with Tigger today?’
‘Vicious, bloody cat,’ he grumbled, his mood not helped by the pain the animal had inflicted.
‘Come here and let me look at that,’ Bethan said opening an antiseptic wipe and carefully cleaning the deep scratch across the back of Brodie’s hand twenty minutes later. ‘I’ve been feeling guilty.’
‘What about?’ he asked, intrigued by her admission. Bethan always seemed very honest so it didn’t surprise him that she wanted to open up about something that was troubling her.
‘I saw your face when I mentioned going out for a drink.’ She looked into his eyes for a few seconds. ‘It was only a suggestion and I wouldn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.’
He liked Bethan but he had feelings for Lettie. Deep feelings. What right did he have to be put out about Lettie seeing Joe? he mused, still unable to get the image of the two of them holding hands from his mind. She was a free agent and hadn’t he made a promise to himself not to get involved with anyone who was a client? If anyone was in the wrong it was him. He had been the one to instigate their kiss when he knew there couldn’t be a future for them. At least while she ran the farm.
‘Brodie?’
Embarrassed to have been so rude, he gave Bethan an apologetic smile. What had she been saying? Recalling her comment and wanting to make things up to her he shrugged. ‘You couldn’t possibly make me feel uncomfortable, Bethan,’ he said hoping to reassure her.
‘So you want to go out for that drink then?’
