Playing by Heart: Summer Beach Vets, #3

by H. Y. Hanna

  “Thanks.” He accepted with ill grace, quickly biting the calamari off her fork and leaning back in his chair, away from her.

  Justine looked down and gave a little smile that curled up the corners of her mouth. “So how are things going with Craig’s TV show? I saw the crew packing up as we were walking past the clinic. They must be filming the new season. You know, I’ll bet they’d love to feature you on the show too. Why don’t you speak to Craig about it? It would be much more interesting for the audience if they followed different vets.”

  “I have been on the show a couple of times,” said Matt.

  “Oh my God—really? When? Which episodes? You never told me!” Justine looked up in excitement.

  Matt shrugged. “There were a couple of complicated cases of mine that they wanted to feature... a new surgical procedure that I’m pioneering... Craig doesn’t try to hog the limelight at all. He’s all about making the clinic the real star of the show.”

  “That’s fantastic!” said Justine. “You should grab the opportunity—you could really become a household name like Craig!”

  “Justine...” Matt gave her an impatient look. “You know my views on this. I’m not interested in becoming a celebrity vet.”

  “But Matt! Think of all the VIP attention you would get! The perks! And the chance to get into some of the top circles of Sydney society. I mean, even if you’re not interested for yourself, think of your wines. You could get them endorsed by—”

  “I’d like my wines to sell on their merits,” said Matt shortly. “Not based on my celebrity name.”

  Justine pouted. “Well, I think you’re crazy.”

  “And I think that just emphasises how we don’t share the same views and values,” said Matt quietly.

  “Oh, no, this is just one thing,” said Justine quickly. “We share the same views on lots of other things. I mean, it would be boring to agree on everything, all the time, wouldn’t it?”

  Matt sighed. It was time they stopped dancing around the subject. “Justine—”

  “No, Matt...” She held her hand up and looked at him beseechingly. “Don’t say it. Don’t break my heart.”

  “Justine—”

  “Matt, I’ve missed you so much. I realised after I moved to Sydney how much you mean to me—I’m sorry for the things I said. I know we can work it out somehow...?” She looked at him pleadingly. “Don’t tell me we’re different people. Okay, so we might have some different views on a few things but that’s the spice of life, right? That doesn’t mean we can’t be together.”

  “Justine,” Matt said gently. “It’s not just the different views—”

  “Haven’t you missed me?” she demanded. “Haven’t you thought about me all this time?”

  “Of course, I’ve thought about you,” said Matt. “But—”

  “Well, then! Come on, Matt—we were so happy together. You’ve got to give us another chance. And—”

  His phone rang suddenly, the shrill sound cutting between them like a knife through soft butter.

  Matt looked at the screen and frowned. “It’s the hospital. But I’m not on-call tonight—”

  “Ignore it,” said Justine quickly, reaching out to grab his hand with her cool one. “Matt...”

  He pulled his hand gently out of her grasp. “They know I’m not on. They wouldn’t call unless it was something serious. I’d better just check...” He answered the call and put the phone to his ear.

  Justine stared at him from across the table. She drew her own hand back to her side as he hung up and stood up.

  “I’m sorry. I have to go. There’s an emergency—and I’m the closest to the hospital,” he said tersely. “Order whatever you like. I’ll take care of the bill on the way out—and hopefully I won’t be too long. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can.”

  Then he was gone and she was sitting alone at the table.

  CHAPTER 16

  Pippa paced up and down in the waiting room, her mind racing and her heart beating jerkily. Sparky had to make it through this... she had to... She couldn’t bear the thought of losing the little kitten. Even though Sparky had only been in her life a few weeks, she had grown to fill a huge part of Pippa’s heart. The thought of her dying... And it would be my fault! Pippa thought miserably. I should have checked in the dryer before I turned it on. I should have known—she’s always getting into strange places. Why didn’t I look inside? Oh God, I’ll never forgive myself if she dies!

  The door to the clinic burst open and Matt’s tall figure filled the doorway.

