The Village Vet (33 page)

‘Ah, he’s such a hero,’ my father says. ‘He would make the perfect leading man. Have you let Jack rescue you yet, Tessa?’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ I say flatly, but he blunders on.

‘Is Jack taking you to the ball?’

‘No, Dad.’

‘I expect he’s too shy to ask.’

‘It isn’t that.’ I force myself to meet my father’s eager gaze. ‘I’m surprised you don’t know by now – I expect the rest of Talyton does. Jack has a girlfriend, an older woman, a cougar by all accounts, and he’s already moved her into his house.’

‘He hasn’t? I don’t believe it. Oh, Tessa, I thought …’ My dad’s face crumples as if he’s about to burst into tears. ‘I’d hoped that you and Jack would get together at last.’ He wrings his hands. ‘There must be some mistake.’

‘There’s no mistake.’ I sit down beside him on the sofa. ‘Dad, don’t feel sorry for me. I’m not looking for love because it’s far too soon after Nathan and, if I was, the last person I’d be interested in is Jack,’ I go on, masking the effort that it takes to deny my feelings for him.

‘You can’t fool me, dear daughter,’ Dad says, reaching his arm around me and patting my shoulder. ‘You’ve always been a little in love with Jack Miller, and he with you.’

‘If he was,’ I say quietly, ‘he isn’t now and that’s an end to it.’

Chapter Fifteen

The Sea of Love

IT’S THE DAY
of the ball at last, but first I have to say goodbye to Buster. I give him his breakfast and take him for a wander in the copse before putting him back in his kennel, hanging up his lead on the hook outside, and walking away for the last time without looking back, because I don’t think I can bear to see his face again. I don’t understand how it can feel so bad when I know I’ve done my best for him, finding him a forever home where he’ll be loved and looked after. As I leave the kennel block, I hear him whine and scrape at the bars. Why does it feel like a betrayal?

I ask Libby to hand him over to the Nelsons when they arrive to collect him, and turn my attention to the rest of the rescues before checking on the final arrangements for the ball, the timetable and the items I’ve acquired for the auction of promises. Before I leave for the venue later the same day, I watch the last of the house martins flying across the sky on their journey south, and wonder with a lump in my throat if Vlad is with them, and what Buster is up to now.

Once I reach the hotel, I run through the arrangements with the manager before taking a couple of minutes in the cloakroom to touch up my lip gloss and flick the stray ringlets of hair back from my cheek. Katie styled it for me, penance perhaps for her going out with my ex, but it was a bit of a laugh, and I’m beginning to feel that I can forgive her and move on. As she said, it would be sad to fall out over a man, Nathan in particular.

I check my dress, which I bought with money my aunt gave me as a present, a simple navy gown that touches the floor with cross-over folds at the front set off with an aquamarine and gold belt. I strike a pose, stroking the clingy material over the curve of my waist. I’ll do, but am I ready to face the guests arriving at Talyton Animal Rescue’s inaugural ball? I can face most of them with equanimity, but how will I feel when I see Jack with his girlfriend? I take a deep breath and brave the hotel lobby where the guests are starting to arrive. Fifi and I greet them, while the hotel staff direct them to where they can leave their coats and to the bar, where we’re serving champagne and canapés.

‘You look lovely, dear niece,’ Fifi says, giving me the briefest of hugs.

‘Thank you,’ I say, wondering if I’ve made a mistake on the tickets regarding the dress code. Both Fifi and my dad look as if they’ve come in fancy dress: Fifi as the lady in red, and my dad as an overweight emperor penguin. ‘You look great too.’

‘Is everything under control?’

‘I think so. The band’s done their soundcheck, the DJ’s ready to go, dinner will be served as planned – except the chef’s prepared a different veggie starter from the one on the menu – and I’ve taken Dad
through
the items for the auction of promises. He’s stepped in as auctioneer after Mr Lacey had to drop out with laryngitis.’

‘That’s kind of him,’ Fifi says.

‘I did have to twist his arm.’

‘Well, you’ve done a great job, Tessa.’

‘It isn’t over yet,’ I point out lightly. Another minor glitch is the malfunctioning chocolate fountain, and the manager is attempting to source another one from the hotel at the opposite end of the seafront.

