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need to be seen, often at the end of routine consultations. BG, Before George, I used not to mind, but it gets difficult when I have to pick him up from nursery before they close.
    ‘What are we going to do?’ says Izzy. ‘I can order more now, but it won’t come until lunchtime tomorrow.’
    ‘I’ll check with Alex first, but I expect he’ll have some we can borrow.’
    Having contacted Alex, and seen the last patient before lunchtime, a cat well on the road to recovery after a bout of flu, I drive back to the Manor. I could have asked Shannon to go as penance, but the Fox-Giffords’ practice is in such a mess, it’s almost impossible to find the fridge, let alone any vaccine.
    I clear a pathway through the Talyton Manor surgery , moving a box of dental equipment, gags and files for rasping horses’ teeth, and a stack of business journals that neither Alex nor his father can have ever read, to reach the doddery old fridge. Inside, I find three boxes of dog vaccine, one of which is way out of date. I also discover a Creme egg from Easter, half a ham roll squashed in cling film, and a couple of blood samples, congealed in their tubes and of no use now.
    ‘Will you really use all that today?’ Alex says, coming into the surgery.
    ‘Under normal circumstances, I’d say no, but we’ve got three or four booked in already, and Will’s got a habit of using two vials when one should do.’
    ‘How does he manage that?’
    ‘He’s been squirting the vaccine right through from one side of the scruff to the other.’
    Alex grins. ‘Perhaps you’d be better off employing George as your assistant.’
    ‘We might have to get rid of Shannon too, if this happens too often,’ I say, but I’m joking. Shannon is working really hard for her exams, it’s no wonder she’s forgetting the on-the-job routine. I wonder if she should have some time off to study. I change the subject. ‘Alex, you really need to take your father in hand. Look how much you’ve wasted. You’ll never use all that. How many dogs do you see in a week?’
    ‘A couple.’
    ‘Exactly.’
    ‘I expect it was on offer – he can’t resist a bargain.’
    ‘You should have gone in with us and we could have split the order,’ I suggest.
    ‘It’s a great idea, Maz, but you know Father wouldn’t have it.’
    ‘Even if it saved him money?’
    ‘You know what he’s like. My boss doesn’t like getting into bed with the competition, whereas … Let’s say, I find it a lot of fun.’
    ‘Alex! I don’t know what you mean,’ I go on archly. I put one of the in-date boxes into a cool-bag that I’ve brought with me, thanks to Izzy, and head back towards the exit, towards Alex who’s waiting for me in a rumpled shirt and grass-stained trousers, his lightly tanned arms held out to catch and embrace me.
    ‘Kiss?’ he says, pressing me gently against the wall.
    I look into his eyes.
    ‘It’s very tempting …’ I murmur, ‘but I’ve got to get back.’
    ‘Maz …’ My name seems to catch in his throat. ‘Five minutes …’
    ‘No, Alex.’ Fighting my instinct to say, oh, what the hell, I press my palms against his chest. ‘I really have to go.’
    I can feel Alex’s reluctance as he slowly releases me.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ I say, reading a touch of resentment in his expression. ‘Don’t blame me. Believe me, I’d stay if I could.’
    ‘Perhaps we should amalgamate the two practices as well as the vaccines, then we could spend more time together,’ Alex says, his tone lightening slightly.
    I smile. ‘There’s no way. Look at the state of this place. Seriously, Alex, don’t you ever worry about health and safety?’
    ‘It isn’t all that bad, Maz.’
    ‘That’s because you’ve grown used to it. Alex, it’s appalling.’ I think of the walls in Otter House, cleaned meticulously every week by Izzy and Shannon. ‘I couldn’t work here.’
    ‘It’s lucky you don’t have to then. I’ll see you later,’ Alex says