Page 14 of A Cosy Christmas with the Village Vet

Brogan shrugged off her coat, slipping it over the back of the chair. Kristy followed suite.

‘We’ve just been hearing about Savannah Lesker commissioning your mum’s company to make her dress,’ said Brogan. ‘How awesome is that?’

‘I know! They’re chuffed to bits. They’re going to get loads of exposure and heaps of orders off the back of it.’ Anoushka smiled proudly. ‘But anyway, Broge, what’s happened with you? I was most intrigued when I got your text. Did the wedding go okay?’

‘Yep, come on, spill, flower. Noushka and me are dying to know what’s got you dragging us out on a Sunday night – not that I’m complaining, but I can tell there’s something.’ Kristy grinned as Anoushka filled their glasses with Pinot Grigio.

Brogan drew in a deep breath. ‘Well… uhh! I can’t believe I’m about to tell you this, but…’ She went on to share the details of her time with Nick, covering her burning face with her hands as she recalled heading back to his room. ‘Oh, my God, I really can’t believe I did that!’ she said, her voice muffled. An image of Nick looking down at her before his lips touched hers filled her mind, making her stomach flutter.

‘Wowzers!’ said Anoushka. ‘Sounds like he was really into you, Broge.’

‘Itsodoes,’ said Kristy. ‘But I can’t understand why you crept out of his room the way you did; didn’t give him the chance to let you know if his feelings were genuine – which I reckon they so were, by the way.’

‘Yeah, me too. He sounds lovely and it’s time you had someone like that, chick; you deserve it.’ Anoushka rubbed her hand up and down Brogan’s arm, smiling kindly at her.

‘You do,’ said Kristy. ‘And you could definitely do with some more of that bedroom action if he’s as good as you say he is.’ The three friends burst out laughing, Brogan’s face burning brighter than ever.

With their giggles under control, Anoushka took a sip of her wine. ‘And it sounds like you had agenuineconnection which, trust me, is a two-way thing. I know from Gabe and me, even though I fought it for ages.’

‘Tell us about it.’ Kristy rolled her eyes jokingly. ‘But, seriously, love always finds a way.’

‘I’m not so sure about that, he’s moving to the Dales.’ Giving a regretful shrug, Brogan glanced between them.

‘Which is hardly a million miles away, flower,’ said Kristy.

‘If something’s meant to be, you’ll make it work,’ said Anoushka, looking at her intently.

‘Er, hold your horses, you two, you’re getting a bit ahead of yourselves.’ Despite her words, Brogan felt the warm glow of hope her friends had given her. They’d raised her spirits and helped ease her dreaded self-doubt, just as she knew they would. ‘But, if it’s as you say it is, all he needs to do to track me down is ask the groom about me; get my contact details from him.’ Why had this just dawned on her? Her heart gave a jolt; he could find her – if he wanted to. ‘There’s no way I’m going to ask them about him; the ball’s very firmly in his court. So, we’ll see,’ she said, more lightly than she was feeling.

‘And, mark my words, he will.’ Anoushka’s blue eyes twinkled at her.

‘Noushka’s right; I’d put money on it that you’ll hear from him before the end of the week,’ Kristy said, resolutely.

Brogan’s heart started to thump a little louder. Dare she hope he would?

She was momentarily distracted as a rattle of raucous laughter went up from the table by the fire where a noisy game of dominoes was taking place between octogenarian local artist Gerald, his wife Big Mary and retired farmer Hugh Heifer – Hugh’s real surname was Danks but he’d been given the nickname “Heifer” owing to the prize winning heifer he still kept and walked daily around the village. He was dressed in his habitual flat cap and overcoat, tied round the middle with a length of blue twine, a pair of wellies that had seen better days on his feet. He seemed inordinately pleased at winning the round.

‘It’s a bloody fluke!’ said Big Mary in her sing-song County Durham accent. She gave a hearty cackle.

‘Like ’ell it is. It’s down to skill and tactics. Pure and simple. A fluke’s got nowt to do with it,’ said Hugh, looking very pleased with himself as he swept the pile of pennies towards him. ‘Look! I’m raking it in. You lot need to up your game; you’re making it too easy.’

‘Skill and tactics, eh?’ Gerald threw his head back and gave a gummy roar of laughter.

Brogan, Anoushka and Kristy looked back at each other and giggled. ‘That’ll be us one day,’ said Anoushka.

‘Maybe, but I’d like to think I’d have more teeth than Gerald,’ said Kristy dryly, making the three of them splutter with laughter.

14

NICK

The following Sunday, Nick was at a low ebb, walking Maudie along one of the country lanes that led out of Middleton-le-Moors, when he bumped into Chris Crabtree. He knew Chris from working in Middleton-le-Moors where there were two veterinary surgeries. Chris had worked at one, and Nick the other.

‘Nick, good to see you, mate. I thought you’d left for the Dales,’ Chris said with a smile and a note of surprise in his voice, his nose red with the cold.

‘Hi, Chris. It’s another week before I go.’

‘Right.’ Chris nodded, thoughtful. ‘I could be getting the wrong end of the stick here, but you don’t sound too thrilled at the prospect.’ He gave Nick a questioning look.

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