Sharing custody of Nancy with my sister meant that all decisions regarding her care had to be run past her, and Jasmine wasn’t always amenable.
“Two hundred and sixty bucks for a course of injections that might not work?” I held the phone away from my ear, and she still sounded loud. “That’s ridiculous!”
Nancy was an old dog, and arthritis was beginning to cripple her. The cold weather was particularly debilitating, and I constantly worried that the coming winter would be her last.
Jasmine’s complaints about the cost of treatment were nothing more than puffing. She was just as concerned about our treasured old dog as I was, which was proven when she demanded to be at her next vet appointment.
“If I’m paying for half the treatment, I might as well be there to see it,” she snapped.
“Great.” My cheerful tone was purely designed to aggravate. “It’s tomorrow morning at nine.”
“Why so freaking early?”
“Because I have some important business to attend to in the afternoon.”
Playing Charli’s sidekick while she begged Gabrielle to take part in our photoshoot wasn’t exactly important, but Jasmine didn’t need to know that.
“What business?” she snapped. “No one does business on a Sunday.”
“The vet does,” I replied, gearing up to end the call. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Hanging up on her felt wonderful, but baiting her had felt even better. The chokehold she’d always had on me was already starting to slip, and judging by the slew of catty text messages I received throughout the rest of the day, Jasmine must’ve realised it too.
***
We met in the car park of the vet clinic early the next morning. Jasmine’s mood was already pissy, which was exactly what I was expecting.
“He better be running on time,” she warned, slamming the door of the minivan. “Lincoln’s got footy training at ten.”
“You didn’t have to come,” I replied, handing Nancy to her. “I can handle it.”
“I did have to come,” she retorted, craning her neck as Nancy licked her face. “That greedy city vet is trying to get one over on us, and I’m not going to let it happen.”
Paying your dues in a country town is a long process. Despite the fact that Noah Holt had been in Pipers Cove for nearly three months, he was still known as the city vet, and probably would be for years.
Jasmine hadn’t always thought ill of him. When he first arrived in town, she worked hard to pull him into her social fold, bombarding him with everything from dinner invitations to offers of discount haircuts – and he declined every one of them. The final straw came when he knocked back a coveted spot on her husband’s fitness crew.
“It’s the most elite fitness organisation in town,” boasted Wade.
Despite the hard sell, a group of sweaty blokes running around the local park was about as prestigious as a root canal. Understandably, Noah wasn’t interested, and the Davis’ took it personally.
“He’s a stuck up snob,” declared Jasmine.
“He’s not a real doctor either,” added Wade. “He only works on animals.”
It was a ludicrous statement, but they’d made up their minds. Noah Holt was not Team Davis material.
As soon as we walked through the door, I realised that we must’ve snagged the first appointment of the day. The waiting room was empty, and the front desk was unattended.
Jasmine sat down beside me, nursing Nancy on her lap. “Business must be slow.”
I turned my head in time to catch her sly smirk.
“Where is he, anyway?” she asked. The door of the examination room was open a few inches. Jasmine leaned, trying to see inside, and then answered her own question. “He’s probably holed up in his office counting all his money.”
When my sister’s mean side kicked in, it really kicked in. Not one word out of her mouth that morning had been pleasant, which meant talking to her was a complete waste of my time. Ignoring her as best I could, I sat in silence until Noah finally walked out of his office.
“Sorry about the wait,” he said. “We’re a bit short-staffed this morning.”
Jasmine glanced at the empty front desk. “Where’s Susie?”
Noah grinned. “She’s busy out the back,” he replied. “Counting all my money.”
A normal person would’ve been mortified that he’d overheard her rude comment, but Jasmine wasn’t normal. She scooped Nancy up and jumped to her feet. “Let’s just get this over with, shall we?”
I dropped my head, directing my laugh at the floor, which infuriated her even more. She turned around and told me to pull myself together. “You’re embarrassing yourself,” she chided.
The vet clinic didn’t have the depressing vibe of a doctor’s surgery. It was still clinical and white, but it was essentially a happy place that smelt like disinfectant and hay.
With the exception of a row of cupboards, a big stainless steel examination table and a sink in the corner, Noah’s office was bare, but the pinup board of pet pictures that took up the whole far wall brightened the space immensely.
The presence of Noah enhanced the place too. He was young, handsome and kind to animals. And if those attributes didn’t make him perfect, his veterinary degree did.
I wasn’t the only one who got a bit hot under the collar when I saw him. Nancy had a skip in her step too. When Noah took her from Jasmine and set her down on the table, she excitedly bounced around as if she didn’t have an arthritic bone in her body.
Carefully, he checked her over. “How has she been?” he asked.
“Fine,” replied Jasmine.
Frowning at her, I gave a more honest reply. “Old and slow,” I said. “Nights are the worst.”
“The injections should help,” he explained, glancing up at me. “Eighty percent of pets respond quickly after the first dose.”
Jasmine’s hands moved to her hips. “Those aren’t good odds considering you’re charging us a mint for them, Noah.”
He shrugged. “I’m happy to do a thirty-day account for you.”
Considering that the animosity between them was mutual, it was a remarkably generous offer, but my sister didn’t agree.
