فصل 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Jess

The bearded man emerged from the swing doors wiping his hands on his white coat. “Norman Thomas?

Jess had never considered that their dog might have a surname.

“Norman Thomas? Large, indeterminate breed? he said, lowering his chin and looking straight at her.

She scrambled to standing in front of the plastic chairs. “He has suffered massive internal injuries, he said, with no preamble. “He has a broken hip and several broken ribs and a fractured front leg and we wont know whats going on inside until the swellings gone down. And Im afraid hes definitely lost the left eye. She noticed there were bright smears of blood on his blue plastic shoes.

She felt Tanzies hand tighten in hers. “But hes still alive?

“I dont want to give you false hope. The next forty-eight hours will be critical.

Beside her Tanzie gave a low moan of something that might have been joy or anguish it was hard to tell.

“Walk with me. He took Jesss elbow, turning his back on the children, and lowered his voice. “I have to say that Im not sure, given the extent of his injuries, if the kindest thing wouldnt be to let him go.

“But if he does survive forty-eight hours?

“Then he may stand some chance of recovery. But as I said, Mrs. Thomas, I dont want to give you false hope. He really isnt a well lad.

Around them the waiting clients were watching silently, their cats in pet carriers cradled on their laps, their small dogs panting gently under chairs. Nicky was staring at the vet, his jaw set in a tense line. His mascara was smudged around his eyes.

“And if we do proceed, its not going to be cheap. He may need more than one operation. Possibly even several. Is he insured?

Jess shook her head.

Now the vet became awkward. “I need to warn you that going forward, his treatment is likely to cost a significant sum. And there are no guarantees of recovery. Its very important that you understand that before we go any further.

It was her neighbor Nigel who had saved him, she heard later. He had run from his house carrying two blankets, one to wrap around the shivering Tanzie, the other to cover the body of the dog. Go indoors, he had instructed Jess. Take the kids indoors. But as he drew the tartan rug gently over Normans head, he had paused, and said to Nathalie, “Did you see that?

Jess hadnt heard him at first, over the sound of the crowd and Tanzies muffled wailing and the children crying nearby because even though they didnt know him, they understood the utter sadness of a dog lying motionless in the road.

“Nathalie? His tongue. Look. I think hes panting. Here, lets pick him up. Get him in the car. Quick! It had taken three of Jesss neighbors to lift him. They had laid him carefully on the rear seat, and had driven in a blur to the big veterinary practice on the outskirts of town. Jess loved Nigel for not once mentioning the blood that must have gotten all over his upholstery. They had rung her from the vets and told her to get down there as fast as she could. Under her jacket, she was still in her pajamas.

“So what do you want to do?

Lisa Ritter had once told Jess about a huge deal her husband had done that had gone wrong. “Borrow five thousand and you cant pay it back, and its your problem, she said, quoting him. “Borrow five million and its the banks problem.

Jess looked at her daughters pleading face. She looked at Nickys raw expression the grief and love and fear that he finally felt able to express. She was the only person who could make this right. She was the only person who would ever be able to make it right.

“Do whatever it takes, she said. “Ill find the money. Just do it.

The short pause told her he thought she was a fool. But of a kind he was well used to dealing with. “Come this way, then, he said. “I need you to sign some paperwork.

—

Nigel drove them home. She tried to give him some money, but he waved her away gruffly and said, “What are neighbors for? Belinda cried as she came out to greet them.

“Were fine, she muttered dully, her arm around Tanzie, who still shook intermittently. “Were fine. Thank you.

They would call, the vet said, if there was any news.

Jess didnt tell the kids to go to bed. She wasnt sure she wanted them to be alone in their rooms. She locked the door, bolted it twice, and put an old film on. Then she made three mugs of cocoa, brought her duvet down, and sat under it, one child on each side of her, watching television that they didnt see, each alone with individual thoughts. Praying, praying that the telephone wouldnt ring.