‘What, then?’
‘She isn’t interested.’
‘How do you know? Have you asked her?’
‘Of course not!’ The very thought horrified him.
‘I didn’t think so. How do you know she isn’t interested, then?’
‘I just know.’
‘Don’t take this the wrong way, Dad, but you’re not the best judge when it comes to women and their feelings.’
‘Did your mum say that?’
‘She didn’t have to.’
‘I really ballsed it up with her, didn’t I?’
‘Don’t beat yourself up. The two of you weren’t compatible, that’s all. Shit happens.’ Cameron reached out and touched his hand in a rare gesture of affection. ‘I just want you to be happy, Dad.’
‘Since when did you sound so grown up?’
‘Iamgrown up.’
‘Yeah, you are.’ Elijah gazed at his son as though seeing him for the first time. Where had the years gone? It seemed only yesterday he was holding a squalling pink faced scrap in his arms. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ he said, his voice thick with emotion.
‘I’m proud of you too, Dad.’ Then the atmosphere lightened, and the moment faded as Cameron said, ‘Can we order now? I’m starving.’
But though the conversation moved onto less serious matters, Elijah couldn’t stop thinking about it. It had been many years since he’d been happy. What a waste.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Nora filled the metal bowl with fresh water and put it down on the plastic easy-wipe mat next to the fridge.
‘There you go,’ she told Biscuit, and he wagged his tail but made no move to drink from it. This was his first day in his new home, and he seemed rather uncertain about the whole thing.
‘You’ll get used to it,’ she promised, stroking the top of his head and praying that was the case. He’d been padding around ever since she’d fetched him from the kennels nearly two hours ago, and was showing no signs of settling in.
Nora had shown him the garden, his nice new dog bed (with a blanket brought from The Forever Home at Jakob’s suggestion), and the cupboard where his food and toys were kept. She’d offered to groom him (he’d sidled away), and play with him (he hadn’t shown any interest, not even in the ball with the squeaker), and she’d tried to get him to cuddle on the sofa but he was having none of it.
Biscuit was too busy exploring every nook and cranny. Which Nora wouldn’t have minded, but he’d already explored each one several times already. He reminded her of a wild animal in a cage, pacing back and forth.
Maybe she should take him for a walk? Would a spot of exercise help? It couldn’t hurt, she decided, lifting his lead off the rack of coat hooks by the back door. ‘Walkies?’
His ears pricked up and a hopeful expression lit up his soft brown eyes.
She’d take him for a stroll around the village and pay the salon a visit while she was at it, because it would be a good idea to introduce him to the place and to her staff, since he’d be coming into work with her tomorrow. She hoped Kendra and the others would like him…
Feeling anxious (Biscuit was probably picking up on her anxiety) Nora popped his harness on him and set out. She’d taken today off in order to collect him from The Forever Home (having been given the green light by Dawn yesterday, who had been lovely when she’d done her home visit) and help him settle in. Nora knew it might take a few days – and Jakob had told her the same – but she was nevertheless concerned. She desperately wanted Biscuit to be happy in his new home.
Thankfully he seemed much more relaxed now he was outside, content to stop and sniff at all the unfamiliar smells. The high street had a typical Wednesday lunchtime busyness about it. Picklewick wasn’t a big place, but enough people lived and worked there to keep businesses like the cafe, her salon, and the bakery afloat, and most of the faces she met were familiar. If she hadn’t cut their hair and therefore knew them personally, she knew them by name or by sight, so it was to be expectedthat several people would stop to chat. And to admire Biscuit, of course.
Biscuit, to Nora’s relief, lapped up the attention. He was definitely a people dog, friendly and calm.
Until he suddenly wasn’t…
Nora hadn’t been expecting the dog to take off down the pavement at a rate of knots, and she was almost yanked off her feet. With an excited woof, he barrelled into the road, dragging her with him, and was met with a squeal of brakes and honking horns.
