‘Aw,’ said Rhys, peering over everyone’s heads.
‘We should have one, Nicola,’ said Daniel. ‘It’ll give you a hobby.’
‘Oh, great. I’ve been replaced by a cat,’ said Rhys, with a pretend huff.
‘Hmm,’ said Nicola, having a closer look. ‘I don’t want a male,’ she said.
‘Understandable,’ said Angie. Lottie gave her a stern look.
‘We’ll not know for sure for a couple of weeks,’ said Joe. ‘But I had a quick look when they each arrived and I think we have two males,’ he pointed at the pale ginger ones, ‘and two females.’ He indicated the cream pair.
‘Oh, they’re just like Duchess. I’d like one of those,’ said Nicola.
‘Sure,’ said Lottie.One down, three to go, she thought. If only she was as easy to rehome.
Chapter Forty
Lottie said goodnight to Jessie and eventually managed to shoo everyone else out of Nana’s room.
‘I’d better go,’ said Joe, packing away his equipment.
‘When can I move her out of here?’
‘Not for a few days if you can help it. She’s chosen somewhere she feels safe. If you move her too soon she’ll try to move the kittens back, and with the stairs that could be dangerous.’
‘Okay. And Joe?’
He whipped his head around quickly. ‘Yes?’
‘Thanks. You know, for coming up in the snow. Sorry I panicked.’
He looked defeated. ‘It’s fine. It’s what we vets do.’
‘Well, thanks. I appreciate it. And—’
‘Yes?’ He was hanging on her every word.
‘Let me have the bill.’
‘No need. I was doing it as a friend. I’ll see myself out.’
She followed him down to the front door anyway. The silence stretched between them. She needed time to process what he’d told her about Megan. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess.
‘Lottie,’ he said, and she looked up into his eyes. ‘I’mtruly sorry that I’ve hurt you. I know you’d never do that to me.’ Lottie broke eye contact. Her heart started to race.
‘We all do stuff we regret.’
‘Lottie?’ She could tell from his tone that he knew she was hiding something. He just didn’t know quite how long she’d been hiding it for. ‘Lottie, if we’re going to be living in the same village again, I really want us to get on. No expectations of anything else, but above all I value our friendship.’ She finally looked up. She could see genuine affection in his eyes.
‘Okay. I think we can do that.’
‘So no more secrets?’
Lottie felt the colour drain from her face. She couldn’t agree to this without breaking his heart.
‘Lottie? Do you have a secret?’ He held up his thumb for her to push hers against. Their secret sign. She sighed heavily as their thumbs connected. There was no going back now.
Lottie pulled Nana’s Christmas card from her back pocket. ‘Nana sent the family Christmas cards and they each had advice in them.’
