I watch him walk away, lips twisting. The guy’s incorrigible. But he has a heart of gold, and I know he only wants everyone to be as happy as he is now, with Abby.
I discover that the Christmas party is pretty much an all-day thing. Noah has hired a catering firm, and by ten a.m. they’ve set up a marquee over the Quad, strung more fairylights, and placed round tables with white cloths all around. At morning tea, the staff from the break room serve their usual tea and coffee, but also French hot chocolate, made with rich, dark, European chocolate, whole milk, and cream, with more whipped cream on top, as well as gingerbread frappes and a host of other festive drinks.
People come out in shifts, and there’s a steady flow of staff and visitors to sample the mince pies, Christmas cake, sausage rolls, tiny pies, and the cinnamon biscuits in the shape of Christmas trees and baubles that the kids have made in the Fox’s Den.
I don’t get to see much of Isla, although we exchange a few words and a smile in passing. She’s busy in the Hotel, dealing with a couple of dogs who’ve had serious operations, and although she comes out for a mince pie, she’s talking to the other nurses and I get caught up with Archer and Jude, and before long she’s gone back into the building and it’s time to get back to work.
Lunchtime is similarly hectic. Everyone attempts to keep the Ark running and prepare for the holidays while still taking time to enjoy the festive atmosphere. However, Hal and Izzy are called out at one point to retrieve a couple of dogs from a farm who it’s been reported have been left out in the sun, and they come back with a shocking four dogs, all of whom need immediate treatment. There’s a little flurry of activity when the ambulance turns up, and the vets and nurses all disappear to deal with their injuries, while Jules and Remy in the grooming station rush off to deal with one of the dogs who’s severely matted.
I spend the day wandering in and out of the Forever Home, checking on the animals in there, helping out where I can, and also taking time to chat to the staff hanging out in the Quad. At one point I take Max, Ollie, and a couple of the other kids over tothe Petting Zoo and discover Archer over there, talking to Poppy about her views on whether teaching kids to be kind to animals helps ward off domestic violence.
“Are you still working?” I joke.
He chuckles. “Yeah, it’s time I went to the party.”
We wave goodbye to Poppy and, leaving the kids with her, we head back to the Ark. It’s mid-afternoon now, and someone’s playing Christmas songs over there, not too loud so it doesn’t frighten the animals, but loud enough so we can hear it across the paddock.
“It’s a nice idea to have the party here rather than head off to a bar or something,” I say. “It means everyone can carry on with their jobs and just join in when they want.”
“Yeah. Plus Noah says the Ark gets to join in the festivities.” Archer chuckles.
I look at the Ark, its white buildings glowing in the warm summer sunshine. “I know what he means. It’s an extension of Noah’s own personality, isn’t it? Compassionate and kind. It’s almost like a person in its own right.”
“Yeah, it does feel that way.”
“Do you think PAWS will become like the Ark one day?”
He smiles. “I hope so.” I told him earlier that I’m staying for Christmas, and that I’ll take time to think seriously about his offer. “I won’t keep on,” he says. “You know I think it would be great if you stayed. But I will say this. The area needs PAWS. There are a lot of people here who are struggling, and the system is letting them down. It’s going to be a challenge to get the place up and running, but neither of us is afraid of hard work. And helping others is a sure way to make you feel better about yourself.”
I hadn’t thought of it like that. I’ve been thinking that I don’t deserve to stay, but he’s reminded me that a lot of people will benefit if the center works as we hope it will. Andif I contribute to it, he’s implying that it could be a cathartic experience for me.
I don’t reply, but he claps me on the shoulder as we approach the Ark, presumably conscious that his words will linger.
Leaving him to chat to some of the others, I go into the Forever Home and check on the animals, take them to the yard, and do a little training. Then when Max comes back, he helps me feed them all, and we give the dogs a brush and a bit of fuss. They’ll get another walk when Ed comes on shift in a few hours, but for now they’re happy to go back into their crates and settle down for a snooze.
Max and I head outside. It’s now just gone five, and things are livening up a little. The clinic has closed for Christmas apart from emergencies, and although the vets and nurses will still go to check on the animals in the Hotel, everyone’s pretty much done for the day.
They’ve turned the music up a bit, and for the first time they’ve opened a mobile bar and they’re serving champagne and cocktails. Noah’s paid for a couple of minibuses for the evening to take people home so they don’t have to drive.
There’s hot food, too—mostly vegetarian or fish as it seems a bit crass to fry steaks on a barbecue in front of a veterinary surgery, but there are lots of tasty appetizers, from summer quiches to salmon rolls to veggie pizza bites. Everyone’s taking the opportunity to catch up over a drink while they nibble snacks and sip drinks, and I know it won’t be long before the girls start dancing.
I mingle. Talk to Jude and Beth, Albie from IT and his girl, Remy, to Hal’s brother, Ryan, who’s come home with his girl, Clio, for Christmas, and to each of the Three Wise Men—Brock, Charlie, and Matt, who are all there with their wives.
With each conversation, I move closer to my target, and then finally I end up beside Isla at the food table.
“Hello,” she says. “I wondered when you’d sidle up.”
“Busted. I didn’t want to look too obvious.”
She chuckles. “Enjoying the party?”
“Yeah, actually.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I’m not really a party person.”
She finishes off the piece of Christmas cake she’s eating and removes crumbs from her lip with her finger. “Me neither, but everyone here is so nice, it doesn’t feel too stressful.”
