The Vet's Secret Son

by Annie O'Neil

  Hindsight. Hindsight could be a real bitch.

  ‘I was wrong, Ells. To do what I did.’

  ‘What? On the stairs?’

  ‘No, not that.’ He checked himself when she stiffened. ‘Obviously, that. Of course I wish I’d caught him. The last thing I want is for Maverick to suffer even the slightest pain. He fell so far down the stairs. I just couldn’t get there in time. Believe me, Ellie. If it had been within my power, I would’ve been there.’

  Just as he knew in his heart he would’ve been there for her if he’d known about Maverick all along.

  ‘I know,’ she said, crying again. After a few jagged breaths, she pushed herself back from his chest and looked him in the eye. ‘I know it was an accident and I owe you an apology for reacting so poorly.’

  ‘No. Ells—’

  She cut him off. ‘See this?’ She pointed to a small chip on one of her teeth.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I got that when I was rollerblading towards my mum and she turned around to say something to my father just as I fell flat on my face.’

  ‘Ouch.’ He grimaced. ‘Remember this?’ He pulled up his sleeve and pointed to a scar on the inside of his arm.

  She stared at it a moment then smiled sheepishly. ‘Crumbs. Was that the time Drew was supposed to be holding the barbed wire up for you when we were trying to get through a fence to an injured deer?’

  ‘Sure was.’

  Ellie clapped her hand to her mouth. ‘And I was the one who distracted Drew, who let go of the barbed wire and...’

  ‘Rip!’ Lucas said, smiling at the memory. They’d all stared at his wound in horror, then Ellie had done some lightning-fast triage on him whilst barking orders at Drew to help the deer that had got itself properly stuck in someone’s chain-link fence. They’d all gone out for drinks together afterwards and laughed and laughed. Not a cross word between them. There never had been. Any problems? They’d talked them out.

  ‘Didn’t I buy a nurse’s uniform to wear when I changed your wound dressing?’ Ellie tipped her head to the side, a tumble of curls shifting onto her forehead.

  ‘Yes, you did.’ He nodded, teasing her hair away with a finger. ‘I seem to remember you wearing it more than once.’

  ‘That nurse’s uniform saw quite a bit of action over the years, didn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it did,’ Lucas confirmed with a grin, and then, more seriously, said, ‘But not just because we were hurt.’

  ‘No.’ Ellie’s smile faltered. ‘No, it was for other things, too.’

  Lucas took one of her hands in his. ‘Ells, I know things are crazy complicated between us, but... I love you. And I know it’s only been a few weeks, but I love Mav, too. Fell in love with him every bit as fast as I fell in love with you. I know this is hilarious coming from me, but...’

  ‘But what?’

  He looked her straight in the eye. ‘Don’t you think we’d be better off doing this together? As a team? A proper team?’

  * * *

  Ellie felt a lump form in her throat. She was pretty sure Lucas wasn’t talking about being a business partner this time.

  He dug into his pocket and produced a small red box. ‘I know the timing isn’t perfect and the setting is about as opposite to romantic as you can get, but... Ellie Stone? Would you do me the honour of being my wife?’

  ‘In sickness and in health?’ she asked, even though she knew she didn’t need to.

  ‘Better. Worse. Richer. Poorer. Stressed. Chillaxed. But mostly? To love and to cherish.’

  She watched as he popped open the box.

  It was a new ring. Completely different from the one he’d proposed with all those years ago. It didn’t look immaculately smooth like a traditional engagement ring. No shiny solitaire. She’d never liked those really. Had said she’d wanted the perfect veterinarians’ ring but wasn’t quite sure what that was.

  This was it.

  ‘It’s sand cast,’ Lucas explained. ‘I was at the jeweller’s this morning, picking it up.’

  ‘Sand cast?’

  ‘Yup. I hadn’t heard of it either, but I wanted something Cornish.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘To prove to you I see my future here, with you and Mav.’

  She looked into his eyes and saw nothing but love in them. Genuine commitment. And, most importantly, trust.

