Page 45 of Christmas at the Home Farm Vets (Hartfell Village #2)

‘I can imagine.’ Erin had never taken a holiday in winter, so she didn’t know any different. ‘Thank you for saying that, but I had a lot of support, and everyone’s been wonderful. We pulled together, and I couldn’t have done it without Oli too.’

‘That’s great to hear. So, going back to our discussion about the future before I left. I know we didn’t have time for a thorough review but the clear thought in my mind is that I’d like to offer you a partnership, Erin. Of course you’ll need some time to consider it.’

‘Gil, I don’t know what to say!’ Her voice rose and her stomach was fluttering with excitement. ‘That’s incredible, thank you. It’s everything I dreamed of for my career. Thank you for your confidence in me, I so appreciate it. If I’m honest, I hadn’t imagined a partnership so soon.’

Her family would also be over the moon, and Erin was imagining her mum’s pride, the sacrifices she’d made down the years, the thousands of hours of study and work it had taken to get here.

‘You’re very welcome.’ Gil leaned back, and she knew from his smile he was pleased with her response.

‘And much as I want you to progress your career, the selfish bit of me wants to hang on to you. I know you’ve got a week off coming up soon, so don’t rush your decision.

Have your holiday and we can talk when you get back and see how you feel then.

I want you to be sure this is right for you, as much as I believe it is for the practice. ’

‘Thank you, I will give it serious thought and I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve decided.’

‘Perfect. So that brings me to Oli.’ Gil slid his empty cup away and his gaze was so direct that Erin flushed guiltily.

Did her boss know how things were between them?

Had he heard about the kiss they’d shared on New Year’s Eve outside the pub?

Was he about to ask her to choose between Oli and her career?

Could he even do that? She very much doubted it, but it was a concern all the same.

‘I’d like to offer him a full-time job, with your agreement.

He’s settled in brilliantly and made himself very much part of the team, and I know everyone rates him highly.

His preference for companion animal work complements you and me perfectly, Erin, and I’d like to keep him if we can. What do you think?’

‘I think it would be wonderful if he stayed,’ she replied steadily, trying to remove all trace of elation from her voice.

But it was hard to disguise her pleasure; the final piece in her life was falling into place and this would be the perfect reason to anchor Oli in Hartfell.

‘He’s an outstanding vet and the clients love him. ’

‘So do you think he’ll accept?’

‘I hope so. I think he might, yes.’

Suddenly the day looked brighter. Perhaps she really could have it all: a meaningful career that made a difference to the animals under her care, one that sustained and fulfilled her.

And love, beyond the love for Marnie, her family and friends.

Oli’s love, the one that made her hurry home of an evening to be with him, to settle in front of the fire and talk, watch a movie or read before they’d make love and fall asleep together.

It was the kind of love she’d daydreamed of back at Catz when they’d first met, and she’d never imagined sharing with him then.

And now it was within her grasp, she didn’t want anything to stand in the way of holding on to it, least of all Oli not having a role here so he’d have to find one elsewhere.

‘I’ll talk to him as soon as he’s finished with those ferrets. I’d like to get it settled as soon as possible so we can think ahead to lambing and what kind of cover we’ll need.’

Erin floated into surgery with Dorothy’s lurcher later, anaesthetising him and removing one infected tooth and cleaning the rest. It wasn’t a difficult task, and he was soon recovering in the kennels on a cosy bed.

A call came in just before four about a cow having difficulty calving and she set out into the night, her plans for an early dinner on hold.

It was after eight when she returned home, tired but lit up too, at her news about the partnership and Oli’s job offer, and she couldn’t wait to talk with him.

Another message from Jason arrived before she got out of the pickup; a reminder this time about his cousin’s wedding at the weekend, checking in that she was still okay to go with him.

She pulled a face and shoved her phone into a pocket as she let herself into the cottage; she was pretty sure that meant he hadn’t found anyone else, or he’d been let down.

She’d reply later and let him know she wasn’t going.

She bent down when Marnie came over, thrilled that the kitten let Erin pick her up for a cuddle.

Oli was in the kitchen, and she called across, the sight of him there now achingly familiar.

‘Hey, you, something smells amazing.’ She had to pass him to go upstairs and change. She slid her arms around his waist, holding him from behind and curling her tired body into him. He turned, kissing her and gently holding her face with both hands.

‘Hello. You’re cold.’

‘So would you be if you’d just done a caesarean in a bloody freezing barn,’ she retorted. ‘The calf was alive, and the heifer was fine, so it was all good. Anyway I’m not cold now, not with you here.’

‘That’s great.’ His smile was a distracted one and she wondered if something had gone wrong at the practice this afternoon. It was an effort at work to pretend they were just colleagues and friends, but they managed it.

‘Has Gil spoken with you today? He said he was planning to.’

‘He has.’

‘And?’

‘He’s offered me a full-time job.’ Oli’s hands on her face tightened.

‘Oli, I’m so pleased for you. Congratulations.

I know you’re going to be brilliant and so does Gil.

’ Erin reluctantly stepped back and his hands fell away.

‘Have I got time for a shower before we eat? I’m sure I can smell the farm on me.

And I’ve got some news to share.’ She backed away to the stairs and Oli caught her hand, tugging her to a halt.

‘Erin, I turned the job down,’ he said quietly. ‘If you’ll just let me explain…’

For a frantic moment she wondered if she’d misheard him, or he was going to laugh and say he was teasing her, that of course he’d accepted the job.

But the truth was written in his eyes and the world seemed to have fallen from beneath her.

Blood rushed into her face and slipped away again, leaving her pale and trembling.

‘Explain?’ Her voice was a hollowed whisper. ‘How can you possibly explain that you’re leaving?’

‘Because it’s not what you think.’ A muscle was twitching in Oli’s cheek.

‘You don’t know what I think! Your contract is over, and you were always going to leave. I can’t believe I’ve let myself imagine it could ever be different.’

‘It’s because…’

‘Don’t.’ She yanked her hand free, shaking her head as though that might dislodge the hurt clouding her mind. Marnie would miss him too, and that was another level of sorrow. ‘I’m going for a shower, and I think you should leave,’ she whispered brokenly. ‘There’s no point in dragging this out.’

‘Erin, don’t do this, please. You have to let me explain.’ His voice had fallen, but she couldn’t allow herself to acknowledge the ache hovering in his eyes.

‘I really don’t, Oli. You’ve decided to leave Hartfell and that’s all the explanation I need.

’ Her phone was in her hand, and she glanced at the screen as it brightened.

Another message from Jason had popped up and she thrust it towards Oli.

‘Jason’s invited me to a wedding on Saturday and I’ve said yes.

’ She’d agreed weeks ago but she’d never have seen it through if Oli hadn’t been planning to walk right out of her life.

‘You’re not serious? Why the hell would you do that?’ His shoulders slumped and he shook his head in disbelief.

‘Because I’m beginning to realise Jason’s just what I need,’ she told him. ‘Someone who gives me the space to work and do my job without taking over every part of my life.’

‘Someone who doesn’t respect you, your career or your achievements, you mean.’ Oli snatched up his phone and keys from the worktop, their meal abandoned. ‘Someone who doesn’t care about you, not in any way that matters.’

‘It’s better that way. Jason can’t hurt me.’

‘So what are you saying? That you and I are over?’ Oli folded his arms, and she was on the edge of the cliff again, staring into another life. One she was going to have to live without him, and her heart was already crushed.

‘We’d barely even begun. And we both knew it was always going to end.’