  “Matt!” Pippa ran to him.

  He caught her and held her close for a second, then gently pushed her away and said briskly, “Where’s Sparky?”

  “With Jenn... she’s trying to cool her down...”

  They hurried into Consult Room 1 where Jenn had the little kitten on the examination table and was wrapping Sparky in cold, wet towels.

  “Great thinking, Jenn,” Matt praised her. He stepped up to the table and began a swift examination of the unconscious kitten, working as he talked. “We need to rehydrate her quickly. She’s probably hyperkalaemic—the extreme heat will have caused blood cell rupture, which leads to electrolyte imbalances.” He looked at the kitten carefully. “She’s got some minor foot pad and ear tip burns so she needs pain relief—and something for the burns on her body. We’ll run some blood tests—a full blood count, electrolytes, renal function and coagulation profile.”

  Jenn rushed around, preparing things as Matt spoke. He gently raised the kitten’s eyelids, opened her mouth, and looked at her nose.

  “That bleeding...” said Pippa.

  “It’s fairly superficial, thankfully,” said Matt. “It doesn’t look like it’s due to internal injuries. It’s probably from her nose getting battered inside the dryer. I’m more concerned about possible concussion of the head—”

  “Internal injuries?” Pippa gasped. “Do you think she might have ruptured something inside—”

  “We won’t know for sure unless we do an X-ray and ultrasound—but she’s too fragile now to undergo surgery anyway, even if there was an internal injury,” said Matt as he began treating the kitten. “The blood tests will help to give us an idea of whether there are any internal injuries—if there’s internal bleeding or coagulopathy, her blood count will be low—but otherwise, the most important thing now is restoring her electrolyte balance, getting her body temperature back to normal, and treating her for shock.”

  Pippa watched apprehensively as he inserted an IV line into a vein in the kitten’s leg. “But... but she’ll be okay, right? I mean, once you get her electrolytes back to normal and cool her down...”

  Matt hesitated then said quietly, “Pippa—I’m not going to lie to you. Sparky’s condition is pretty bad. The chances of her making it are very slim.”

  Pippa covered her mouth with her hands. Her breath came out in a dry sob.

  Matt put a gentle hand on her arm. “Look, why don’t you go and wait outside? Jenn and I will take Sparky to the ICU and work on her there.”

  Pippa looked uncertainly at the kitten, then back at Matt.

  His brown eyes met hers. “I promise—I’ll do everything I can to save her.”

  Pippa took a deep breath, then nodded and left the room. Behind her, she could hear Matt giving Jenn instructions as the two of them began fighting to save the kitten’s life.

  It must have only been about forty minutes but it seemed like an eternity before Matt appeared in the hallway. Pippa sprang up from where she had been sitting on one of the waiting room chairs and hurried up to him, her eyes searching his. She was almost afraid to ask.

  “Is she...?”

  “She’s stable,” said Matt. “Now it’s just a waiting game. The next twelve hours are crucial. Jenn has offered to stay with her overnight and—”

  “You’re not staying?” Pippa asked in dismay.

  Matt’s face was expressionless. “I’ve got a... friend visiting and I’ve left her at
the Kooka—we came in my car so she’s stranded there until I go back to get her...”

  Of course. Justine. She had completely forgotten about Matt’s ex-girlfriend. Of course he would want to get back to her. Pippa swallowed and took a step back. “Oh, sure... sorry for dragging you away.”

  “No worries,” said Matt. “It’s part of the job. But I’d better get back. I’ll check on Sparky later—but she’s in good hands and Jenn will contact you if anything comes up. She’s got my number as well, of course. So you should go home and get some rest too. Okay?”

  Pippa nodded wordlessly as he gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze, then turned and left the hospital. The bells on the clinic door jingled as it shut behind him. Then it was just her in the waiting room. Pippa had never felt so alone in her life. She wanted Matt to come back, to hold her, to tell her that everything was going to be okay. Just having him next to her filled her with strength, knowing he was there for her. But he’s not mine, she reminded herself bleakly as she turned and headed towards the back of the hospital to say goodbye to Jenn. He was never mine and judging from how desperate he was to get back to Justine, he never will be.

