Still Got It by Claire Carver

Author:Claire Carver [Carver, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008754655
Publisher: One More Chapter

Deal.

The island would definitely seem like a quieter place without him over the next week or so.

Grace waited at reception for Angeliki to finish treating whichever animal was closeted in with her. Luckily, because it was lunchtime, there were very few people about, and only one elderly Greek woman sitting there. Every now and again she would rake her hands over her worry beads on a string. Grace wasn’t sure if the woman could speak English. It certainly wasn’t a given for the older residents, although anyone under forty-five was more or less guaranteed to speak it well. The woman’s breathing was quite laboured, so Grace took the seat next to her.

‘Don’t worry, I’m sure it will be OK.’

The woman just let out a low moan.

Grace started an elaborate mime, pointing inside the surgery, doing a double thumbs-up and smiling like a maniac.

The woman just stared at her.

She was in the middle of repeating it, when the door opened and an ancient dog trotted out on rickety legs, the white hairs around its eyes giving it painted-on spectacles. The woman sank to her knees on the floor, her arms round the dog’s neck.

Angeliki emerged from behind the dog and helped the woman to her feet, speaking to her quietly in Greek, before taking her arm and guiding her to the door.

Grace waited in the corner.

‘Oh, hello. You’re Will’s friend, aren’t you?’

‘That’s right.’

Grace stared at the departing woman.

‘Will that dog be OK?

‘Yes. The stupid thing swallowed a rubber ball on the beach. Managed to get it to pass through with a bit of help.’

‘Oh, good.’

Grace didn’t hugely want the details. Not so soon after her nettle pie.

‘What can I do for you?’

‘Is it possible to see Karen at all?’

‘Karen?’

‘Sorry, the kitten we rescued. Which is called Karen for a reason too boring to go into.’

Angeliki waved her arm around the waiting room.

‘As you can see, I’m not exactly rushed off my feet, so come through. My receptionist’s at lunch, so I really should close the shop, but I can’t bear the thought that I might miss an animal in need. They’re so much nicer than humans, you know.’

On the whole, Grace agreed with her, especially after this morning. She could warm to this woman with her wild curly hair and practical bedside manner.

Karen was sitting calmly in her cage. As Angeliki approached her, she put her front paws up to the bars, and the vet stroked the tips through the grid.

‘She’s a real cutie. Would you like to hold her? I’m trying to get her as used to people as possible, so it will be easier for whoever adopts her. Most wild cats don’t really want people touching them.’

‘I’d love to.’

Grace sat on a stool that Angeliki placed in front of the cage and waited for the kitten to be put on her lap.

Karen was light as a feather and Grace barely dared breathe while the kitten pawed at the fabric of her shorts.

‘Go on, it’s fine to stroke her. She won’t break.

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