  She picked up the ring and held it up to the light. Did she share that level of trust? Have the blind faith her mother said she needed to have to pull together as a couple?

  ‘It’s an eternity ring,’ Lucas said, pointing to the tiny ring of glittering jewels tucked into the delicate white gold band. ‘Sapphires for the sea. Diamonds for the stars. And, of course, some sand from Dolphin Cove.’

  ‘It’s beautiful.’

  ‘Not as beautiful as you are, Ells.’

  She tipped her forehead to his. ‘Do you think we can do it this time? Trust one another with our problems? Even when they seem insurmountable?’

  He pulled back and tipped her chin up so that their eyes met. ‘Especially when they seem insurmountable. We did pretty well this morning, didn’t we? Miscommunications aside.’

  ‘I think next time—if there is one...’ Their eyes met as Ellie began to giggle. Together they said, ‘There will be more than one.’

  Lucas dropped a kiss on her forehead then, pulling back, his gaze dropped to the ring. ‘Is that a yes?’

  Her heart skipped a beat when she saw just how hopeful he looked.

  ‘It’s a yes,’ she said, grinning like a loon as he slipped the ring on her finger.

  Mid-kiss they heard a throat being cleared.

  ‘Mum!’ Ellie’s cheeks flamed red, but she didn’t care. Not any more. ‘Sorry. We...um—’

  ‘I take it you said yes, then?’ her mother asked.

  Lucas looked at Wyn in surprise. ‘How did you know I’d propose here?’

  She tapped the side of her head. ‘I’m a wise old thing. Never forget that. Especially now that I’m going to be your mother-in-law.’

  Lucas gave her a jaunty sailor’s salute. ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  Wyn gave a curtsy then pulled the curtain open wider. ‘I think you both might want to share your news with this young man.’

  ‘Mum!’ Maverick ran to his mother, pulling himself short of a hug to protect his arm. When he saw Lucas beside her his smile doubled. ‘Daddy! Look! I’m going to have a scar!’

  Lucas laughed. ‘I have it on good authority women like a man with a scar or two.’ He dropped Ellie a wink that unleashed a spray of heat inside her. He was mostly right. It wasn’t the scars she loved. It was the man who’d weathered the pain and come out the other side smiling.

  She held up her hand and wriggled her ring finger.

  Maverick went wide-eyed and gave a dramatic, ‘Ooh!’ His eyes ping-ponged between the pair of them, absorbing their happy smiles, and then he burst into tears.

  Both Ellie and Lucas dropped to their knees and, being careful of his arm, help him, whispered consoling words and, thanks to a handkerchief Lucas produced, wiped away his tears.

  ‘Love, do you not want us to get married?’ Ellie asked.

  ‘I do!’ Maverick insisted, a smile finally breaking through the wash of tears. ‘I really, really do! This is me being happy!’ His watery blue eyes landed on Lucas. ‘Does that mean you’re going to stay?’

  Lucas gently combed his fingers through his son’s hair. ‘That it does, son. That it does. For ever and a day.’

  ‘Yippee!’ Maverick cried, then yelped as he’d stretched out his arm with joy.

  After a quick check with the doctor, who confirmed Maverick’s scan was fine and that the only further treatment he’d need was for his arm, they were ready to go home. As a family.

  Ellie’s mum doled out kisses and invited every
one to the pub for supper, but only if they were up to it. They all agreed they would definitely be up to it, particularly when Lucas asked Wyn to make sure there was some chilled champagne ready for their arrival.

  After Wyn left, Ellie gave Maverick her hand to hold. ‘Shall we get you home, love?’

  ‘Yes, please.’ He nodded then threw a hopeful look up at Lucas. ‘By for ever, you mean you’ll be coming to the Christmas play?’

  ‘I’ll be coming to all of the Christmas plays, Mav,’ Lucas confirmed. ‘Wild horses wouldn’t keep me away.’

  ‘Good! Because Mummy says the wild horses have to stay out on the moor and that they’re actually tame.’

  Ellie shot Lucas an embarrassed look. No more pulling the wool over his eyes on that front.

