David, the man on her other side at lunch, was, to Amelia’s relief, charming. Leonora seemed now to be bossing the man on her left, so she was relieved that she had not left her sitting alone in silence.
He congratulated her on taking in the animals. ‘You must be bored to tears talking about them, and I hope people won’t think you are the new pet carer for whenever they need you, if the kennels are permanently shut down.’
‘Oh, so do I,’ Amelia said fervently. ‘I only offered to take in one friend’s terrier, then before I knew it, other people were turning up on the doorstep with their pets too.’
‘Well, I think you are very kind.’ He smiled, which lifted his face, making it more animated. ‘So, tell me which is your other half,’ he glanced round the table, ‘and how do you know Jules and his uncle?’
‘I’m a widow and—’
‘I’m so sorry. So are you here alone?’ He broke in, with the look of sympathy she’d gotten used to on his face.
‘Yes. My husband was much older than me and he died almost four years ago. I moved here, over a year ago, but this is my first Christmas here, as well as my first without my daughters.’
‘It’s a difficult time to be alone.’ David sighed. ‘My long-time girlfriend and I have recently broken up.’
‘Christmas is a difficult time to do that.’ She wondered if they’d been placed next to each other as they were both without partners.
‘We seemed to be drifting apart and she then decided to spend Christmas on one of those chalet holidays with a group of people, most of whom don’t know each other. I don’t ski, so wasn’t too bothered.’ He shrugged. ‘I think it’s for the best, relationships usually have a sell-by date, don’t you think? I feel quite sanguine about it.’ He flashed her a smile. ‘Anyway, enough about me. Tell me about you and your family, and where you lived before you moved here.’
Lunch drifted on through the afternoon. The Queen’s speech was beamed in before two large Christmas puddings were brought in, flaming blue and gold flames encouraged by a large amount of brandy poured round them. The puddings were rushed round the table, the idea being that everyone would have a spoonful before the flames burnt out. There was great excitement as it went around, people jabbing at it, and it was just managed before the flames died.
Amelia felt sleepy and content. She’d enjoyed herself, with such good food and drink and interesting people. Apart from a few moments at the beginning, when she’d wished she was at home, she realised she hadn’t missed her family at all. Although it was obviously Christmas, with the food and the decorations, and the tree with a scattering of presents beneath it, it somehow felt instead, like a gathering of like-minded people enjoying themselves.
Just before the puddings were brought in, everyone changed places, moving up two, and she found herself next to Giles and Rosalind, whom she realised she’d met before.
‘Yes, I own the sewing shop where you had your curtains made and some upholstery done,’ she said. ‘Not sewn by me, I may say, I’m hopeless with a needle, but I have two marvellous women who do that for me.’
‘Of course, I remember now. There was so much I had to do then, with the move. You were so kind helping me choose the curtains for the house.’ Amelia was relieved to find someone she vaguely knew, apart from Jules and Dickon. Jules now seemed to be commandeered by Cynthia.
‘I heard how you came to the rescue and took in some pets. It’s tragic that the kennels closed. I used them often when my little pug was alive,’ Rosalind went on. ‘You must surely be revered as the patron saint of pet owners,’ she laughed, ‘taking them in at the last moment so their owners could go away.’
As everyone at the table seemed in a happy haze of a delicious feast and good wine and occupied with talking and joking with the people around them, Amelia felt she could ask Rosalind if she knew more about why the kennels closed so suddenly, without being overheard.
‘Can you tell me exactly what’s happened there? I haven’t lived here long or have any pets, so I didn’t know anything about the kennels, until people brought their animals to me.’ She said. ‘Some people seem to think that Jules was wrong to close them down, especially at Christmas.’
Rosalind glanced round the table to see if they were being overheard. She said quietly, ‘Once it was a very good place run by a couple, Jim and Dodi. They took in all sorts of pets and looked after them well. Les, the vet was also an excellent vet, some time ago, but then Jim began to get – well, I don’t know if it is actually dementia, but very forgetful, when before, he used to be so on the ball. Dodi found it difficult to cope and Les seemed to have lost the plot too and the standards dropped. Then along comes Jules, young and eager, and with more up-to-date ideas, and he said it had to go.’ She took a sip of wine, before going on, Amelia was fascinated.
‘It was filthy apparently. Some cages needed replacing, they’d been cobbled together with bits of wire and stuff. There was masses to do to bring it up to scratch, and it would cost a lot to do it properly.’ Rosalind shrugged. ‘Jules had to close it for the sake of the animals, but lots of people, probably people who hadn’t seen it for a while, are up in arms about it.’
‘I heard a young woman at church sounding off about Jules. Was he allowed to do it just like that?’ Amelia said.
