Page 19 of Christmas at the Home Farm Vets (Hartfell Village #2)

‘At my sister’s. She and her partner have bought their first house together and they want to do the big family Christmas.’ Oli sighed, scrunching up the paper now he’d finished eating.

‘And you don’t?’

‘I usually go away, I’m not that into it. Still can’t quite get past those memories of coming home for Christmas and finding out Honey had died. And it’s never been the same since my parents split up, so…’

‘I’m sorry.’ Erin adored Christmas and couldn’t imagine not spending the day as she usually did, enveloped with her family in their routines and celebrations.

When she and her grandad had played in the brass band, December was always a busy month with concerts and carol services every week.

It had set up the season for her and she still couldn’t hear brass instruments without being tugged straight back to those days.

She needed to get a move on with her Christmas shopping too; her mum and her nan were easy enough, while her grandad said there was nothing he needed and not to spend her money on him.

But she always found him something he’d love, whether it was heritage seeds for his vegetable garden or an old recording of a brass band he’d treasure.

Her phone rang and she picked up the call, immediately switching into work mode as she listened to the farmer on the other end.

Oli understood what was coming and he raised a hand as he got out of her car.

She started the engine and set off once she’d got the details.

When she reached the farm she layered up to examine a pig with a suspected infection in a rear claw, pulling on her wellies and waterproofs.

Inside a barn divided into pens by sturdy concrete walls she saw a large British Saddleback sow with its distinctive black body, white front legs and a white band around its middle.

She seemed quite content lying on her side, but Erin had spotted the outer rear claw and couldn’t blame the sow for wanting to take the weight off it.

She was happy to have a first look from outside the pen and not disturb or upset her more than absolutely necessary.

‘The coronary band looks inflamed but there are no obvious signs of an abscess or swollen joints,’ she informed the farmer. ‘Let’s have a closer look, if she’ll let us.’

The farmer entered the pen first, bending to scratch the sow between her dark ears.

She grunted satisfyingly and Erin followed, running a gentle hand down her leg to examine the hoof.

‘Some slight cracking but it’s not too bad.

She’s probably nicked it on something. I’ll give her anti-inflammatories and a course of antibiotics that will penetrate the tissue.

Seven days to be on the safe side and it should help prevent the infection heading into a joint, but obviously keep a close eye on her. ’

Erin returned with the medication and efficiently injected the sow, thankful she didn’t react adversely and try to corner her, or worse.

She advised the farmer to call the practice if there was no improvement after three days, when a change of medication might be required.

Back at Hartfell there were no more calls for now, so she decided to visit Pippa’s gallery while she could.

The old youth hostel and former coaching inn – since renamed the Ivy Walker Gallery in honour of Pippa’s great-grandmother, who’d been a local farmer and an artist – stood at the head of a T-junction with the pub opposite and the village green across the lane.

Alongside setting up the gallery, Pippa had been supply teaching art at college and was leaving at the end of term.

The official gallery opening was in January, when a launch was planned to display a local landscape artist who’d never shown before.

Erin joined the throng of people milling inside, feeling a little self-conscious in her winter work layers.

The main gallery was on her left, chalky white walls fresh beneath a beamed ceiling, a traditional fireplace renovated to its original black.

The smaller room on her right was also finished and she spotted Harriet and another young girl helping serve guests queueing for mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies. Erin waved and Harriet grinned back.

Strolling along the tables while a harpist played traditional carols in the background, Erin picked up a pair of navy-and-white handwarmers her mum would love, plus two glass baubles for her Christmas tree.

Heather was coming over tomorrow and bringing a box of their old decorations so Erin would have something from home on her own tree.

She also bought some floral bath bombs for her nan, who didn’t hold with showers.

One stall was selling striped Christmas candles in jars, and she chose a pair of cinnamon ones for her fireplace before falling quickly in love with a set of Christmas stockings made from old woollen sweaters, which was when Gil found her.

‘Hey, Erin, thanks for coming. Isn’t it brilliant? I’m so pleased for Pippa at how many people have turned out.’ He raised a hand to someone else he recognised in the crowd. ‘Kenny’s been very generous in letting us use the pub car park too, this one’s full.’

‘It’s fantastic, and the gallery looks gorgeous,’ Erin agreed.

The phone in her pocket pinged and she checked it quickly; it was just her mum’s usual daily message.

She had a different notification for work calls, but she liked to keep an eye so as not to miss anything important when she was on call.

‘Harriet mentioned how busy Pippa’s been, getting everything set up. ’

‘It has been a rush, the scaffolding only came down a few days ago but she was keen to open today and support local craftspeople as it’s the first Saturday in December. I’m so proud of her vision and determination to remember Ivy this way and find new artists to show. So how’s the day looking?’

‘Fine, I might have to see a cat later but so far quiet.’ Erin was planning to have a hot chocolate if she had time; they looked mouth-wateringly delicious laden with thick cream and dusted with powdered chocolate.

‘Erin, how wonderful to see you. Thank you for coming.’ Pippa joined them, looking especially lovely in an orange-red floral print tea dress paired with slouchy dark green suede boots, her blonde hair falling to her shoulders.

A gifted artist in her own right, Erin knew she’d recently sold some of her paintings to collectors.

‘My pleasure, my shopping bag is getting heavier by the minute. Congratulations on the gallery, it’s beautiful.’