  Matt entered the café and found Justine sitting on one of the stools at the bar, chatting to the barman. She was laughing flirtatiously at something he was saying and stirring the straw of a tall cocktail in front of her. There were still several tables with people eating but the main evening rush was over and the place was emptying out.

  Justine looked up and slid off her stool as Matt walked over to her. “I thought you were never coming back,” she said reproachfully.

  “I’m sorry,” Matt said. “That was terrible, leaving you like that. I hope at least you had a good dinner?”

  “The food was great—but it was lonely,” she said with a small moue, sidling close to him. She dropped her voice to a throaty purr. “But I’ll let you make it up to me back at your place.” She arched an eyebrow. Her meaning was clear.

  Matt looked at her—at her flawless face, her voluptuous figure, her seductive confidence—and instead saw another woman, her eyes puffy and red from crying, her hair wild, her clothes dishevelled... and yet still so much more beautiful to him.

  He sighed. “Justine—”

  “There’s someone else, isn’t there?” she said suddenly, all coquettish behaviour gone.

  He stopped. “What d’you mean?”

  “The person who rang you earlier... that was her, wasn’t it?”

  “Why do you say that?” he asked cautiously.

  “Because I saw the way your eyes lit up when you heard her voice.” Justine gave a sad little smile. “They never lit up that way for me.”

  Matt stared at her. He didn’t know what to say. He still cared for Justine and would always have fond memories of their time together. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her—but he could see that he had already done that.

  “Justine... I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head, that sad smile still on her face. Then she stretched up and pecked him on the cheek. “She’s a very lucky woman,” she said next to his ear. “I hope you guys will be very happy.”

  Matt caught her hand. “You’ll meet someone else, Justine. Someone who’ll be able to make you happier than I’ll ever be able to.”

  Justine’s smile faltered for a moment, then she squared her shoulders and said with a hint of her old spirit, “Well, next time I’ll make bloody sure that he does enjoy being a celebrity!”

  With a wink and a toss of her head, she picked up her handbag and sauntered ahead of him, out of the café.

  CHAPTER 17

  Pippa opened her eyes the next morning and sat up groggily. For a moment, she wondered why she was still fully dressed and sleeping on the sofa. Then it all came rushing back to her.

  Sparky!

  She sprang up and glanced at the wall clock. It was nearly eight-thirty. Nobody had rung her in the night... did that mean that Sparky had pulled through? She wanted to run across the road right away but she forced herself to at least go into the bathroom, splash some hot water on her face, and clean her teeth, before making her way over to the animal hospital.

  The front door was locked again—it was Sunday and the clinic wasn’t officially open—but when she rapped on the door, it was quickly opened by Jenn.

  “How is she?” Pippa asked immediately.

  Jenn’s face creased into a big smile. “She’s doing well. I think she’s going to make it.”

  “Oh!” Pippa felt tears pricking her eyes and blinked them away, embarrassed. “Can I see her?”

  “Come on in.” Jenn shut the door behind her.

  Pippa followed her eagerly to the ICU ward at the back of the hospital. Sparky was in a large cage and, for a moment, Pippa’s heart lurched at the sight of the small, furry body huddled in the middle of the blankets. Then she saw that Sparky’s eyes were open and that the little tabby was lifting her head and looking around.

  “Mew...” Sparky cried weakly when she saw Pippa.

  “Oh, Sparky!” Pippa rushed across to the cage and unlatched the door. Gently, she put her hand in and stroked the kitten—and heard her start to purr. Pippa felt tears pricking her eyes again and was glad her back was to Jenn and the rest of the room.

  After a moment, she managed to regain her composure and turned around. “She looks so much better.”