‘There is one other thing …’ Fifi says.

‘Oh no, what have I missed?’

‘I’ve tweaked the seating plan.’

‘Fifi, why? I spent hours on that.’ I drew up several versions, taking into account feedback from guests and my knowledge of which social group people belong to, keeping the horsey set, the bridge players and the actors from the Am Dram Group in their cliques as far as possible, and putting the whole of the committee of Talyton Animal Rescue together at the same table.

‘You put us on the same table as Diane. I can’t sit anywhere near that woman. I can’t be in the same room as her.’

‘You’ll have to be,’ I point out, my face deadpan, ‘unless you want to eat on your own in the bar. I can’t please everyone and, besides, you all need to talk, so talk you will.’

‘I’ve come here to enjoy myself,’ Fifi says.

‘Well, I suggest you get the business part of the proceedings over as quickly as possible.’

‘That’s why you put us together, isn’t it?’ my aunt says, in a moment of enlightenment. ‘Tessa, that’s most underhand’ – she chuckles – ‘I didn’t think you had it
in
you to be so devious. You used to be such an innocent girl.’

‘If you went back to the committee and served as an ordinary member, as they’ve invited you to, you would show that you’re committed to the cause and not put off by all that petty infighting. You’ll demonstrate your resolve and strength of character by rising above it, not joining in with all the bitching and catty comments.’ I pause before continuing, ‘So leave my seating plan well alone. If you move just one couple, it will set up dangerous perturbations elsewhere.’ I don’t explain, but it includes the possibility that I’d end up on the same table as Jack and I don’t think I could bear that.

‘Oh dear.’ My aunt looks past me towards the door. ‘Keep your chin up, Tessa.’

It’s Jack, accompanied by his girlfriend, and Libby and Ash who look happier than ever, Libby in a short sleeveless dress with a flouncy hemline. I take a step back, hoping that Fifi will greet them while I hover in the background at the bottom of the white marble staircase that leads to the ballroom on the first floor, but it’s too late. Jack catches my eye straight away with a somewhat sheepish glance, walking across hand in hand with the woman he chose over me. My heart plummets because although I was hoping she’d be like one of Cinderella’s Ugly Sisters, some haggard crone with cataracts and no teeth, or what I imagine a cougar to be, a platinum blonde in an animal-print catsuit with pumped-up, artificial breasts, she’s very attractive, petite and slender, with big grey eyes and elfin features.

‘This is Karen,’ Jack says awkwardly, introducing her to me. ‘Karen, this is Tess.’

‘Hello,’ she says. ‘Jack’s told me all about you.’

Not all, I hope, raising one eyebrow towards him, and I detect the faintest sign of a blush in his cheeks.

‘I expect we’ll catch up with you later,’ Jack says.

‘I don’t know what he sees in her,’ Fifi says to me when they’ve moved on.

I can, I’m afraid. Her dress might be plain and her make-up understated, but a smile plays on her lips as she looks up at Jack, much like Buster looks – I correct myself – how Buster used to look adoringly up at me when he wanted his breakfast.

‘She seems pleasant enough,’ I counter, ‘and she must be all right because she’s into animal welfare like us.’

‘She’s old enough to be his mother.’

‘There’s no need to be kind to me,’ I tell my aunt. ‘She isn’t that old.’

‘Verging on too old to start a family. I wonder if Jack’s thought about that.’ Fifi sighs. ‘Oh, who knows what men think? I’ve met many men and I’m none the wiser.’

I smile to myself. It’s no secret that my aunt has had a few affairs of the heart during her marriage. In fact, I’m surprised my uncle’s put up with it, although my mum says it’s because they have an open relationship and my uncle has behaved just as badly, if not much worse, than her sister.

‘Hi, Tessa.’ Katie joins us, clutching Nathan’s arm. I feel a sense of satisfaction when I see that he looks pretty wrecked already, his tie dangling from his collar, his face red and eyes bloodshot. He’s let himself go since I last saw him, but he’s still the same: a nasty piece of work who virtually bankrupted me when he bankrupted himself. I can’t stand him. I try to
suppress
the flares of anger that erupt at the sight of him.