‘I think he saved them from getting into serious trouble over it, being in the state it was. It must be difficult for people to accept that they can no longer do the work they have done all their lives.’ Rosalind sighed. ‘They were all such good people and looked after Angel, my pug, for years when I went away, but I suppose they just got too old to cope, and perhaps couldn’t afford to do it up. Angel died three years ago, and I haven’t replaced her, and so I’ve not gone back,’ she explained, adding, ‘We used to see Jim and Dodi around the place, but now I think of it, I haven’t seen either of them for ages.’
‘But didn’t anyone else notice the place was in trouble? When people dropped their pets there?’ Amelia asked.
‘I don’t know, but though I don’t know Jules well, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have done it if it didn’t need to be done. Les, the old vet, had a bad fall last month, so he’s gone to live with his daughter in Sussex. I think Giles happened to mention that Jules, his nephew, was a vet and coming to stay with him while he sorted his life out and could take on some of the work.’
‘I see. I understand he used to live in France,’ Amelia remembered.
‘That’s right and then,’ she dropped her voice further, ‘his wife died and after a while he decided to come back and live in the UK so Dickon could go to school here.’
‘I’m so sorry, how tragic.’ Amelia was hit with the familiar pain at losing Esmond. At least their daughters were grown up when they lost him, unlike poor Dickon.
‘Yes, hell for him. Dickon hardly remembers her.’
‘Can the kennels be rebuilt?’ Amelia asked.
‘I think only from scratch, though I heard that the old couple have a nephew who has been studying in Europe and is keen to help out, so we’ll see.’
‘So perhaps they will be reopened then,’ Amelia said, feeling relieved.
‘Perhaps. Just now, Jules is the only fully qualified vet around here, until he moves on. Rumour has it that a newly qualified woman is on her way,’ Rosalind finished.
Uncle Giles got up and hit the side of his glass and there was a sudden silence.
‘Another Christmas enjoyed and as always a wonderful feast. Let’s drink to Janey and Sara.’
Everyone lifted their glass to the two women who had produced the delicious lunch.
Soon after, people began to get up from the table and drift through to another room. Rosalind said, ‘I’m so glad to see you again, Amelia. You have two daughters, I remember, and have lost your husband?’
‘Yes, getting on to four years ago, now,’ Amelia said.
Rosalind squeezed her arm in sympathy. ‘Times like Christmas are hard without them,’ she said, ‘but let’s keep in touch. I have a daughter too, Melanie, I’d say she’s about the same age as your girls. She’s working in a chalet this year, but we could all get together when she’s back.’ She hugged her. ‘So happy we’ve met up again.’ She glanced at her watch.’ Heavens, I’ve got to rush, must go and visit my grandmother, who is in a home nearby, before she falls asleep. See you very soon.’ And she was gone, making her goodbyes and rushing out through the door.
Quite a few others were leaving, and Amelia decided to go too, get back to the pets. She hoped they hadn’t all escaped from their various places and savaged each other while she’d been away. The lunch party had been fun but now she felt sleepy, replete with good food. She fetched her coat and the plate she’d brought with the salmon on, now washed up and put on the side for her.
Giles kissed her, saying he was so glad to have met her. ‘You must come again. You’ll be a great asset to the community and not just as a pet keeper.’ He laughed.
Leonora gave her a hug and told her to keep in touch. David held her hand in both of his. ‘I so enjoyed meeting you and perhaps we could go out together one evening.’ He smiled at her.
‘I’ve enjoyed my day very much, perhaps we’ll meet up again somewhere else.’ She was relieved when someone else came up to him so she could slip away before he could pin her down for a date.
Since Esmond had died, she’d been wary about ‘dating’. Having not done it for so long she was unsure what was expected. Two adults, well past their teenage years, could behave as promiscuously as they chose, only she wanted to have love in the mix of seduction, not just a cheap thrill. Was that asking too much?
Jules said goodbye with his hand on her shoulder, no kisses. ‘So glad you came. Be sure to contact me if you’re worried about any of the animals. I feel you have been left with too many to be responsible for,’ he said, his expression serious, making her think he would be keeping tabs on her to be sure she did not neglect any of them.
Cynthia, seeing them close together, came over, hanging around Jules like an annoying wasp. ‘If you’re unsure how to deal with any of the pets I suggest you make a trip to the bookshop and buy a book on animals or look up any queries you have online,’ she said. ‘Jules is rushed off his feet being the only decent vet around, he’s no time for extra call-outs.’
‘They are fine, thank you. My daughter will be coming soon, and she’ll be a great help.’ Amelia hadn’t taken to this woman at all.
‘There’s so much for Jules to take on that the old vet, who was virtually senile, left undone. He hasn’t time to waste seeing to healthy animals.’ She threw the words at her, sharp as flint.