Page 3 of Christmas at Sturcombe Bay
Jess managed a weak laugh. “Oh, I don’t think we need to go that far. Castration ought to be enough.”
“With a blunt knife.”
“That’s gone a bit rusty.”
“And been dipped in salt.”
They were both laughing so much that Bramble the spaniel lifted her head, regarding them with what could only be interpreted as disdain, then lay down again with a huff and continued to ignore them. Which made them laugh more.
“Oh . . .” Julia groaned, holding her side. “I’ve got a stitch.”
Jess brushed the tears from her eyes with her hand. “I knew coming down here was the right thing to do. I feel so much better.”
They both leaned back, catching their breath. The laughter hadn’t solved everything, but it had helped.
The sound of footsteps at the back door quickly sobered them. Jess sat up sharply, slanting her sister a look of alarm. She hadn’t wanted to meet any of the family just yet, didn’t want tohave to answer any awkward questions. Julia patted her hand, gave her a reassuring smile, and strolled out to the hall.
“Hi, Graham. How’s everything?”
“Oh, fine, my luvver. Old Bert Mildon has finally paid his bill from last March. All in used fivers, I’m afraid, but the bank won’t mind how grubby they are.”
“Lovely.” Jess could hear the sardonic humour in her sister’s voice. “Is that sheep muck or pig muck on them?”
“Probably pig. Whose is that car in the yard?”
“My sister’s. She’s come down to stay for a few days, if that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay. I’ll just get these boots off and get myself a coffee, and I’ll come in and say hello.”
“Right.”
Julia slipped back into the sitting room, a question in her eyes. Jess nodded, drawing in a long slow breath to compose herself. By the time he appeared in the doorway she had her smile in place. “Hello, Graham.”
“Hello there, my luvver.”
Graham Ellis’s Devon accent was as rich as Devon cream. In his mid-sixties, with grizzled hair and a weathered face and growing comfortable around the middle, he and Luke ran a farm-animal practice, while his wife Diane ran a small animal clinic, and his younger son Liam’s main interest was in horses.
They all lived in this rambling old cottage. Graham and Diane lived in the main section, their two sons and their families each having a separate wing, though they all seemed to spend most of their time jumbled together in this sitting room, the heart of the house.
Graham brought his coffee mug and sat down next to the spaniel. With a small contented grunt she twisted round and laid her head on his lap. “So, you’re down for a few days, is it?” he asked.
“That’s right.”
“Ah.” He nodded. He must have noticed the redness of her eyes, but to her relief he didn’t ask questions. He was the type to mind his own business unless invited in.
“That new batch of Bangs vaccine has arrived,” Julia told him, sitting down next to Jess again and picking up her coffee mug. “It’s in the fridge.”
“Good, good. Draw up a schedule for me, will you?” He chuckled at the slightly quizzical expression on Jess’s face. “Don’t worry — no danger of you pouring it on your cornflakes by mistake. We don’t keep it in the kitchen fridge with the milk and cheese — we have a separate one in the mud room for medical supplies.”
She laughed. “I thought you must have.” She finished her coffee and put down her mug. “I’ll just pop out and bring my stuff in from the car.”
Julia put down her mug too. “I’ll come and help you.”
“Need a hand?” Graham offered.
“Oh . . . No, thanks all the same. There’s not much. We can manage.”
“Right then.” He tickled the spaniel’s ear and picked up the remote to turn on the television.