“How about a discount instead?”
As audacious as her request was, Noah didn’t bat an eyelid. “I’ve got an idea,” he said sarcastically. “How about a thirty-day account?”
“Sixty,” she countered.
Jasmine was much easier to deal with when she was feeling victorious and superior. Perhaps Noah realised it too. He agreed straight away.
“Excellent,” she quipped, hitching her handbag higher onto her shoulder. “My work here is done.”
“Wait,” I called as she got to the door. “Where are you going?”
Jasmine turned back, screwing up her nose. “I hate needles,” she replied. “Just bring her out to the car when you’re done.” She made a grab for the handle. “Oh, and Lil,” she added, turning around again. “Don’t let him talk you into anything else. We can’t afford it – especially you.” She looked me up and down. “You have no job, remember?”
Jasmine’s ability to make me look foolish in front of others was pure artistry, but my skills when it came to ignoring her were better.
“Just go,” I muttered. “I’ll bring Nancy out soon.”
As soon as the door clicked closed, I felt free to breathe again. Even Nancy looked more relaxed. Noah prepared a syringe, whispered a few sweet words into her furry ear and then administered the shot.
She didn’t even flinch, but I wobbled a bit. “Do you think that hurts her?” I asked.
“I think her aching joints hurt her more,” he replied, handing the pooch a treat. “An injection is a quick pinch.” He lowered Nancy to the floor and headed for the sink. “But arthritis is a constant throbbing pain – probably similar to being locked in a room with your sister.”
The smile he flashed as he turned around was almost as sly as his comment.
&nb
sp; “I can call her back in here, you know,” I teased. “Maybe let her know that I’ve negotiated a new ninety-day account.”
Noah slowly stepped toward me, drying his hands with paper towel. “Do that,” he said in a deliciously low tone. “And then maybe I’ll let her know that you’re ready to resume salon duties.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
He tossed the paper towel into the bin and stepped closer, pressing his whole body against me. “I might,” he threatened. “You should never trust a city vet.”
I did trust him. I also really liked him, which was terrifying. Historically, handsome, smart, city boys didn’t land in the Cove very often, and when they did, they didn’t pursue me.
Something about Noah Holt was different. He saw more in me than most people did, including my family. He listened when I spoke, encouraged me when I needed it, and took very good care of my decrepit old dog.
He was perfect, but I was a work in progress, which meant he was likely to disappear in a puff of smoke at any given moment. For that reason alone, my budding romance with the city vet was a secret I wasn’t willing to share.
“I need your help with something,” he murmured.
The tone of his voice suggested it was going to be something lovely, but the words didn’t match. He had a house call to make that evening and wanted me to tag along.
I linked my arms around his neck. “What for?”
“A few reasons.” He dropped his head, lightly pressing his lips against mine. “When you’re with me, I get to kiss you any time I want to.”
“That’s true,” I whispered.
“I also need your professional help.”
I huffed out a sharp laugh. “I don’t have a profession.”
Breaking the hold I had on him, Noah grabbed a pen from his shirt pocket. He took my hand and scrawled an address on my palm. “Can you meet me here at seven?”
“You are such a city slicker,” I teased. “There are eleven streets in this town. You didn’t have to write it down.”
He slipped the pen back into his pocket. “Rookie mistake,” he replied, smiling. “So you’ll be there?”
I cocked my head, reading the messy doctor writing on my hand. I knew the street well, of course, but couldn’t place the house at number nine. “I’ll be there,” I assured him. “I’ll just have to cancel my other hot date.”
His hand wrapped around my hip. “Do that,” he said, pulling me forward. “And I’ll make it up to you with dinner and a movie.”
His offer was another rookie mistake. The nearest movie theatre was eighty kilometres away, but I let it go. Nancy had begun scratching at the door, which meant we had thirty seconds left together before she completely ruined the moment by peeing on the floor.
6. COOL KIDS
Charli
My would-be stepmother is no pushover. She’s also a major control freak so asking her to take part in our photoshoot meant giving her total creative licence. I spent the drive out to Alex and Gabi’s reassuring Lily that surrendering to her bossy ways was for the best.
“Gabrielle will turn it into a classy affair.” I glanced across at her. “She has that whole French chic thing going on.”
At best, it sounded silly. Nothing about the combination of dogs, costumes and photoshoots sounded classy, but Bridget thought otherwise. She piped up from the backseat. “My daddy is French,” she said proudly. “He has French cheeks too.”
Lily directed her quiet giggle at the window, but Bridget caught on. She let out a cackle of her own – and that sweet little sound set the mood for the rest of the journey.
It was far too soon to claim that Lily and I were friends, but we’d made serious headway in the past few days. The drama that had tainted every interaction we’d had in the past twenty years was gone, replaced by easy conversation and a mutual desire to play nice.
I couldn’t deny that it was a strange turn of events, but Alex seemed to have trouble processing it. While Bridget showed Lily around the garden, he cornered me on the veranda. “What’s the deal, Charli?” he asked, bouncing Jack on his hip. “You haven’t invited Lily over since kindergarten.”