  ‘And this year?’ Maverick sent Ellie a mischievous look. ‘I’ve decided what I really want to be in the nativity is Barnacle!’

  The laugh the three of them shared meant so much more to Ellie than she could have ever explained. It was a laugh built on happiness, hope and the loving expectation of many more times like this to come. A love that would grow and enrich all their lives. A love she couldn’t wait to share.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  ‘THIS IS BONKERS, RIGHT?’ Ellie grinned at Drew as he put the flower crown on her head.

  ‘Yes, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. Where’s my right-hand man?’

  ‘Mav? He’s trying to put all the puppies onto leads without them getting tangled up, all with just one arm’

  ‘Ha! That’ll be interesting. And Esmerelda?’

  ‘She’s with Lucas.’

  They both glanced out of the window of her flat towards the beach cove, but Drew pulled the curtain across before Ellie could see the full scene. The sudden movement made him wobble.

  Ellie reached out to steady him. ‘Are you sure you’re up for the walk down the aisle?’

  Drew brandished his ‘fancy’ cane. ‘I’ll be fine. Are you sure your father doesn’t mind I’m going to be sharing the walk with him?’

  ‘What?’ Ellie feigned disbelief. ‘The man who single-handedly dragged his little girl out of her funk by helping her create one of the best vet clinics this side of London? He’s honoured.’ Her smile softened. ‘He really is, Drew. Besides...’ her grin returned to full wattage ‘...he thinks eloping on the beach next to Dolphin Cove is akin to eloping in Timbuktu, so...you’re helping him in foreign climes.’

  A car horn tooted. ‘Speaking of foreign climes...’ Drew nodded towards the car park ‘...it looks like the Londoners have arrived.’

  Ellie ran to the window, grinning as Lucas jogged out to the car park, pulling his brother into a huge bear hug the second he got out of the car. His mum had come as well. Her body language spoke of a shyer disposition, but even from up at the flat Ellie could see the pride in her face.

  Ten minutes later Maverick headed down to the cove with all ten Labrador puppies sort of under control. He made his way down the aisle past friends, family and the staff from the clinic, as if he was the King of Cornwall himself. It was hilarious. Her mum was beaming away at the front, as was Lucas’s mother. The vicar, who’d brought his cat in the day after Ellie had agreed to marry Lucas, had barely lifted a brow when they’d asked him to marry them just as soon as humanly possible. Love, he said, waited for nothing and no one and, as they were promising a fish pie and pints at the pub after, why not?

  Lucas’s eyes lifted from his son’s to hers. A smile so proud and happy filled his face she couldn’t help but return it. Though her father was on one arm and Drew was on the other, she only had eyes for one man. The gorgeous blond she couldn’t wait to call her husband.

  When it came time to exchange vows, the vicar took a step back, knowing they had written the vows themselves and needed no prompting to say what was already in their hearts.

  Lucas took Ellie’s hands in his, his eyes shining with happiness. ‘Ellie Stone? I promise here in front of everyone we love to be your best friend.’ He threw an apologetic smile to their shared best man. ‘Sorry, Drew. I know you’re up there, but... I think it’s a post that has room for more.’

  ‘You’re not wrong there, mate.’ Drew nodded his approval. ‘You’ve always been welcome.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Lucas said, from his heart. He turned back to Ellie, his eyes connecting with hers with such depth of emotion she could feel it in her soul. ‘I promise never to keep anything from you. Even if it causes one or both of us pain. I know now that a burden shared is a burden halved and that together we can turn that pain into something that will heal and help us grow even stronger. Unless, of course, it’s Christmas or your birthday and then all bets are off.’

  The small crowd laughed and filled the air with a few hoots of appreciation.

  Lucas kissed her cheek. ‘I promise to love you. To honour you. To respect you, but most of all I promise to cherish you and our family as the most important, precious people in my life. With you...you and Mav... I know we can do anything. Achieve anything.’

  Ellie said her own vows with matching intensity. How could she not? She finally felt whole again. Whole after learning so much about herself and life and now, most importantly, love.

