Country Wives

by Rebecca Shaw

  “Thanks. I remember only too well.” Mungo took a sip of his whisky, leaned back in his chair with his eyes shut and said, “If he got old Askew’s account back …”

  “Plus the equine …”

  Mungo smiled ruefully. “They’d still complain.”

  Miriam studied his face and thought about how much she loved him—he could still walk into a room and set her pulse racing. She went to stand beside him and trailed her fingers across his eyebrows. “You are a lovely man and I love you very much. Never worry, the dust will settle and they’ll all calm down.”

  BUT Miriam was wrong. Graham, Valentine and Rhodri were agreeable to changes, though they doubted if the client list would increase, but the female side of the practice were vociferous in their objections.

  Squeezed into Joy’s office, the lay staff had a protest meeting on their lunch hour, with Joy in the chair. The discussion grew heated almost immediately.

  “I like my afternoons in the precinct,” Stephie said.

  Letty agreed. “Makes a nice break and you get things done.”

  “I’d like having a morning free. No need to get up early and you could still go to the mall before you started at one.” This from Kate, who, for some reason she couldn’t explain, felt she needed to support Dan’s idea.

  Stephie boiled over. “Well, you would say that, wouldn’t you, just to be different.”

  “Not just to be different. I think you’re only angry because it was Dan who suggested it. If it had been Mr. Price or Rhodri, you’d have given it some merit and not blown a gasket like this.”

  “You’re an item, then, are you, you two?”

  Before Joy could put a stop to the personal turn the comments were taking, Kate snapped, “No, we are not. For a start, he’s years older than me.”

  “That didn’t stop you with Scott. You were panting after him, and he was ten years older than you.”

  Kate, squeezed between the filing cabinet and Letty, flushed but remained silent.

  Joy rapped on the desk with her pen. “This won’t do. You’ll apologize to Kate for that remark, please. Before we go any further.”

  Stephie didn’t reply.

  “Well?”

  “I only spoke the truth.”

  “That particular truth is none of your business. I’m waiting.”

  Stephie mumbled her apology, but they knew she didn’t mean a word of it. Matters went from bad to worse when Letty said her piece and inferred she couldn’t wait for Dan to leave. She highlighted his arrogance, his offhandedness, his insolence.

  Joy, endeavoring to be fair-minded, said, “It is not Dan who is on trial here. We’re here to discuss the proposal he has about our hours. Let’s keep to the subject, please.”

  Letty was about to speak when Kate broke in, “With all due respect, Mrs. Walker, you are only standing in. It will be us left with the new hours, not you.”

  This innocent remark triggered Letty’s acid tongue into action, and they were treated to a tirade about the running of the practice and the amount of effort everyone put in, and the inefficiency of—

  Joy had to shout to get herself heard. “Just a minute. I’m not putting up with this from anyone. This meeting is closed, and we’ll reconvene when we’ve all had time to think. Meanwhile, I’ll get out a draft roster and circulate it. We might all find ourselves surprised about how nicely it works out.” She stood up and looked at them each in turn, daring them to say another word and, seeing her eyes sparking with temper and her generous mouth pinched tight, they got the message and departed.

  Except for Letty. “Not putting up with this from anyone? I’m not anyone. I would have thought you of all people would have acknowledged that I have a right to a say about anything to do with the smooth running of the practice. After all, I did put a lot of money…”

  “Why don’t you just for once allow Colin to wear the trousers?” Joy stormed out and went to spend five minutes with young Copperfield to soothe her frayed nerves. He welcomed her attentions. He was due to have his framework of pins and screws removed the following day, and as Joy sat on the floor to play with him, she wondered what his future would hold. He couldn’t stay with them forever.

  He purred like an old steam engine, and with his huge amber eyes staring up at her in adoration, she continued to scratch him gently behind his ears, a thing she knew from experience he liked. With good food and lots of attention he was growing into a beautiful cat, with apparently no resentment about the human race for all he’d been through. She examined his feet one by one and saw how well they’d healed. He got off her knee and found a table tennis ball he liked to play with. She bounced it for him and as best he could, lumbering with his hardware, he chased after it.