“There is no deal,” I insisted. “I’m just testing out the friendship waters.”
“With Lily Tate?” he asked, eyes wide. “Why?”
He made it seem like the most ridiculous idea on earth, and a week ago, I might’ve agreed with him.
“As it turns out, we’re not that different, Alex.” I reached, running my fingers through my brother’s curls. “Flawed, but trying to do better.”
“You’re not –”
“Face facts, Dad,” I interrupted. “Jack is the cool one. He’s going to grow up having a million friends and really awesome hair.”
His brown eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled. “And you’re not cool?”
“I haven’t been cool once in my whole life.”
“How could that be?” he asked laughing. “You’re my kid. You were born awesome.”
I rested my elbows on the railing and gazed down into the garden. Lily was standing at the edge of the bogan golf platform, trying to look interested as Bridget lined up her shot.
“My best friend is four-years-old.” I made it sound like I was admitting to something terrible. “And in a few short weeks, she’s going to dump me for the bright lights of pre-primary.”
When Alex moved to stand beside me, Jack grabbed a handful of my hair. “She’s still going to need you, Charli.”
“I know that,” I replied, loosening Jack’s iron grip. “But it’s time I found some new friends.”
Without warning, the screen door burst open, and Gabrielle stepped outside. “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” she said, taking the baby from Alex. “Getting out of your comfort zone will be good for you, Charli.”
I didn’t care that she’d probably been hanging on every word. The news that I was unpopular and antisocial wasn’t new. I’d always been that way, and she knew it.
“How about your comfort zone, Gabs?” I asked. “Do you feel like stepping out of it for a minute? Lily and I have a proposition for you.”
She said no, but I could tell by the look on her face that she was desperate for more information. I didn’t make her wait long, explaining the whole plan in a few messy sentences.
“We want you to design the set,” I told her. “It’s got to look classy.”
“Dogs wearing ball gowns?” Her green eyes were wide. “How can I make that classy?”
The almighty crack of a golf ball made us all turn our heads in Bridget’s direction.
“That girl has one hell of a swing,” Alex proudly noted. “She couldn’t do that in Central Park.”
“Not without getting arrested, no,” I agreed. “Can we get back to the topic at hand, please?”
“You can,” he said, stepping off the porch. “But I’d rather play golf with my grandbaby.”
I turned my attention back to Gabrielle. “So?” I asked. “Will you do it?”
“Ball gowns on dogs, Charli,” she repeated, looking aghast. “There is no class to be found.”
I was so focused on talking her around that I hadn’t noticed that Lily was now within earshot.
“I know it sounds weird, Gabi,” she said, slowly making her way up the steps. “That’s why I brought my sketchpad with me.” She pulled a large notebook from her bag and held it out to her. “Hopefully it’ll give you a better idea of what I do.”
Gabrielle could sniff out lead pencils a mile away. Without uttering another word, she offloaded her baby into my arms and took the sketchpad from her.
From the corner of my eye, I could see that nerves were already getting the better of Lily. She nervously wrung her hands together, undoubtedly waiting for the Parisienne to shoot her artistic abilities to pieces.
I was nervous too. Gabrielle wasn’t one to hold back when it came to giving her honest opinion. A bad critique was likely to send Lily over the edge, and I wasn’t sure what that
would entail.
Gabi aimlessly wandered around the porch, thumbing through pages, focusing longer on some than others. By the time she finally spoke, Lily looked close to tears.
“Where did you learn to draw like this?” she asked.
Lily shrugged. “I’ve always liked to draw,” she replied. “It made up for the fact that my reading and writing skills sucked.”
Gabrielle held the notebook to her chest, showcasing an amazing drawing of a dog kitted out in a tutu and tiara. “This is fabulous,” she praised. “You have an extraordinary talent.”
“Yes, she bloody does,” I agreed, stepping closer to take a better look. “Who else knows you can draw like this?”
The look on Lily’s face was all wrong. She should’ve looked proud or smug or both. Instead, she looked embarrassed. “No one,” she replied. “They’re just drawings.”
Gabi tapped the notebook with her palm. “This is a gift,” she told her. “And if your creations are half as good as your vision, you deserve huge success.”
“So you’ll do it?” I asked, bouncing Jack on my hip.
Her beauty queen smile was huge. “It would be my pleasure.”
***
The hardware store and Bridget were not a good match, so when Alex offered to watch her for the afternoon while Lily and I took care of Gabrielle’s short shopping list, I was grateful.
“Tell Norm that you want white canvas drop sheets,” she instructed. “Not the plastic ones Adam uses; they have to be canvas.”
“Okay,” I replied, slipping her list into my pocket.
“White, Charli,” she repeated. “They must be white.”
She was still calling out instructions as we drove away, which was actually a good sign. When Gabrielle Décarie is in, she’s all in.
***
Nothing can be done on the sly in a small town, even at three o’clock on a Sunday afternoon. As soon as I pulled into the angled parking bay in front of the hardware store, our quick and easy shopping trip suddenly became complicated.
Every shop in town was located on the main street, and The Best Salon in the Cove was opposite the hardware store. It was closed on Sundays, but today it was a hive of activity.