  Jenn nodded and smiled. “Dr Pearson—Matt—came in to see her earlier and he says she’s a little fighter. She’s recovered so much better and faster than we’d hoped.”

  “So he doesn’t think there are any internal injuries?”

  “It doesn’t look like it. Her blood tests came back normal—other than the elevated levels of potassium—and she seems otherwise fine. If she had a ruptured organ or something, she wouldn’t be so bright.”

  Pippa looked back at the kitten. Sparky still seemed slightly dazed and very weak, but her eyes were definitely brighter and her breathing wasn’t so laboured. “How long will she have to stay in hospital?”

  “Probably a few days. I’m not completely certain—but Matt will tell you all that. I’m sure he’ll speak to you later,” said Jenn. She was looking bright-eyed and professional in her scrubs, making Pippa suddenly feel very self-conscious of her messy hair and rumpled clothes.

  “How do you manage to look so fresh and neat after spending a whole night here?” Pippa marvelled.

  Jenn laughed. “Oh, I’m used to it. We offer round-the-clock nursing for any serious cases, as part of the hospital’s services, and so we often do these night shifts. Craig’s set up a room for us to sleep in and there’s a shower—it’s really very comfortable.”

  “Mm-hmm...” Pippa said, suddenly thinking longingly of a hot shower herself. Now that Sparky seemed to be on the road to recovery, she felt like she could relax a bit. “I think I’ll pop back to my place and have a shower, get changed...”

  “Oh, sure. Take your time,” said Jenn. “Matt’s organised for one of the other vet nurses to come in and relieve me, so if I’m not here when you get back, she’ll show you in.”

  “Thanks.” Pippa gave her a grateful smile. She turned back to the cage and stroked Sparky one more time, then withdrew her hand and latched the door shut. Giving Jenn a wave, she headed back to the front of the hospital and let herself out of the front door. She nearly collided with someone coming up the front steps.

  It was Matt.

  “Hi.”

  Suddenly, Pippa felt horribly self-conscious again and cringed to think what she must look like in the bright morning sun with no make-up, crazy bed hair, and dishevelled clothes. Matt, meanwhile, looked like he had stepped out of the pages of GQ magazine, with his navy polo shirt matched with beige chinos and leather loafers. His dark brown hair curled thickly across his forehead and he was freshly shaven—she could smell the faint citrus scent of his aftershave.

  “Hi...” She looked down. “I’ve... uh... I’ve just been in to see Sparky.”

  “I
came in to see her earlier. She’s making an amazing recovery.”

  “Yes.” Pippa smiled. “I can’t believe it. I really thought I was going to lose her.”

  “She’ll have to be monitored for a few more days but you should be able to take her home by the end of next week.”

  “That’s great.” Pippa looked at the ground again. “Um... I also wanted to say thank you for last night. It was really nice of you to leave your guest and come in. I’m sorry for spoiling your romantic dinner though—” She broke off and bit her lip.

  Matt gave her an unreadable look. “Why did you think it would be romantic?”

  Pippa finally raised her head and met his eyes properly. “Megan told me. About Justine coming to visit you this weekend. And how she thought you guys were getting back together.”

  He stiffened.

  “She also said...” Pippa swallowed painfully. “She also said that she saw you showing Craig a diamond engagement ring. She thought you were going to propose to Justine this weekend.”

  “That’s not true,” said Matt harshly. “Justine... Well, yes, she did come to visit and she wanted to see me. But there was nothing special—”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about her then?” asked Pippa.

  Matt shrugged. “I don’t know. It was stupid, I guess. I just thought it would complicate things. And you sounded so down when I spoke to you on Friday night—I didn’t want to add anything else that might upset you.”

  “Why should Justine’s visit upset me?” demanded Pippa. “Unless it meant something special to you.” She tilted her head and looked at him. “Do you still feel anything for her?”

  “No. I mean, yes, of course I still care about her but...” He gave a rueful smile. “The whole time during this so-called romantic dinner with her... I was thinking about you,” he said softly.

  Pippa caught her breath.