Page 8 of Christmas at the Home Farm Vets (Hartfell Village #2)

‘No seriously, I mean it.’ Oli raised a helpless shoulder as Joyce dropped another on his plate. ‘We usually have Christmas cake instead. My parents aren’t together anymore and they both travel for work, so my sister and I split the holidays between them.’

Heather appeared and in better light Erin saw how pale she was, and forced away a spike of worry.

She’d be home next week for Christmas and then at least she could help out in between studying, which was a comfort.

Heather also thanked Oli for his kindness in driving Erin home and he brushed it off again, assuring them it was a pleasure, and he’d had no plans he couldn’t change.

Once the mince pies were devoured and Oli was asking Heather about her work in the florists, Joyce suggested that Erin and Oli eat on their knees in here, seeing as the three of them had already had their tea.

Erin cringed, imagining that he’d probably never eaten on his knees in his life, but Oli was quickly agreeing.

‘Thank you for including me, it’s very kind. The meals at Catz are great, aren’t they, Erin, but I can’t remember the last time I had something homemade.’

‘Then get yourself round a plate of Bill’s stew.’ Joyce clambered to her feet and Erin was following.

‘I’ll sort it out, Nan, you sit down. You’re not running around after us.’

Once she and Oli had seen off platefuls of delicious stew with dumplings and hunks of crusty bread and butter, plus a generous dollop of Bill’s homemade pickled red cabbage, there was another minor battle when Joyce and Heather discovered that Oli was planning to stay in a hotel before the drive back to Cambridge tomorrow.

‘I won’t hear another word about it.’ Heather fixed Erin with a look that said she meant it when Erin tried to protest again. ‘You can have Erin’s room.’

‘Absolutely not.’ Oli laughed awkwardly, his gaze catching Erin’s, and she flushed at the thought of him sleeping in her bed. ‘Sorry, I meant that I’d love to stay if you’ll have me but I’m very happy to sleep on the sofa. I really don’t want Erin to give up her room for me.’

‘Are you sure?’ Heather looked doubtfully at the beige couch. ‘I don’t know if it’s long enough for you. Mum, don’t we still have that camp bed in the loft?’

‘Aye, but it’ll be damp. I reckon the couch will do if Oli doesn’t mind?’ Joyce gave him a beady glance.

‘Not in the least.’ He flashed Erin that grin she found so perturbing, and even her nan seemed to be having a moment. ‘I’m very grateful for your hospitality.’

Erin sat back, letting the conversation carry on around her.

When Bill learned that Oli had never seen the Christmas episode of The Good Life , one of his favourites, he decided it wasn’t too early to watch it again.

Erin found it for him and slotted the DVD into the player beneath the television.

She found it hard to relax as her family took up their usual positions, squashed up to Oli on one side of the couch with her mum on the other.

Then they got Monopoly out, and Heather excused herself after an hour to return to bed.

Bill never missed an opportunity, piling hotels on his Mayfair property and making the rest of them stump up the rent.

Joyce was out first, then Bill, and it was left to Erin to maintain family honour and beat Oli, and they shared a high five.

Bill was dozing in front of the gas fire and Joyce nudged him awake to go up to bed.

Erin’s senses were on high alert as she and Oli were left on their own, nowhere near ready for sleep yet.

‘Uno?’ She got the little box out of the sideboard where all the games lived. ‘Do you know how to play?’

‘Of course I do.’ Oli shuffled onto the floor, and she joined him, setting the cards out.

After beating him in five straight games, she went into the kitchen to make tea and he followed, settling at the small table and chairs for two when she insisted she didn’t need any help.

She pulled out the chair opposite him and it was easier to talk about Catz, the work they’d done so far, the plans for next term.

‘Time for sleep.’ She closed her eyes, finally feeling the tiredness pressing in behind them. It had been an unusual and emotional day, and weariness was finally claiming her. ‘Grandad will have you out early inspecting his sprouts, and you must be beat after that drive.’

‘I’m looking forward to it.’ Oli leaned back, covering a yawn. ‘I am a bit tired, to be honest. Is this the right moment to tell you I’ve never driven so far in my life?’

‘Oli!’ She leaned across the table to bat his arm, and he laughed. ‘Why did you do it, then?’

‘I hope you know why,’ he said quietly. He held her gaze and Erin stood up hastily. This day, that look, none of it made sense in her world.

‘I think Nan’s left the stuff for your bed in my room, I’ll go and get it.’

‘Can I help?’ Oli was on his feet too.

‘I can manage a duvet and a couple of pillows.’

‘I know you can. But I’d like to help.’

‘Okay,’ she said slowly from the foot of the stairs. ‘But one word about my bedroom and you’ll be sleeping in the car.’

‘Got it. So what’s wrong with your room?’

‘Nothing, I love it. I just didn’t ever imagine you seeing it, that’s all.’

His feet were unfamiliar behind hers, and upstairs Erin opened the door, heart pounding at sharing the memories it contained.

‘Am I allowed to say I love it too? It’s really cute.’ His voice was as low as hers, mindful of her grandparents next door. ‘Especially the squirrels.’

