Page 96 of Under the Mistletoe with You

Christopher gives Nash a nod, and they clamber out of the van.Hearing them, Thelma comes to life and hops down from the tractor in a swift, surprisingly spritely move.Perhaps she’s been thinking about it too, a wholesome, tentative reunion precipitated by some light meddling on his and Nash’s part.

But that hope is instantly quashed when Thelma slams open the barn door and strides in.So much for tentative.

‘Iesu grist!A witch appears at my door,’ Dai cries.

‘Move over, you old bastard,’ she hisses, kneeling down in the straw next to Nessa, whose panting has got faster since they were last here.

‘Oh Nessa,’ whispers Nash, as he and Christopher join them on the floor.

‘The boys said she’s in labour, aye?How long?’Thelma’s words are to the point and delivered like a whack to the head.

‘Since the early hours.She was a bit off in the evening.The panting started while these boys were gone.’He nervously looks at Christopher and Nash, and checks the watch on his wrist.‘Could be close to twelve hours now.’

Thelmahmmsto herself, running her hands gently along Nessa’s abdomen.

‘Is that a normal amount of time?’asks Christopher.

‘A tad long,’ she replies, her eyes focused on the dog.‘I’ve got you, girl.’

Nessa seems to understand, relaxing ever so slightly under Thelma’s experienced touch.

‘Is she going to be all right?’Dai asks quietly.And then, as if that was too much vulnerability, he adds, ‘Thelma Edwards, if you kill my dog, I’ll—’

‘You’ll what?Not speak to me for another fifty years?’

‘Lord, I’ve seen what you’ve done for others—’

‘Could we possibly help the dog without arguing?’suggests Christopher, which prompts a chorus of ‘No’ from Dai, Thelma and, for some reason, Nash.‘Why are you encouraging them?’

‘Sorry, I got caught up in it all,’ he says sheepishly.

‘Also,’ Thelma says, with a flick of her hair.‘It’s been Powell for near forty years, God rest my Eric’s soul.Thelma Edwards was someone else.’

That hits even Christopher like a punch to the chest.

‘You,’ Thelma says to Nash, taking charge.‘We need hot water.Dai, do you have owt?’

He doesn’t look up from the dog.‘Go round to the sheep barn and you’ll see an instant hot water tank on the wall.Should be some buckets too.’

Nash gets to his feet but hesitates.

‘What are you waiting for?A pat on the head?’

‘The keys?Is the barn unlocked?’

This prompts a chorus of laughing from both farmers.

‘It’s unlocked,’ reassures Dai.‘Who the hell is going to break into it in this weather?’

‘Good point,’ Nash says, disappearing out of the door.

Thelma continues her inspection in silence, while Christopher and Dai share occasional worried glances.At least they’re not arguing anymore, but bearing witness to their uncomfortable silence is almost as bad.

Inspection seemingly finished, Thelma nods.‘We’ll get the pups out all right, and have you nursing in no time, girl.You’ve done really well so far.’

Together, Christopher and Dai deflate with relief.She’s going to be okay.

Dai, however, might not survive the night.The look that Thelma gives him could turn milk.‘She’s a bit old for a litter.You should know better.’