‘Welcome to the ball,’ I say, acting my heart out. ‘Katie, you look fab. I love the dress.’ She looks stunning in a lilac gown, and all I can think is that she could do better than accessorising it with the rat on her arm.

Drinks are served, followed by a sit-down banquet, some dancing and an interlude for the auction of promises. My dad takes over the stage and the microphone to introduce himself, although most people here know very well who he is. I look around at the audience, hoping we haven’t left it too late because many of the guests are looking pretty sozzled, but maybe they’ll spend more than if they were sober.

‘I hope you’re enjoying this evening, having plenty of fun, and raising lots of money for Talyton Animal Rescue at the same time. Well, ladies and gents, girls and boys, dust off those wallets and loosen those purse-strings for tonight’s very special auction of promises.’ My dad pauses. ‘We have to thank Tessa, my lovely daughter’ – he looks across and I think, Please don’t embarrass me – ‘the best daughter anyone could have, who has begged, cajoled and fleeced the good people of Talyton St George for this wonderful variety of promises.’

Good people? I think. He’s beginning to sound like Widow Twanky.

‘Give yourselves a huge pat on the back for your generosity. Now, where shall we begin?’

‘Look at the list, Dad,’ I say, bustling over to join him with my copy.

He looks at me. ‘That’s no good, love. I haven’t got my glasses.’

‘The first one is Jack,’ I whisper to him. ‘Go on.’

‘Right, thank you, love.’ I walk off the stage and Dad turns to the band. ‘Drum roll, please. And our first lot is’ – his voice booms across the sound of the drums – ‘a slave for a day, our very own Jack Miller. Jack, where are you?’

I look towards Jack’s table, but he isn’t there. He’s walking out from the door at the side of the stage, dressed only in a bow tie, dress shoes, a scarlet apron with ‘All Yours’ across the front and a thong, to applause and wolf whistles.

Blushing and bashful, Jack inclines his head to acknowledge the crowd, and stands with his feet apart and hands behind his back, awaiting his fate, which, when I look around at the eager faces, could be dire. I’m afraid he could end up being eaten alive.

‘Okay,’ my dad says, ‘Jack says he has many attributes, but he’s particularly handy around the house. He’s good at DIY, can fit you a smoke alarm or make minor repairs. He can walk your dogs—’

‘I’d like him to bring me breakfast in bed,’ someone pipes up from the top table. It’s Diane. ‘Then run me a hot bath with bubbles.’

I watch Jack’s expression. He’s more likely to run for it than run Diane a bath, I think, amused, then I sober up, the ache of loss returning, seeping back into my soul. I don’t believe I’ll ever get over him. He’ll always be the one that got away.

He doesn’t escape Diane though. She starts the bidding – or, rather, tells her husband to – and keeps bidding until she’s secured Jack’s services, at which she insists on tottering onto the stage – with encouragement from the other members of the committee, I notice – in a clinging pale green dress and black patent T-bar
shoes
to check the goods for herself. Jack takes her prodding in good humour, but she won’t let him go in a hurry, taking the microphone from my dad and holding herself upright, with her hand around Jack’s back.

‘I shall make sure I get my money’s worth,’ she shrieks. ‘You’d better be prepared to work hard, young man.’

‘Edward’s money’s worth,’ Fifi calls out. ‘It’s your husband’s money you’ve just spent. Go on, Diane. Make your speech.’

I catch my dad’s eye. ‘Hurry up,’ I mouth. He needs to move the auction along because we’re running out of time, and I begin to feel like Cinderella did, knowing that she has to leave the ball at the stroke of midnight otherwise her clothes will turn to rags and her carriage into a pumpkin. In fact, we have to finish by two, but the band still has to play one final set.

There’s no stopping Diane, though, when she’s in full flow.

‘Fifi, you must join us on stage,’ she says, ‘and Wendy and Frances and the rest of our loyal members. We have an important announcement to make.’

The gaggle of women surround Jack, who obliges by kissing each one in turn as Diane speaks of new beginnings for Talyton Animal Rescue.

‘Tonight, the phoenix has risen from the ashes. We have had a tough few months and lost our way, but thanks to this evening …’