‘Liar.’ She picked up the spare pillow and flung it at him. He caught it easily, tossing it back on the bed. ‘I bet your bedroom doesn’t look anything like this.’

‘No. But I only saw it in the holidays because I was away at school.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Her reply was an automatic response to the quick pursing of his lips, the glimpse of sorrow in his eyes, before she remembered that boarding school was supposed to represent opportunity in his world.

‘Thanks.’ He edged into her narrow room, staring at the shelf filled with the cuddly toys she couldn’t part with, awards from school, and more photos of animals from the shelter where she’d volunteered.

‘Was it a nice school?’ She held her breath as he sat on the bed too, the single mattress sinking some more.

‘You could say that. But it wasn’t home, not like this.’

‘How old were you when you first went?’

‘Seven when I started prep school.’ Oli was staring at his clasped hands. ‘I moved to Harrow when I was thirteen.’

‘I couldn’t think of anything worse,’ she blurted out. ‘Sorry, that’s probably not the right thing to say.’ There was so much she still didn’t know about him, but she understood that being away from home had hurt, and she wasn’t expecting the clench in her own heart.

‘No, it’s fine. I appreciate your honesty.’

‘I think sometimes it’s called bluntness.

Family trait.’ They shared a smile and somehow Erin’s hand found its way to his.

He slid his fingers between hers and she was staring at this first real connection, their shoulders and thighs pressed together on her blue-and-white galloping horses duvet cover.

‘What did you miss most about home?’ They’d already crossed a line when she’d agreed to let him drive her here and now he’d seen her world, the room she’d slept in for thirteen years.

‘My family, obviously. Although it wasn’t the same after my parents divorced.’ He swallowed. ‘My dad left us for someone else and my sister and I, we’d had no idea that things weren’t right between them. We thought they were happy.’

‘I’m sorry.’ She squeezed his fingers. When they’d first met she would never have imagined expressing her sadness for a situation like his; one of privilege but which had still brought its sorrows and difficulties. ‘How old were you?’

‘Sixteen. It was right after my GCSEs. Imogen’s two years older than me. I know we weren’t kids, but it was still a massive shock. Things between me and my dad still aren’t great.’ Oli paused. ‘I don’t really know how to forgive him for what he did.’

‘I know what it’s like.’ Erin leaned into him. ‘My father left when I was five.’

‘It’s shit, isn’t it?’ He turned a troubled blue gaze on hers, and her smile was a brief, understanding one.

‘Yeah. Not so much now, it’s been years, and he died, so…’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘It’s fine, it doesn’t matter anymore. I have my mum and she’s wonderful, and you’ve met my crazy grandparents.’

‘They’re brilliant, and I love how they love you.

’ He was staring at a photo of Erin kneeling, her arms around a tall black greyhound.

‘Leaving our dog, Honey, was the worst thing. We’d had her since I was four and every time I packed for school, she’d sit on my bed and keep me company.

She was always there when I came home, waiting at the door and we’d take off for long walks and swim in the river. I adored her.’

His voice caught as his glance fell to his hand fixed to Erin’s between his thighs.

‘I wasn’t there when she had an accident and had to be put down.

I didn’t find out until I came home at Christmas, and she was gone.

My parents thought it best not to upset me at school as there was nothing I could’ve done.

But there was,’ he said fiercely. ‘I should’ve been with her and I hate that she passed away without me holding her and letting her know how much I loved her.

She’s part of the reason why I want to be a vet, because I want to make a difference.

I want to help make animals better if I can. They love us no matter what.’

‘Oh, Oli,’ Erin whispered. She put her arms around him, holding him tightly.

Suddenly his bold and brilliant life at Catz didn’t look quite so wonderful now she understood the pain he carried, the separation of his family matching hers even through their vastly different circumstances.

‘I’m so sorry. For what it’s worth I think you’ll make a pretty decent vet. ’

‘Pretty decent?’ He muttered his reply against her neck, and she felt him smile.

She’d meant to tease him, to ease him away from the heartbreak, and she was leaning into the unfamiliar touch of his hands on her back.

The absolute rightness of it, as though every encounter so far had been leading them to this moment.

She was trembling, heat travelling through her body to land a sharp kick of desire in her stomach, a very new sensation.

He eased back and caught one of her curls. ‘I love your hair,’ he murmured, tugging it gently. ‘No one else has hair like you.’

She stilled, her eyes glittering on his. Was she really brave enough to do this? But then where would they be, when they were back at Catz, and he was once again surrounded by his friends and the cluster of beautiful girls all vying for his attention.

‘We should get some sleep,’ Erin rushed out, letting her arms fall away.

She needed to be pragmatic, even though it was the last thing she wanted.

But she had to think of her future, to focus on her dream and not her heart.

This conversation would be forgotten once they returned to university, and they’d probably feel awkward that they’d let this moment overwhelm them. ‘You’ve got a long drive tomorrow.’

‘I suppose.’ Oli touched his forehead to hers before nodding slowly and standing up. He gathered the spare duvet and pillows, and at the door he looked back. ‘Thanks for listening.’

‘You’re welcome. And thanks for getting me home.’

‘You’re also welcome,’ he told her softly. ‘Sleep tight.’