Page 21 of Animal Instincts
“You’re right, I do need the help you’re offering. I’ve needed it since the day I arrived in Love’s Harbour. But you already have a job, in the café.”
Joss nodded. “Yes. I like working at Harbour Coffee, but it’s not what I really want to do. I can only work towards being a qualified animal care assistant if I’m working in the field — well, not the literal field, because I don’t want to deal with cows, or sheep, or—”
“Yes.”
The word burst from Oliver’s tongue, and from Joss’ wide eyes and open mouth, Oliver didn’t know who was the more surprised.
Shouldn’t I be thinking about this? Weighing it up? Giving thought to what I can delegate? Shouldn’t I be taking a few days, perhaps a week, maybe even two…?
But it was too late to backtrack. Joss’ eyes shone and his smile widened into something that would put the midday sun on the summer solstice to shame.
The smile that lifted Oliver’s own lips and the flutter deep in his chest told him that backtrack was the last thing he wanted to do.
THIRTEEN
“Hello, Mrs. Wilson. Lil, from the post office, said Spot was a bit off colour. You’ve done the right thing bringing him in. He’s such a lovely dog, so good natured, and we’ll have him feeling better in no time. I heard Jimmy got a promotion at work…”
Oliver smiled to himself as he listened to Joss chat to the woman, putting her at ease over Spot, as she and Joss talked about village and family affairs. Joss’ easy chit chat seemed to calm the Border Collie, too, who’d been whimpering when he’d come in. It was a perfect demonstration of what Joss had said, about taking good care of the owners as well as the pet.
It was only Joss’ first day. He’d been overflowing with excitement when he’d phoned, a couple of days before, tripping over his words as he’d told him Charles could let him drop two days per week at the café.
It had all happened so quickly and even if Oliver had wanted to, there was no way he could rescind his offer. From the moment Joss had walked in that morning, smiling and eager, he’d slotted into place, perfectly and seamlessly. He’d come in early, so Oliver could take him through procedures. It’d hardly been needed, as he’d been surprised by Joss’ knowledge until he remembered Joss’ experience of volunteering in the animal shelter.
Oliver turned to the woman, so different from the nervous, worried one who’d walked in.
“I’m just going to feel around Spot’s tummy, Mrs. Wilson…”
Spot was replaced by Dotty. Next came Flame, then Satan, followed by Fang. Each time Joss chatted with the owner, distracting them, calming their worries as he held the animal still with sure and steady hands, offering soothing words of comfort to pet and owner alike, allowing Oliver to concentrate on administering care. By lunchtime, four dogs, two cats, a hamster and a fancy rat had been sent on their way, their owners’ worries eased.
“Next appointment’s not until… It’s in the diary… I’ll just…”
“One-thirty. I already checked. It gives us time for lunch.”
“I normally just have coffee.”
“Just… coffee?” Joss took off his loose, pale blue scrub top and hung it on the back of the consulting room door, before washing his hands at the stainless steel sink.
“I need to go shopping. But you go and get something if you want.”
The only food in the house, next door to the practice but which could be accessed by a door he’d had knocked through before he moved in and set up in business, were a selection of tasteless frozen dinners for one, half a loaf which was already going stale, and a block of dried out cheese.
“I’ve brought lunch with me. Gran packed it.” Joss grinned. “It was like when I was a kid, sending me off to school with my sandwiches. There’s enough to feed a small army because Gran believes in hearty. We can share it.”
“No, really—”
“Cheese and ham sandwiches, a couple of scotch eggs, apple pie and a bar of chocolate. And a banana and an orange. There’s no way I’m going to eat all of it.” Joss pulled out the plastic box from his backpack.
“That’s the size of a suitcase.” Oliver stared at the box.
Joss laughed. “More than enough for two. Honestly, you’ll be doing me a favour, and it beatsjust coffee…”
* * *
“That was good. Thank you, and your gran. I’ll make us a coffee.”
The vet, Gran had sniffed, was too thin. He needed feeding up, she’d declared as she thrust the bulging container at Joss. She’d sent him off with a hug and a ruffle through his hair, just as she had on his very first day at school.
In silence, Joss studied Oliver through his lashes as Oliver opened the cupboard above the work surface, catching a glimpse of near bare shelves. The kitchen was bright and sunny, and decked out with upscale fittings and gadgets, but with barely any food there wasn’t the warmth and homeliness Joss associated with kitchens. Here, if the kitchen was the heart of the house, it’d arrested and died.
