Page 79 of The Holiday Cottage

Dorothy was aware that this must all seem like too much. Imogen had gone from believing she had no family to suddenly discovering she did indeed have family and that they were all keen to meet her and spend time with her.

“If you stay, you’ll have complete independence and you can come and go as you please. I don’t like to think of you on your own, though. I know all this is a lot to take in. But I’m just up the driveway.” She had a sudden inspiration. “And of course you’re welcome to have Ralph here whenever you want to. I’m sure Miles would appreciate the help when he’s out on calls. Wouldn’t you, Miles?”

To give him his due, Miles didn’t falter. “It would be a great help, if you’re sure it isn’t an imposition. Just while I find the rhythm of having a dog back in my life.”

Imogen looked at him and then at Dorothy.

“Ralph could stay with me? Here?”

“He seems rather attached to you.” Dorothy gave a faint smile, because that had to be the understatement of the century. “He’s probably feeling a bit lost with all these changes happening in his life.”Like you,she thought.“If you want to have him here with you and Miles doesn’t mind, I think that would be wonderful.”

She understood how comforting a dog could be. How healing all that unconditional love and affection. She respected Sara’s wish not to talk about the past, so whenever she felt the need she talked to Bailey.

Imogen wrapped her arms round the dog. “I’d love him to stay here with me occasionally. If you’re sure, Miles?”

“You’d be doing me a favor.”

Dorothy wanted to hug Miles. “There, that’s settled.”

Imogen still didn’t look convinced. “He’s very active. Your beautiful cottage—”

“Has had plenty of canine visitors.” Dorothy swiftly waved away that concern. She’d redecorate the entire place if she had to. It was the least of her worries. If Ralph was giving Imogen comfort, then he was welcome as far as she was concerned, even if he shredded the place. “I lived here for a while after Sara left for college. I was rattling around in the house, trying to find my bearings, so I decided I needed a change of scene. I hope you’ll be as happy here as I was.”

“Well, in that case, thank you.” Imogen turned to Miles. “Will it confuse Ralph if he spends some time here with me?”

“I don’t think so. It’s the people, as much as the place, and he has certainly taken a shine to you. I’ll have him when I’m not working and drop him off with you when I need to go out and about. I think it’s a great idea.” He reached out to rub Ralph’s ears, and Dorothy noticed that his fingers brushed against Imogen’s.

A thought crept into her head, but she immediately pushed it away. There would be no interfering from her. She was just grateful to Miles for his help and for making what should have been a difficult encounter much easier.

Imogen stroked Ralph. “I don’t actually know much about looking after dogs.”

“I know a lot,” Miles said, “so that will make us a good team. I’ll pop back home in a minute and bring you some things. But he likes you, and he feels safe with you, so that’s a start.”

“He can have Bailey’s spare basket.” Dorothy stood up. “And we have a few other things up at the house that we can bring down here. You missed lunch, Imogen. There’s cold chicken in your fridge, a fresh loaf on the side and chocolate cake in the tin.”

She was conscious that Sara probably wanted to join Patrick and the girls in the village for the party, but Sara showed no signs of rushing off.

She was studying the living room of the cottage.

“We need to decorate this place,” she said. “Starting with a tree. Do you have a favorite type?”

“A favorite type of Christmas tree?” Imogen looked blank. “Er—no. I’ve never had a real tree before. It’s never really been an important time of year for me. I always find it difficult, although last year I did put a set of lights on my plant. It’s fake, so I didn’t singe the leaves or anything. And I treated myself to a turkey pizza, although it was a bit gross, to be honest.”

A set of lights on my plant.

A turkey pizza.

Dorothy felt a pang. “You don’t spend Christmas with your mother?”

“Tina? No. Not since I left home for college. We don’t really—” Imogen paused. “Family get-togethers aren’t really our thing.”

Dorothy thought about the many family occasions when Tina had refused to leave her room and join them.

She tried not to think about how many Christmases Imogen must have spent alone.

“Christmas is very much our thing, so I think it’s past time you learned what it means to go completely over-the-top at Christmas.” She didn’t add that they’d worked very hard to make Christmas their thing after that awful Christmas years ago. “I happen to know a couple of experts in tree hunting. Sara? Didn’t Ava suggest that Imogen should join you tomorrow?”

She wondered if she’d gone too far issuing that invitation, but Sara smiled.

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