  After they’d exchanged rings, the vicar pronounced them husband and wife. ‘I suppose you’d like to kiss the bride?’

  ‘I thought you’d never ask,’ said Lucas, already pulling Ellie into his arms. From the moment their lips touched, Ellie knew they’d made exactly the right choice to wed straight away. Love didn’t wait. So when you had it? She knew they had courage on their side as they embarked on their new lives together, as a family.

  * * *

  Look out for the next story in the

  Dolphin Cove Vets duet

  Healing the Vet’s Heart

  by Annie Claydon

  And if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Annie O’Neil

  Risking Her Heart on the Single Dad

  Making Christmas Special Again

  A Return, a Reunion, a Wedding

  All available now!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Healing the Vet’s Heart by Annie Claydon.

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  Healing the Vet's Heart

  by Annie Claydon

  CHAPTER ONE

  DREW TREVELYAN EASED himself out of his car, pausing for a moment to take a deep breath of sea air. He’d always loved the clarity of early mornings here, the way the sea seemed to stretch out beyond the sheltered curve of the bay in an endless swell of ever-changing colours. When the construction of the new buildings of the Dolphin Cove Veterinary Clinic had been underway, he’d often come here just to sit for half an hour before going on to work in the cramped quarters of the veterinary practice he shared with Ellie Stone...

  Drew smiled. A lot had changed in the last few weeks. He’d returned home to Dolphin Cove, after months in hospital and then rehab, to find that his stand-in at the clinic had left. His old friend and Ellie’s estranged partner, Lucas Williams, had been Ellie’s only option as a replacement and all Drew could do was look on helplessly at the time at the resulting turmoil. Now, another far more joyful turn of events meant that Drew had to remember to refer to Ellie as Ellie Stone-Williams, not Ellie Stone.

  The clinic hadn’t changed though, and the early mornings here were still as peaceful as they’d been when he and Ellie had first moved in, two years ago. The buildings were starting the long process of becoming one with their surroundings, and moss was beginning to grow on the stone-built technology centre and operating suite on the other side of the ten-acre plot. Here, the wooden frame of the genera
l practice building had begun to mellow, taking on the early autumn colours of the woodlands that lay beyond the drive. The low sun glinted on the high sheets of glass, making them sparkle like the sea.

  He was back. Not officially—this visit was a matter of reacquainting himself with a place that he loved, and his diary was as blank as it had been for the last four months. But coming here was one more step that carried him away from the past.

  Drew turned, catching up his walking stick and leaning on it heavily as he made his way around to the back of the car, clipping Phoenix’s lead onto her collar and lifting the ten-week-old chocolate Labrador down to the ground. She sniffed the air, and then started to tug on the lead, seeming to know that she’d come home too.

  Phoenix had been Ellie’s idea. A puppy to love and care for, when everyone else around him seemed to think that he should stay down and accept their care. Drew appreciated their concern, but he longed to have a conversation that didn’t, at some point, include a solicitous enquiry about his physical and emotional health.

  People were kind, there was no doubt about that. They’d been kind when his fiancée had been killed in a diving accident in Puerto Rico two years ago. And when fate had decided that it wasn’t done with him yet and the brakes on his car had failed, the village had rallied round again, writing notes and cards and visiting him in hospital. His smashed leg had taken a long time to fully heal, and even now his exercise regime was challenging. But being here gave him a sense of how far he’d come.

  ‘You know where you are, Phoenix?’ As he unlocked the main doors to the reception area of the clinic, the puppy started to yelp excitedly, pawing at the glass. ‘Not too loud, eh, girl? Ellie and Lucas will hear us.’

  There wasn’t much chance of Phoenix’s barking travelling to the apartment that Ellie and Lucas shared upstairs at the other end of the building. But Drew wanted to be alone here for a moment. He walked into the reception area, past the oak tree that stood in a large tub at its centre. Maybe it was his imagination, but it seemed to have grown a few inches. Nothing else seemed to have changed all that much.