The owner pulled a face. “My husband says we shouldn’t do that to him,” she explained. “Says it’s cruel doing that to any man.” She smiled at Tess as if she should agree and find it just as cute.
“Due respect, Mrs McDonald, it’s your cat I’m after neutering, not your husband.” Looking at the sticky toddler hands getting all over Mrs McDonald’s sweatshirt, Tess wondered if she should offer it as a favour anyway. It was all just a little snip and a stitch.”
“Does he really need it done?”
“Only if you like your house not marked with stinky sprays every time a new smell comes into it. And you don’t want your garden overrun with pregnant girl cats and their kittens.”
“Oh. Well, yeah, I’d better book him in, then. I’ll just tell my husband after the fact.”
“Glad to hear it. These days, we give them the good drugs for it, so he’ll be happy enough when he wakes up.”
The chatter had let her pet the tabby into a purring state of contentment with her ungloved hand. He was a sweet little thing, even if he was called Neville, poor cat. Now it was time to quickly betray his newly won trust, and Tess reached for the needle she’d prepared before his great escape attempt.
“Right,” she announced, and the injection was over before he could squirm away. “He might be a little drowsy later, so don’t worry if he’s slow about his food or sleeps more. He might not be in the mood to be around the kids, either.”
“Oh, they never leave him alone,” Mrs McDonald said. “So curious, especially at this age. He’s very patient, though.”
Tess resisted the urge to scoop the kitty up and adopt him. In truth, he would be fine. Plenty of family pets endured the grasping-kids phase with no problem. She just always felt a bit sorry for them, much like when she took Waffles around to her nieces, who had only just outgrown trying to ride him like a pony.
With Neville in his carrier, Tess showed the little family back to reception.
“How’s it going?” Margo asked. “You’re not too disappointed to start with domestic pets, are you?”
“Me? No,” Tess said, although it wasn’t entirely truthful. It wasn’t like she expected to be wrangling pigs and sheep on day one, but part of the appeal of coming back to a country practice was getting out in the fields and dealing with challenges a little bit heftier than gerbils. “Got plenty of practice with kittens.”
“Well, this next one might be more interesting.” Margo nodded at Tess’s tablet that displayed her next patient’s details.
“Thunder?” Tess called out to the reception room. None of the waiting patients looked much like a Thunder. Then the internal doors swung open, and a Great Dane came bounding in from the patio.
Tess just managed to brace herself in time before giant paws were on her shoulders and a happy face was inches from her own.
“Down, Thunder,” said a weary voice from somewhere behind, and the dog complied with a soft whine.
“Right, let’s take you in here, big fella,” Tess said.
With Thunder out of the way, his owner came into view. He was a short man, not much taller than Tess herself. He followed Thunder as though the dog were the one taking him for a walk, the sturdy leather leash only just keeping them connected.
Now this was a bit more like it. Tess fished out a fresh set of gloves and checked her pockets for the healthy dental treats she liked to dish out.
Adam was in the staff room when Tess slipped in for a brew, reading the Guardian on his tablet and half-watching the sports news muted on the decent-sized television mounted on the wall. “How’s it going?” he asked, barely looking up. “Finding everything okay?”
“Oh yeah. Turns out you and Margo organise things the same way I do.” Tess flicked the switch on the kettle. “Like a home away from home. Or something like that.”
“How’s it all coming along with your London affairs?”
Tess shrugged. “It’s the usual boring whatever. Sign this, pay for that. Selling my flat was the easy part, but there’s always something from the practice. Every time I think it’s finalised, there’s one more form, one more letter.”
“That can’t be much fun.” Adam came over to nudge Tess aside with a gentle bump of his hip. “Margo told me how it went down with Caroline and all. She really did you dirty, and I’m sorry.”
“Hey, I didn’t want to share a practice with the woman who cheated on me. So trust me, this is the best outcome.” Tess watched Adam pour the water into their two mugs rather than look him in the eye. She hadn’t done a whole lot of talking out loud about the mess with Caroline, save for a few therapy sessions that tapered off once she made the plan to move back to Scotland. “Although the least she could have done is make the process a little smoother. I think she was hoping she could frustrate me into walking away and leaving her with everything. Some people really are that entitled.”
“You think you know someone,” Adam empathised.
Tess gave Adam a considering look before sighing. “Caroline was lovely…until she wasn’t,” was the best reply she could muster. “I’ve learned a valuable lesson, at least. Whatever happens, I’m keeping business and pleasure separate. We were supposed to be equal partners—in the house, in the practice—but Caroline was pulling all the strings. It’s only now I’ve got anything that’s just mine. Independent Tess from here on in. Any chance of a biscuit with this? I’m starving.”
Adam checked the jar next to the kettle. “Fresh out. I’ll pop across the road, get something to cheer you up.”
“I’ll go,” Tess replied. “I saw some cakes in there yesterday that might just do the trick.”
Grateful for an excuse to flee talking about her ex, Tess grabbed her leather jacket from the coat rack and slipped out.
The café
