Page 15 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

The skin at the corners of Alf’s eyes crinkled and he broke into a broad smile as he ran his weathered fingers over the short dense coat where patches of fur were missing. Bunty sat at Alf’s feet, tail thumping, as he leaned down and placed the puppy between her paws. In seconds, she was sniffing then gently licking the little dog’s head.

‘Oh, bloody hell.’ Jo pushed her chair back and fell to her knees. She had tears in her eyes as she watched the puppy snuggle against Bunty’s tummy.

‘Lil’ dog looks comfortable,’ Alf said.

Hattie crossed her fingers behind her back. She glanced at Alf and the two nodded. Alf gave a wink then pulled himself to his feet.

‘I’ll be off,’ he said. ‘Let me know if tha’ needs owt.’

He opened the door and was gone.

‘I was going to mention it to you,’ Hattie began, but Jo held up her hand. She stroked the puppy’s head and made soft cooing noises as his eyes closed and he fell asleep.

Bunty licked gently at his raw skin.

‘He’s like a tiny bear,’ Jo whispered as she gently touched the dog’s thin frame. ‘We’ll call him Teddy.’

Hattie tip-toed out of reception and, uncrossing her fingers, let out a deep sigh.

One puppy safely rehomed.

Hattie back at the helm of Boomerville.

Things were working out.

* * *

Melissa satup in bed and pushed the tray to one side. To her surprise, she’d enjoyed a delicious breakfast and felt a little better.

The hotel manager had been so kind.

Melissa hadn’t been asked to explain herself and Hattie had told the guest that she should take her time and stay in her room for as long as she wanted.

No one need know that she was there.

If only that were possible, Melissa thought as she sank back in the downy pillows. She closed her eyes and felt like she was floating, drifting to a world she could only imagine. A world without Malcolm, safe, secure and welcoming. If only she could stay at Boomerville forever, in this lovely hotel, surrounded by people who, like her, wanted to escape from their humdrum lives.

She thought of her son, Patrick. He’d travelled in his gap year, after university, and she’d wondered if he’d settle down, and now, to her delight, he had his own wholesale business and at twenty-six, was making a go of things. Melissa decided that she would contact him and tell him that she was safe, but for the moment she didn’t want anyone to know her location. Not until she’d made decisions and had breathing space away from Malcolm.

In the corridor outside her room, she could hear a group of residents chatting.

‘See you at the silver class,’ a woman called out and a man grumbled that he had a meeting with the Shaman, the pushy manager had insisted that he give it a go.

‘You’ll love it,’ the woman replied. ‘The Shaman sets you up for the start of your journey at Boomerville.’

Their voices faded and Melissa thought about her own plans for the day.

She felt refreshed after food and a good night’s sleep. Perhaps she should venture out? Maybe to the pool for a swim, while everyone was at class. Melissa loved to swim, it reminded of her childhood, growing up in Cornwall, where her family were live-in managers of a hotel in the seaside town of Newquay.

She smiled as she remembered the days of package holidays, which consisted of full board and lodging and entertainment at night. With her mum and dad behind the bar, until the early hours, guests enjoyed a variety of cabaret acts by singers who spent their summers in British seaside towns and winters in bars on the Costas.

Melissa often took to the stage too.

She learnt how to sing, dance and entertain a bawdy crowd. The experience gave her the courage to leave home and join an agency that provided acts for cruise ships and she’d spent many years travelling the world, singing her way from one continent to another.

She threw back the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The memories had sparked a sudden urge to sing. As she crossed the room, Melissa wondered if she could hit any notes. Had she still got a voice?

She stood by the window and tweaked the curtain. Glancing out to the hills in the distance, Melissa remembered the night she met Malcolm.

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