  It was warm and comforting in the care room, and Joy stayed far longer than she had intended because as she played, she sensed her anger melting away, and she felt more like the real Joy, the Joy she preferred. Damn Letty for her acid tongue. Damn Colin for not standing up to her. Damn her money too. Root of all evil when you didn’t know how to use it graciously, and Letty certainly didn’t. Damn them all for their animosity. She’d make the roster so attractive they’d be begging to agree to it.

  Joy scrambled to her feet, gently lifted Copperfield into her arms, kissed his lovely ginger head, admired those expressive amber eyes of his and placed him in his cage, giving him a treat as compensation. He badly needed a home, did Copperfield. He mewed at her through the bars, and she left a small piece of her heart behind as she carefully closed the care room door behind her.

  The row caused by Dan’s suggestion rumbled on for days. To alleviate some of the aggravation, Joy rang Lynne to see if she would be returning soon, but her mother answered and said Lynne was still under the care of her doctor, who declared she was far too frail mentally to be able to come back to work just yet. Joy brought up the question of keeping her job open for her and did her mother think that perhaps she wouldn’t want to return. “I’ll talk to her about it. I think a complete change of lifestyle would do her more good, but I promise to have an answer for you before the end of the week.”

  Joy replaced the receiver and groaned. Facing further weeks with Letty on the desk was almost more than she could bear to contemplate. How could she ever have sided with her about Dan? She must have been mad. She’d talked to Duncan about the situation, and he’d agreed with Miriam. Perhaps they did have long periods when there was very little to do, and the sooner she drew up a new roster and got them all sorted, the better. Did they really need her and two more all the time?

  Together she and Duncan had set about the new roster and, with his logical mind and her knowledge, they’d done a very good job on it. Today she’d be circulating it to one and all for their approval. There wasn’t a single thing on it that they could quibble about, she was sure. Though come to think of it, no doubt Letty would find a few faults. She’d give it out and then depart for lunch with Duncan quick smart.

  Duncan came to collect her early because the rain was coming down and he’d cut short his walk. He wandered into the care room and looked at the animals in various stages of recovery. He read their notes in turn and finally came to stand in front of Copperfield. At that moment he was asleep, stretched out full length on his cozy blanket. His notes made Duncan shudder. Copperfield must have become aware he was being watched, for his huge eyes opened and stared straight at Duncan. Lazily he got up, stretched and went to the bars. They looked solemnly at each other, long and hard. They both reached out, Copperfield with his paw and Duncan with a finger through the bars and, having made contact, Duncan … No, he musn’t. They already had Tiger, and Tiger might get very upset about an intruder, and two cats were ridiculous, but…

  Over lunch, Joy and Duncan talked animatedly about a holiday they proposed taking in the spring. It suddenly occurred to Duncan. Holiday? Two cats? Impossible. What a to-do. No, he mustn’t even think about it.

  Then out of the blue, Joy herself mentioned Copperfield, without an
y prompting. “He’s a gorgeous cat. A soul mate kind of cat. Pins are out now. He’ll always have a slight limp, Mungo says, but it doesn’t seem to bother him.”

  “I don’t think there’s a white hair on him.”

  Joy looked up surprised. “You’ve seen him?”

  Duncan nodded.

  “He’s lovely, isn’t he?” Joy’s voice had a hint of longing in it when she said this.

  “He is. Soul mate, like you said.”

  “Like Tiger.”

  “Somebody will want him.” Duncan looked at her, eyes twinkling. Joy was cutting herself some cheese when he said this, and she looked up at him, knife poised above the Cheddar, and tried to read his mind. “You glorious creature you! You fancy having him too, don’t you? Am I right?”

  “And you?”

  Joy nodded emphatically. “I do.”

  “So do I.”

  “Let’s.”

  “Let’s.”

  “Oh, Duncan! I love you for it. You won’t regret it. He’s gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, and I love him.”