‘Thank you, that’s very kind.’ Pippa smiled up at Gil, and Erin wondered if she’d ever look at someone in quite the same way.

‘It’s been a real labour of love, hasn’t it?

The building had been empty for over a year so it was a bit grim when we bought it.

My friend Cassie is here somewhere too, she’s been brilliant on social media and getting the word out.

Isla, her daughter, is helping Harriet on refreshments.

’ Pippa pulled a face. ‘Raf said he would try and make it, but he cried off at the last minute.’

Erin had been secretly hoping to meet Pippa’s glamorous brother, who until recently had played drums in their dad’s Eighties rock band Blue at Midnight.

The band had recently completed the final dates of a world retirement tour ending in Australia.

Jonny was still out there, settling into the house he’d bought with his partner, Vanessa, and their two youngest children, Phoebe and Freddie, Pippa’s half sister and brother.

‘And I just wanted to thank you for taking Harriet out to see practice, Erin.’ Pippa leaned closer to speak over the chat. ‘I love my daughter dearly but there’s no denying she’s very determined when she’s set her mind on something.’

‘Oh, she’s very welcome,’ Erin replied. ‘I’m always happy to take her.’

As the only grandchild of a world-famous rock star who’d lived in London for most of her life, Harriet had the kind of confidence, even at fourteen, that Erin could only dream of.

She was also kind underneath her sharp wit, and blessed with an innate ability to read people.

Erin had never been surprised that she got on so well with Dorothy.

‘She’s very keen, and Gil told her that she couldn’t do better for a role model than to learn from you.’

‘Oh!’ Erin allowed herself a moment to indulge the pleasure Gil’s compliment brought her. ‘That’s very generous, but I’ve still got a lot to learn.’

‘Only the truth,’ Gil replied. ‘Harriet’s dead set on Cambridge too, so she’s bound to quiz you and Oli. She helped me with a PM on a sheep the other day and didn’t even flinch when I opened it up. The pus literally erupted, and we were…’

‘No pus, please. Not here.’ Pippa placed a finger against his lips, and he laughed, bending to kiss her cheek quickly.

‘Maybe Harriet would like to come round and eat with us one evening, and chat about Cambridge.’ Erin flushed as she realised how naturally she’d referred to her and Oli as ‘us’. ‘I’m sure Oli would share his experience too.’

‘Oh, Harriet would love that, thank you.’ Pippa beamed at her.

‘I’ll let her know and she’ll be wanting to plan a date as soon as you’re both free.

Did you know she’s persuaded Dorothy to join Instagram?

’ Pippa shook her head as Gil rolled his eyes, and Erin laughed.

‘She told Dorothy photos of the animals would do wonders for their fundraising efforts, but really? They posted some pictures of the alpacas in reindeer headbands from the nativity and apparently they’ve gone down a storm since Raf put it on his stories. ’

‘I was just glad Posy behaved herself and didn’t fell half the village on her way to the nearest feed bucket,’ Gil said wryly.

‘I did warn Harriet not to take her, but she wasn’t having any of it.

And Dorothy’s just as bad, egging her on.

Gave me one of her looks when I asked how many alpacas did she think were present at the birth of Jesus.

Told me they might well have followed a star across the Andes to Bethlehem and she counted the evening a success seeing as only one person complained about being spat on. So that’s all good, I suppose.’

Pippa leaned in. ‘Apparently she’s been getting strange messages too, and someone asked for a photo, so Dorothy sent one of a placenta after a calving.

I’d like to bet that wasn’t what the chap had in mind.

Harriet had to intervene and update Dorothy’s app settings.

Oh hi, Oli, so lovely of you to call in. ’

Erin was still laughing about Dorothy when Oli halted beside her. She glanced up and caught the flicker of his gaze on her, the quick smile warming her from the inside.

‘Thank you for the invitation, Pippa. What a gorgeous space.’

‘Thank you. We’ve still got a way to go before the lift’s installed and the community room is ready upstairs, but I’m delighted with it so far.

’ Pippa waved at someone, and Gil excused himself to take a call.

‘Erin’s very kindly offered to invite Harriet over for a meal sometime so she can talk to you two about Cambridge. ’

‘Sounds great,’ Oli replied, and Erin was aware of his eyes on her again. ‘There’s loads we can share, isn’t there, Erin?’

‘Absolutely.’ She wasn’t going to be caught out by the suggestion of amusement in his reply, given there was also plenty she wouldn’t share. ‘Maybe you should cook, Oli.’

‘Sorry, would you excuse me? I can see the Yorkshire Life photographer beckoning.’ Pippa edged away into the crowd and Erin checked her phone again, thinking about a date for Harriet and dinner.

‘So are you buying Christmas gifts?’ Erin hadn’t meant that to sound quite so nosey. ‘I’m guessing you don’t need decorations if you go away for Christmas.’

‘Not usually, no.’ His eyes narrowed as she took something from her bag of shopping and handed it to him.

‘Got you something I thought you might like.’

‘For me?’ Oli’s voice rose as he accepted the package, and he grinned once he’d unwrapped the tissue paper. ‘I love it, thank you.’ He was holding an enamel espresso cup, decorated with woodland animals sitting around a Christmas tree. ‘Now I feel as though I should reciprocate.’

‘Please don’t, you can leave it behind when you go.’

‘What if I want to keep it as a reminder of Hartfell?’ he asked softly, and she was relieved to escape that look when her phone rang. She answered it quickly and turned to make her way outside.