It's a Vet's Life: (47 page)
The snow is coming down harder, swirling around the streetlights outside the churchyard that have switched on early due to the overcast conditions.
Although
the paths are clear, there is a thin covering of snow across the grass and the gravestones, enough for the children who are running around to leave footprints.
‘One more change in the wedding plans will make no difference at all. It’s fine with me.’ I glance at Alex. I’m not cold.
On the way to the Talymill Inn, I sit beside Alex in the back of the Bentley with his arm around my shoulder, watching the snow sweeping past, blanketing the hedgerows and verges along the lane to the pub.
‘I reckon we’re going to get snowed in,’ I say.
‘It doesn’t matter. I’ve booked a room so we can stay and spend our wedding night alone together.’ Alex chuckles. ‘The best laid plans of mice and men … It looks as if we could be spending it with the majority of the population of Talyton.’
‘We’ll have to make the most of it then. An all-night party could be a lot of fun.’
‘As long as we’re home in time for Christmas.’
‘Before then. I haven’t actually had time to do any shopping yet. The only present I’ve bought is George’s. I haven’t got you anything, Alex.’
‘Mrs Fox-Gifford, I don’t care. I don’t need anything new.’ Alex kisses my cheek. ‘All my Christmases have come at once.’
As I lean in to him, my husband and happily-ever-after, a mobile vibrates in his jacket pocket. I raise an eyebrow. ‘Who on earth is that? On our wedding day!’
Alex checks the caller’s number and looks at me sheepishly. ‘I said Justin could call me if he wasn’t sure about anything.’
‘Go on then,’ I sigh. ‘You’d better take it.’
It turns out that Alex’s new assistant has locked himself out of the surgery up at the Manor. Alex tells him how to break in without a key.
‘Sorted,’ he says. ‘I’m sorry, Maz … but you know how it is.’
‘I do,’ I murmur, tilting my face to kiss him back very gently on the lips. ‘It’s a vet’s life and I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.’
I would like to thank my agent, Laura Longrigg at MBA, my editor, Gillian Holmes, and the rest of the wonderful team at Arrow Books for their enthusiasm and support.
Thanks, too, to Tamsin and Will, my family and friends for their insight.
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Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781407088150
Published by Arrow Books 2011
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Copyright © Cathy Woodman 2011
Cathy Woodman has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between these fictional characters and actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
First published in Great Britain in 2011 by
Arrow Books
Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London SW1V 2SA
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The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009
A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library
ISBN 9780099551621
