Page 7 of Escape for Christmas
Vee had understood … but Sophie still felt guilty at refusing every invitation. And would it be hard to explain why she’d declined that, but was now accepting this one?
Showing her face at Brody’s would tick a box and would have the massive bonus of Brody himself to sugar the pill. On the other hand, she was bound to be asked a lot of personal questions that she didn’t want to answer. Not to mention the fact that Christmas parties reminded her of the misery of trying to smile through the festive season for the sake of her parents, after she’d found Ben and Naomi together the night before.
She reminded herself that if it all got too much, home was only a few minutes away.
With a loud miaow, Belle shifted inside the carrier, setting off Jingle and making it wobble in Sophie’s arms. The cats were turning restless.
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ she replied hastily. ‘I mean, it’s very kind of you to ask me and, of course, I’dloveto see Harold too. If I can make it, I … will try. I promise I’ll try.’
‘You don’t have to promise anything,’ Brody reassured her, taking the cat carrier from her.
Sophie’s shoulders slumped in relief.
‘I hope I haven’t stressed you out by mentioning it?’
‘No! You haven’t. I really would like to come …’
‘Drop inifyou want to,’ he said. ‘Now don’t give it another thought. If you wouldn’t mind opening the door for me, so I can carry the fur-babies out to your car?’
‘Really there’s no need,’ she protested, feeling embarrassed by his attention.
Nonetheless Brody had a firm look in his eye that meant business, so she opened the door and followed him out into the reception area, as the eyes of every owner lasered in on them. Popular though the handsome village vet was, he didn’t normally carry pets back to their owners’ cars. It wasn’t as if Sophie had a broken arm or her cats were heavyweight chonks, so it was obviously special treatment.
Out in the open, she flicked the lock on her pickup and Brody loaded Jingle and Belle onto the floor.
‘Thank you,’ Sophie said quickly. ‘Although we’ve held you up too long this morning and you’d better get back to work. Your receptionist in the Rudolph jumper looked thunderous when you came out with me.’
‘She always looks thunderous. I can never live up to her exacting administrative standards,’ Brody replied with a sigh. ‘Now, have a safe journey home. I’ve got to deal with a spaniel’s impacted anal glands next, and castrate a Labrador.’
‘Delightful! Have a nice day,’ Sophie shouted back,laughing again and realising that Brody seemed to have that effect on her.
With a wave, he walked back through the slush into the surgery while Sophie got into the driver’s seat and turned on the engine.
Most of the hilltops were white with snow as Sophie drove back to Sunnyside, but she left the vet’s with a warmer glow than she’d experienced since she’d moved to Bannerdale. A lot of that was down to Brody.
Vee was dusting the dining room when Sophie returned. ‘Phew, crisis averted,’ she declared, flapping the yellow duster in the air.
Sophie’s anxiety rose. ‘What crisis?’
‘Nothing for you to worry about now – I’ve sorted it. Kev couldn’t pick up the kids from judo in the village because he’d forgotten he has mountain-rescue training tonight. I’d already agreed to go to a Christmas lantern-parade meeting, so I couldn’t do it. His mum’s going to step in, so that’s OK.’ Vee stopped mid-flow and tutted. ‘Sorry to mention the C-word again.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Sophie didn’t want Vee to have to tread on eggshells around her. ‘I can’t avoid it altogether. I’ll have guests coming here specifically to enjoy the pre-Christmas festivities right up until Christmas week itself. They’ll be talking about it. I can’t turn off the carols in the shops, or cancel the lantern parade, or rip all the tinsel off the shelves.’ No matter how much she wanted to, she secretly thought. ‘But I can control my own little space, so I might keep thingsmore low-key. And I’m so glad you’re here to help me. It’s going to be a busy time and we’re nearly fully booked.’
‘You’re welcome. I love working here. You’re so much better than any of the other bosses I’ve had before, who were all tossers.’
Sophie had to laugh. ‘The bar was set high for me then?’
‘No, it wasn’t, but really you care about your staff, you pay a fair rate and, if the shit hits the fan, you always try to help.’
‘Life’s hard enough without making it even tougher for people,’ Sophie replied.
‘I do appreciate it …’ Vee’s phone rang and she pulled it out of her apron pocket. ‘Oh, talking of which. Mind if I get this? It’s Kev’s mum, so I’d better check she knows what time she needs to be at the village hall.’
‘No problem.’
Vee left the office via the rear door that led to the storerooms and kitchen. Sophie sat down at her desk to enjoy a minute’s peace before her guests returned. Four of the five rooms were booked, although all of the guests – three couples and a single man – were out enjoying the rare December sun and winter colours.
Vee worked hard, was flexible and trustworthy, a quality that Sophie valued above all others, after recent experiences in her personal life, which is maybe why they got on so well. In return, Sophie hoped she was flexible on hours, whenever she could be, and had tried to help Vee out during several family emergencies.
