Page 75 of A Country Practice Christmas
I tear my gaze away.
After the abscess has drained and the pressure has been released from his foot, Caesar is barely limping. I give him antibiotics before releasing him into the paddock.
‘You could have done this on your own, couldn’t you?’
Cameron slaps dust from his jeans. ‘Maybe.’
‘Julia told me you did a year of medicine. Why did you leave?’
He’s frowning as he picks up his bag. ‘Come to the pub tomor-row night.’
‘What for?’
He huffs. ‘A country pub. Friday night. It happens.’
‘Who will be there?’
‘Me, Julia and Jimmy, maybe Anna if she can get out. You might know others.’ He takes off his hat and pushes back his hair in the same way, only thirty minutes ago, he pushed back mine. He’s experienced in relationships. He knows who and what he is, where he wants to live and what he wants to do with his life. He’s clever and popular and confident.
‘Thanks, but I won’t make it.’
He walks past the toilet block and I bravely walk alongside him. Today, I remembered about the patch and the pirate jibes. I faced them and put them behind me. That’s enough for now.
When we reach the car park, he follows me to my ute and opens the door. ‘If you change your mind about—’
‘I won’t.’ When I grab the door to close it, our hands touch. Technically, I’m trapping his hand because mine is on top, but he’s taller and stronger and there’s no question that if he wanted to take his hand back, he could. The school bell rings.Clang clang clang. And then he walks away.
Chapter 14
Since returning from the school, I’ve seen two dogs and a cranky Siamese cat called Treasure, but now, besides me and Keith Urban, the waiting room is empty. Keith, lying flat on the tiles to keep cool, lifts his head when someone raps on the door.
‘Come in!’
The woman, well dressed in a smart linen dress, is well in her sixties. Intelligent. Reserved. Grey hair pulled into a bun.
‘Miss Winters.’ I stand back. ‘Come in.’
‘I thought you might not recognise me after all these years.’
I might not have recognised her so quickly if Bronte and Charlie hadn’t mentioned her this morning, but in sixteen years, she’s changed very little.
‘My appearance would have altered more than yours.’
‘When Bronte told me she’d met a pretty vet that used to attend Summerfield Primary, I hoped it would be you.’ She sits on a chair in the waiting room and I sit too. ‘You’re taller of course and …’ She smiles uncertainly.
‘Things turned out okay with my eyes.’
‘You should never have been moved to the senior classes.’ She folds her hands. ‘That has always sat uneasily with me.’
‘There were a lot of factors at play. Anyway, I survived.’
‘You were not only clever, but resilient.’
‘I liked being in your class.’
‘I did some online research, Amelie. You have outstanding credentials.’
‘Working with domestic and farm animals in Summerfield is different from what I usually do, but I’ve enjoyed it.’
