Page 116 of Sit, Stay, Love
‘He was definitely shaken, but okay. He brushed it off. I put the dogs away, got him a water and we sat on the hill for a little while and chatted.’
Sera looked towards the house. ‘I better go ring him and make sure he’s okay.’
Carol caught her elbow. ‘Don’t. He asked me not to tell you. But of course, I had to. Because you need to know that kind of thing. About him and Elmo.’
‘I should just leave him alone then?’
Carol nodded. ‘I think so. He’ll call if he needs you. He was going out anyway. He was meeting an actor friend for a drink. She was in one of the dragon movies with him.’
Sera’s heart dropped. He hadn’t mentioned anything to her this morning. It must have been last-minute. ‘Oh. Good,’ she said, and forced herself to smile.
The vet surgery door bounced open as Sera pushed it with her butt, juggling two hamburgers with the lot, chips wrapped in butcher’s paper, and two chocolate milkshakes. ‘Hi Jess,’ she said, putting the milkshakes on the reception desk. ‘Is he out back? I bought him some lunch.’
‘Sorry. He’s not here. He’s popped out for a coffee.’
‘No worries. I’ll text him.’
She put the food on a table and pulled out her phone.
‘Um.’ Jess’s brows gathered. ‘He’s out for coffee with our drug rep, Kate.’ She squeezed her lips together and gave Sera a smile. ‘I’m sure if he knew you were coming…’
Sera’s cheeks flushed. Oh god. Was he out on a date and she’d rocked up with lunch? Her chest heated from the utter awkwardness of it. She waved her hand dismissively. ‘Don’t worry. No biggy. I was grabbing lunch for the team at the shelter. Thought he might like something too.’ She smiled as wide and bright as her quickly folding face would allow. ‘More for us,’ she almost sang, then laughed uncomfortably high, adding another layer to her burgeoning embarrassment.
‘I’ll tell him you dropped by. He’s got a pretty full book this arvo, but I’m sure he’ll call you when he’s got a break.’
‘Whatever,’ Sera breezed with another wave of her hand. She collected the food, and scurried out the door with a sunny, ‘Bye!’
Buffy gulped down the piece of meat patty.
‘Don’t tell Herriot you’re eating hamburger,’ Sera said to the dog. ‘He already thinks you’re fat.’ She shoved a limp chip into her own mouth and followed it up with a noisy slurp of milkshake. She was slumped on the couch in her office with her door shut, pretending she was working instead of whatever it was she was doing. Which definitely wasn’t sulking.
She gave Buffy one last piece of meat, gathered the whole cold, greasy mess up and shoved it into a plastic bag. She wasn’t hungry anymore. Her stomach ached too much. Must be all the worry from the looming fundraiser.
Flopping in front of her computer, she stared blankly at her research on funeral practices through the ages.
Toby had gone on a date. The date he’d told her he wasn’t going to go on because he didn’t think it was appropriate to date someone he had a professional relationship with. And she saw him last night. And he hadn’t told her.
Did he organise it? Or did Kate the drug rep get sick of waiting? She looked like a woman who’d get sick of waiting. A woman who’d take things into her own hands. Take Toby into her own hands.
She rubbed her stomach. Why did she think of that? And why should that bother her?
She checked the time. He’d have to be back at the surgery by now, but Jess did say he had a busy day so…
Her phone dinged and she grabbed it, eagerly looking at the screen.
Mum: Darling. Your father wants to do some work at your property tomorrow, so we’re having lunch. My treat.
Sera frowned. There was no way that was happening. She’d stay and help her father and—
Mum: And no saying no. I want to spend time with my daughter.
She put her face in her hands and groaned.
Sera: Not a long one. I’m frantic.
Mum: See you at twelve.
When her phone dinged again, she moaned, ‘What now?’ But when she read the screen, her heart knocked in her ears.
