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Back A Change of Circumstance Save as PDF
Chapters (67)
  1. Cover
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. Three
  5. Four
  6. Five
  7. Six
  8. Seven
  9. Eight
  10. Nine
  11. Ten
  12. Eleven
  13. Twelve
  14. Thirteen
  15. Fourteen
  16. Fifteen
  17. Sixteen
  18. Seventeen
  19. Eighteen
  20. Nineteen
  21. Twenty
  22. Twenty-One
  23. Twenty-Two
  24. Twenty-Three
  25. Twenty-Four
  26. Twenty-Five
  27. Twenty-Six
  28. Twenty-Seven
  29. Twenty-Eight
  30. Twenty-Nine
  31. Thirty
  32. Thirty-One
  33. Thirty-Two
  34. Thirty-Three
  35. Thirty-Four
  36. Thirty-Five
  37. Thirty-Six
  38. Thirty-Seven
  39. Thirty-Eight
  40. Thirty-Nine
  41. Forty
  42. Forty-One
  43. Forty-Two
  44. Forty-Three
  45. Forty-Four
  46. Forty-Five
  47. Forty-Six
  48. Forty-Seven
  49. Forty-Eight
  50. Forty-Nine
  51. Fifty
  52. Fifty-One
  53. Fifty-Two
  54. Fifty-Three
  55. Fifty-Four
  56. Fifty-Five
  57. Fifty-Six
  58. Fifty-Seven
  59. Fifty-Eight
  60. Fifty-Nine
  61. Sixty
  62. Sixty-One
  63. Sixty-Two
  64. Sixty-Three
  65. Sixty-Four
  66. Sixty-Five
  67. Sixty-Six

‘There’s some hope, whereas yesterday I didn’t hold out any at all, I was weighing up whether to suggest that we let him go, but something about him just tipped the balance, maybe something in the look he gave me. He’s a tough little dog and it didn’t seem to me as if he was wanting to give up, so it was worth a go. I’ll keep him in, not sure yet for how long, and we’re monitoring him all the time, but the signs are pointing the right way.’

Through the usual tiredness at the end of a packed day, Cat felt a rush of energy and optimism, as Wookie’s heart beat strongly under her hand and he gave a small snuffle.

A nurse put her head round the door. ‘Dr Deerbon’s son is in reception – he wants to know if he can come in and see Wookie.’

But Sam wasn’t waiting for a reply, he was in the room.

‘It’s good for him to hear another voice he knows.’

Sam stroked the dog’s head, then bent and spoke in his ear. ‘You’re doing fine, Wookster, you’re winning. Hang on in there.’

In the car, Cat looked at her messages, replying to one or two. Sam had tears in his eyes and he needed to wipe them away while she was occupied, though he had never been ashamed of being a boy who cried readily.

‘Home,’ Cat said eventually. ‘Nothing else today. Thanks for chauffeuring again, Sambo.’ She did turn to him then. ‘How long are you staying, by the way – because you might find yourself with a permanent job. I quite like driving but this makes a big difference to my working day when the weather is foul and I’m stressed.’

Sam started the car. ‘Wookie’s going to be fine,’ he said, ‘I could tell. Is K in tonight?’

‘Not till very late and Felix is at the Dills’. We repay the favour by having Marcus on Friday for Super Mario.’

‘Good.’

‘We could pick up fish and chips if you like? And you can tell me about your decision to leave midwifery. They’ll keep hot if you put your foot down.’

‘Is that a challenge?’

Thirty-Seven

So, where next? He had pulled into the side of the lane for a car coming the other way, and sat on, trying to decide. Home? But he felt the need to talk – about what though? Whether he should have a long weekend away? Where he might go? Who with?