  “And me too?”

  “And you too,” Joy said without thinking.

  “Do I have to keep on adopting cats to make you say that?” He had a strange, pleading expression on his face when she finally looked at him.

  Seeing where this was leading, Joy took stock and then quietly replied, “I’m not sure. Perhaps two might be enough.”

  “I’ll make do with that for now. Eat up and we’ll go and declare our intentions.”

  “The police haven’t found out who did it to him.”

  “There aren’t any words to describe them, are there? And yet he still loves people. A human being would find it difficult to forgive and yet a cat…”

  “Could be cupboard love. I’m never sure about cats.”

  “I am. Done? I’ll go and pay.”

  “Mungo would laugh.”

  “Laugh?”

  “Yes. After all you’ve said about how could anyone love an animal.”

  “Why mention him just now?”

  “It was only about the cat, not about …” She looked up at him and wished she hadn’t caused his anguish; she’d spoiled the moment for him without intending to. Maybe after all she did love Duncan but wouldn’t allow herself to admit it, after all the years of loving Mungo. Joy kissed his cheek and took his hand. “Copperfield, here we come!”

  They walked back into a full-scale row. Letty had come in specially to see the new roster, and she and Stephie and Kate were arguing in the accounts office. Joy could hear their raised voices as soon as she opened the glass door.

  “It doesn’t matter what you say, Kate; if we give in to this, we’re done for. They’ll think we’ll do anything and everything they decide without a thought for how we feel. We’ve got to put up a protest even if it’s only a token one. Alter something somewhere to show we’re making a stand.” This was Letty.

  Joy put a restraining hand on Duncan’s arm. With a finger to her lips she stood listening a little longer and heard Kate say, “It’s for Stephie and me to agree, Mrs. Walker.”

  “I’m coming out on your side for your sakes.”

  “Well, there’s no need. Stephie and I quite like the ideas behind this. Don’t we?”

  Stephie must have nodded because they didn’t hear a reply.

  Letty declared they were both fools for accepting it so easily and “what’s more, that Dan will see it as a triumph.”

  Joy called out, “We’re back!”

  Stephie and Letty came out of the accounts office and took their places at the desk. Stephie embarrassed, Letty brazening it out.

  “Has Mungo begun operating, Stephie?”

  “Not yet, he’s talking to Bunty and Sarah One in intensive care.” Stephie looked as though she wished she weren’t there, and no wonder, with Letty in that mood.

  Duncan remembered to be polite. “Good afternoon, girls. How’s things?”

  “Fine, thank you.”

  “Good. We’re hoping to adopt Copperfield.”

  Stephie’s face lit up. “What a brilliant idea. He’s a lovely cat. I shall miss him.”

  “That sounds like a good résumé for a cat.”

  Stephie smiled, but Letty merely pursed her lips and it didn’t flatter her.

  Mungo agreed they could take Copperfield. Joy found a carrying cage and decided to accompany Duncan home. “I shan’t be long, but things are quiet and there’s two of you. If you get into a panic, give me a buzz and I’ll come straight back, but I just want to be there to introduce him to Tiger.”

  “Oh! We’ll hold the fort, won’t we, Stephie?” Letty said this with such sarcasm in her voice that Joy vowed there and then to put a stop to Letty’s helping out. Either Lynne came back or they got someone new. She couldn’t take much more of the woman, she really couldn’t.

  THEY placed Copperfield on the kitchen floor still in his cage. Tiger, who had come to greet them when she heard their key in the door, stood in the doorway contemplating this change of events. Copperfield peered at her through the bars.

  “I think we should feed the two of them right now to let Tiger know he’s here to stay. Put Tiger’s bowl down first because that’s how it’s always been for her, and then put Copperfield’s down a moment after. That way Tiger will feel like number one.”

  “Good thinking. It won’t harm them to have three meals today will it?”

  “Of course not. Make sure Tiger gets her own bowl, not the new one.”

