Page 40

It was crazy.

The grip on her hand wasn’t just for support; every so often, Joe’s thumb would rub against her palm. She turned to look up at him, but his eyes were hidden in the darkness. Every so often, he’d stop and wait for Molly to catch up to them. His voice was gentle as he urged, “Come on, baby, you can do it.”

It seemed like an hour before they got back to the house, and as soon as the back door was open, Joe was inside with Molly at his heels.

“I’m just going to grab a handful of paracetamol, and then we’ll get you sorted, Molly.”

“No, I can do that. How about you get in the shower. Your clothes are wet, and we don’t want you to get a chill. I can sort Molly out while you get cleaned up.”

“Thank you. I’ll be quick.” Some colour had come back into Joe’s face now that they were home and Molly was safe. “I thought I’d put her out at the end of your porch, the little alcove down from the spare bathroom.”

“That’s a good idea,” Violet said. Since they’d been back in the light she’d avoided looking directly at Joe. “We can easily close it off with that old door at the other end of the room, the one lying on its side.”

“We need to. Last time she had a litter, all she wanted to do was get them underneath the house, so this way she’ll be secure to start with.”

“Right, I can handle that. Go and have a shower. You won’t pass out, will you?”

“I’ll go in a minute. Come here.”

His voice held a promise, and Violet’s nerves went to jelly as she walked over slowly, lifting her gaze to meet his. Joe still had his right arm tucked against his chest, but he reached up his left hand and held her cheek in his palm.

His voice lowered to a murmur as he leaned close. “May I kiss you, Violet, before I go for a shower?”

She nodded wordlessly as his green eyes held hers. Joe’s lips took hers gently, and he cradled her with his good arm.

It was as though she had come home and found a place where she belonged. Violet lifted both arms around Joe’s neck to hold him close, and it was Molly’s whimper that finally broke them apart.

When Violet heard the shower running, she went to one of the linen cupboards out the back, The first day she’d explored the house, she’d spotted a bag of rags in the bottom of the second cupboard, and now she dug deep and pulled out half a dozen old towels.

Wherever she went, Molly was at her heels. “I know, Molly, it hurts, doesn’t it? Come on, we’ll get you settled.”

She laid the towels in a deep pile in the corner of the alcove, and Molly looked up at her with her big brown eyes, seeming to know that Violet was looking after her. It only took a couple of pats before Molly flopped down and closed her eyes. Violet walked up to the other end of the room, got the half-door that was there, carried it down, and closed it across the opening.

“I’ll come back and check on you in a moment,” she said, heading into the second bathroom. She scrubbed her hands and looked in the mirror, not surprised to see a streak of dirt on her very flushed cheeks.

By the time she’d scrubbed her face, washed her hands and tidied her hair, she could hear Joe out on the porch talking to Molly.

“Who’s a clever girl?” he said softly.

Joe was sitting on a plastic chair he’d brought in from the porch and put beside the pile of towels that Molly was curled up in.

Violet gasped. “Already!”

Two gorgeous little pups, all golden blonde the same as their mum were already nuzzled against Molly. Molly’s eyes were closed, and Violet could almost feel her contentment.

“A while to go here, I think,” she said.

Joe nodded. “Yes, at least another four.”

Two hours later after the sixth and final pup had made its way into the world, Joe yawned. His arm was around Violet’s shoulder, and she turned to him with a smile. She’d kept them going with several cups of coffee and Joe’s favourite toastie as the pups had been born.

“You look absolutely exhausted. Why don’t you go to bed?”

His eyes were warm. “I’m going to take some more painkillers and try and sleep this off.”

“I wish you’d let me take you into the hospital,” she said.

“Maybe in the morning. If they can pop it back in, I’ll be as good as gold. With a bit of luck, I’ll get Dr Jess. I think she should have a gentle touch.”