Page 76 of The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove

This year, it was a cold but bright sunny day. No white Christmas for us, but a sunny day at the beach as long as you were wrapped up.

A kerfuffle behind us made us all spin around, and we saw Dan being yanked along by two very energetic reddish-brown small Border collies.

‘Oh my God, Dan. What the hell?’

‘Well, if you can’t give yourself a Christmas present, what can you do? I’d like to introduce you to Dexter and Meg. My new pals.’

‘You said you wanted a dog but I didn’t expect you to get themtoday. Or have two.’

‘Well, I thought they’d be good company for each other. And I suppose if you have the commitment of one, you may as well have two. It’s a good job Driftwood Bay is a dog friendly community, isn’t it?’

Mum and Dad joined us and soon most of the villagers came over to see the new additions.

‘You’ve met your brother’s two new pups then?’ Mum grinned at me as she leaned down and tickled one of them behind the ears. Would I ever be able to tell them apart, I wondered.

‘You knew?’ I turned to them both.

‘We all thought it might be a nice surprise. And obviously with Dan now moving back in with us again, he had to ask us whether he could have them in the house. He had the sense to not just turn up with them. Even he’s not that stupid.’ Dad ruffled his son’s hair. ‘Although the sooner he finds himself somewhere else to live, the better. I never thought at our age in life, we’d still have our two kids living at home. This should be the time your mother and I are enjoying our lives without you lot hanging around.’

‘Ah, be off with you. You know I love to have my babies home. It’s like my world is complete.’

‘And there’s me thinking that I was your world.’ Dad laughed.

‘Absolutely not. I never gave birth to you, did I? I grew these two and they are my special ones and they can stay at home as long as they want.’

‘I did have something to do with making them, you know.’

‘Yeah, not that much though. You just provided the sperm. That could have been anyone you know.’

‘God you’re harsh.’ He laughed.

‘You know I’m only joking. Youarethe love of my life. Our family are the loves of both our lives. And we both know how much you love having our kids at home too.’

Dad nodded. ‘You’re absolutely right. Two kids and now two dogs. God help me.’

You see, this was the type of relationship I wanted. Someone to laugh with, to love with. To know that I was lovedunconditionally and never doubt the strength of that love. It was no wonder I found it hard to find someone to live up to that. I thought I had that with Dennie, but obviously not.

I fell to my knees on the sand and both dogs came tumbling over, dragging Dan behind. They both turned a full circle and sat, nestling their bums into me.

‘That’s a sign they trust you. Did you know that?’

‘Aw, that’s nice.’

‘I’m glad you like them, Nancy, because you might have to have them at the shop with you from time to time if I have to go out on a job.’

‘Now, that will not be a problem at all. They’re both gorgeous. I love them already.’ I buried my face in Dexter’s soft fluffy neck and he snuggled into me. It felt like he and I were going to be the best of friends. Meg too. She was such a pretty girl and soon bumped her brother out of the way to get to me. I think we were kindred spirits.

‘Phew! Glad you said that because I’ve already booked some work in that might need Aunty Nancy to be their Fairy Dogmother.’

We all laughed at my new nickname. They really were little bundles of fluff, although I’m not sure I’d get any work done with them around in the shop. However, Dennis was due to launch his business properly in the new year and I would do everything I could to help him make it work. The dogs would be lovely company for me at the shop too. I couldn’t wait to be their dog aunty. What an honour.

‘Here come the girls,’ Mum announced as she and Rachel from the bistro, who was helping out Gemma that morning, came overwith a large tray of hot chocolates for the swimmers to warm them up. When her hands were empty, Rachel came over to see the dogs.

Dan lit up like a Belisha beacon as she fawned over them. And she said that she’d love to join Dan on a walk if he ever fancied any company or needed an extra pair of hands. At that, he became a little tongue-tied. Mum and I shared a look. Rachel was nice. She’d really changed her life around since moving to Driftwood Bay to be near her daughter Occy who was now Gemma’s stepdaughter. Maybe they’d become friends. It would be good for Dan to finally have some friends that he’d chosen for himself.

When all of the Driftwood Babes were wrapped back up again and their hands warmed through the heat of their mugs, Dan yelled, ‘Look, is that a dolphin? Or a seal?’

We all looked out to sea.

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