Page 93 of Escape for Christmas
‘I can leave it with you. I don’t want to get in the way.’
‘You’re not. You wouldn’t be. Come in and have a coffee with me, at least. I could do with a break. It’s been a very long day.’
After collecting the food, Sophie followed him into the staffroom. The sofa had a sleeping bag on it.
‘Do you want to see Jingle and Belle and then we’ll have a coffee?’ he offered.
‘Yes, please.’
Brody smiled. ‘Come on then.’
He took her to the ward, where the two cats had cages set well away from the unfortunate spaniel. They were each lying down on soft blankets, with a bowl of water and the cat toys Sophie kept in their cages. Seeing them behind bars in such a clinical environment made her feel guilty again, but they both miaowed loudly as she approached.
‘They look brighter,’ she said, wanting to scoop them up and cuddle them, despite the fact that neither would enjoy such fuss, even if they were one hundred per cent well.
‘I think so too,’ Brody agreed. ‘If they keep improving, they can probably go home tomorrow.’
‘Oh, that’s brilliant news.’
He opened the door, so that she could stroke them. Jingle licked her fingers and Belle started purring.
‘I know they’re only cats,’ Sophie said as he closed the doors again. ‘But I’ve been so worried.’
‘They’re notonlycats. They’re your friends.’
She smiled. ‘I’m sure they don’t think I’m their friend. I’m merely the human who provides the food and catnip.’
‘They rely on you for a warm and loving home,’ Brody said. ‘And, I can assure you, I’ve seen plenty of cats who don’t have that.’
He put the kettle on while Sophie washed her hands and decanted the food onto plates bearing the logo of a cat-flu vaccine.
‘I hope you like pork pies,’ she said.
‘I love them. This looks great.’
Sophie’s stomach rumbled. Now that she’d been reassured her cats were on the mend, her appetite had returned.
They sat down on the sofa with plates on their laps.
‘I was so sad for Una and Hugo when they spoke about losing their dog. I know my cats will have to go some day, but I’d hoped that was a way off, after they’d lived long and happy lives. To go in this way – in some horrible freak accident – is just too horrible to contemplate. You said you understood how bad it feels?’
‘Vets are as heartbroken as anyone when we lose our own pets. We even – and don’t tell anyone – feel very upsetwhen it’s the end for someone else’s pet. Maybe we don’t show it in front of the patient and owners, although we’re allowed to express some emotion, especially if we’ve known the animal a long time or it’s a very traumatic death.’
Sophie felt strangely comforted by the genuine sadness in his expression. It meant that the animal – and the owner – really did matter to Brody.
‘So many times I, or a colleague, have held it together with patients, then gone to the staffroom and had a big snotty blub. Why do you think we keep such a large supply of tea, biscuits and tissues?’
Sophie smiled, then said, ‘We spend so much time holding back our real emotions. It takes its toll. The things I hear from guests – funny stuff, outrageous secrets and some heart-rending tales. Like Agatha told me how lonely she’d felt after Ron died, and that helping with the baby had given her a new sense of purpose.’
He paused. ‘What about Nico?’
‘Nico?’ Sophie hadn’t expected Brody to bring him up. ‘He … is an unusual character,’ she said. ‘I hope he doesn’t book again, to be honest.’
‘Why?’
She suddenly wished she hadn’t said anything about Nico. ‘Various reasons.’
Brody pressed his lips together. ‘I thought he was a bit of a tool, to be honest.’