  As soon as Tiger realized that food was coming up, she decided while she waited for it to have a look at Copperfield. Advancing across the floor in silly prancing steps, she arrived at the cage and they met nose to nose between the bars. Spitefully Tiger got her claws out and tried to scratch Copperfield’s nose, but he jumped back and she missed. She spat at him and yowled her annoyance at his intrusion, lashing out with unsheathed claws, swiftly and menacingly.

  Joy was horrified. “Hell’s bells! Have we done the right thing do you think?”

  “She’s only establishing some ground rules. They’ll be OK soon enough.”

  But when they cautiously released Copperfield from the cage, Tiger, despite being not yet fully grown, went for him tooth and claw. It’s difficult, however, to fight an opponent who won’t respond, and Copperfield didn’t. He was submissive and evasive and noncombative. When she let up for a moment, he walked away from her with complete disdain, leaving her nonplussed. Tiger got scent of the dinner waiting, so she went to eat hers while she thought out her next move. But Copperfield took himself off as though she didn’t exist and went on a tour of his new home, came back and, ignoring Tiger completely, went to eat from his bowl.

  Joy went back to the practice and Duncan stayed in to act as referee. He found a cardboard box which, with a little help from a sharp kitchen knife, he converted into a temporary bed for Copperfield. He lined it with a blanket and placed it on the opposite side of the fire to Tiger’s and waited to see the turn of events. Tiger wasn’t the only one to be ignored because Copperfield took no notice of Duncan either, and the afternoon was spent with all three disregarding each other. We’ll have to call him Copper, Duncan concluded. His full name was too much for everyday use, and anyway Copper suited him, for his particular shade of ginger was very dark, and Copper described it very well indeed. Copper and Tiger. Yes. Yes. He longed for them to make friends, but it was many days before there was harmony between the two.

  HARMONY was the last word Joy would have used about the lay staff at the practice. She wished she could put them all in a sack and give them a good shake. Letty was the problem, but the thought of the arguing that would ensue if she asked her to stop helping out before she’d found a replacement was more than Joy could bear to think of. By the end of the week she learned that Lynne had definitely decided not to return because she had chosen to register at college and improve her qualifications, so now the way was wide open for recruiting a new member of staff. Within a few days a well-qual
ified girl had been found, and with scarcely concealed delight Joy informed Letty that her services would no longer be required. “Her name’s Annette and she’s done veterinary work before. She’s newly married, and they’ve just moved to Barleybridge and she can start immediately, so you can heave a sigh of relief, Letty.”

  “I’ve quite enjoyed myself, actually. I’ll be sorry to go. But then Colin does take a lot of looking after. He’s very demanding with the hours he has to keep.”

  “Thanks for all your help; it’s been much appreciated.”

  “Any time you have a problem you can rely on me.”

  Over my dead body, thought Joy.

  So just when Joy thought Christmas was going to be a complete nightmare because of Letty, it looked to be plain sailing once more. They began the new regime when Annette started work, and Stephie and Kate agreed they liked it better. Annette proved to be a pleasant person to work with, and Joy found herself with a happy team, well integrated and working with a will, though the hoped-for increase in clients had not yet materialized.

  Then Dan came up with another idea. He broached it one afternoon when only Joy and Kate were on duty, and he’d finished his list and was waiting around in reception in the hope of a call. Eyeing the space between the main door and the chairs in the waiting area, he said, “That piece of wall there is a waste.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes. I have an idea.”

  Joy pointed the pen she was holding in his direction. “Look! The last time you had an idea all hell broke loose in here.”

  Dan smiled. “But you have to admit it all turned out well, didn’t it, in the end.”

  “After a lot of suffering, I admit it did.”

  “Well, I was thinking the other day, more revenue needed, more ideas. So how about…”

  “Kate, are we ready for this?”

  “Not really, but let him tell us.”

  “Selling approved things for small animals.”

  “Approved things?”

  “Items we as a veterinary practice approve of. The right kind of tinned food, or dry if preferred. The right kind of collars and leads for dogs. The right kind of grooming products …”