Sunshine and Spaniels (6 page)

‘We’d help you clear it out, if you wanted?’ Cat said.

‘Why?’

‘Why what?’

‘Why would you help me? Why are you both doing this?’

Cat put her mug on the floor and Olaf padded over, sniffed it and looked up at her. She lifted the dog onto her lap. ‘We want to help. Isn’t that enough?’

Frankie chewed her lip. ‘Seems suspicious. Seems like no one really goes out of their way like this unless there’s something in it for them. You don’t seem like that sort of person, but I don’t get it. And if I don’t get it, I’m reluctant to do it – as generous as your offer seems.’

Cat ran her hands down Olaf’s long ears. It was a good question. Why did she feel compelled to help Frankie? She took a deep breath, and tried to explain. ‘I moved here a few months ago, and things were great for a while, and then I lost my job.’

‘At the nursery,’ Frankie said.

‘Right. Exactly.’ Her gaze flicked to Polly, then back to Frankie. ‘And lots of people were kind to me. Elsie – she’s next door to us – wouldn’t let me drown in self-pity. She helped me come up with the idea of dog walking. Joe and Polly helped me market it. Jessica – the author – let me walk her dogs, made me feel like I could actually do it. Everyone on Primrose Terrace has been so supportive, and I – I feel lucky. I want to pay it forward, I want to help other people. Maybe it’s ridiculous but, well, there it is.’ She gave Frankie a tentative smile.

Frankie nodded, stood and checked on Henry, who was asleep in his pram in the corner of the room. ‘Let me have a think,’ she said. ‘I’m not saying no, but I don’t want to say yes just like that. And I still want to do something for you.’

‘OK,’ Cat said, also standing. ‘Take as long as you need.’

On Saturday afternoon, Cat and Polly collected Chalky and Disco from Elsie’s house, and then walked down the road to number twelve. Lizzie answered the door, her long hair in pigtails. ‘Mum’s going to work now, she’s racing around looking for her shoes.’

‘I know what that’s like,’ Cat said, grinning.

‘We’ve come to get Olaf,’ Polly added.

‘Oh.’ Lizzie looked downcast. ‘OK.’

‘What are you doing?’

Lizzie shrugged. ‘Can I stroke them?’ She pointed at the mini schnauzers.

‘Of course you can.’

Lizzie dropped to her knees and gave one hand to each dog. Disco padded forward affectionately and Chalky stood still, pretending to be resigned but, Cat knew, really loving the attention.

‘Our babysitter’s coming,’ Lizzie said. Cat thought she looked like a smaller version of Polly, all pale skin and freckles, slender limbs in denim shorts.

‘Except she’s not,’ Frankie said, racing down the stairs. She was brushing her hair, her mobile pressed to her ear with the other hand. ‘She’s sick, so I’m trying to find someone else. You like Pippa, don’t you?’

Lizzie screwed up her face. ‘She wears too much perfume, and she spends the
whole
time snapchatting on her phone. Emma and I could be dancing on the table and she wouldn’t care.’ Lizzie hugged Disco, and the younger dog, while held in a vice-like grip, still managed to lick Lizzie’s chin. She giggled.

‘Well, there’s nobody else. She’ll have to do. Hello, Pippa?’ Frankie turned away from them.

‘We’ll look after them,’ Cat said. ‘Won’t we, Pol?’

Polly widened her eyes at Cat. ‘Uhm, yes, yeah, of course.’

‘Hang on, Pippa.’ Frankie pressed the phone against her shoulder and turned round. ‘You will?’

Cat nodded. ‘We can take them with us round the park.’

‘Henry too?’

Cat swallowed and glanced at her friend. She had no experience with babies. ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Polly’s a nurse, so—’

‘You are?’

‘A veterinary nurse. Not maternity.’ Her eyes widened even further, and Cat thought they might pop out, but she chose to ignore the silent message Polly was giving her.

Frankie looked at them for a moment, then picked up the phone. ‘Pippa, I’ll call you back.’ She hung up. ‘I don’t finish until eleven.’

‘That’s fine,’ Cat said. ‘As long as you can tell us what to do for dinner, and what time it is. We can think of things to do, can’t we?’

Lizzie nodded, looking warily between Cat and her mum, as if not quite believing she was about to get away with such an exciting change of plan. ‘But we can’t stay up late. We always promise Mum we’ll go to bed on time, and be well behaved, and help look after Henry.’

‘That’s all right,’ Cat said. ‘Your mum can tell us everything we need to do, if we help you find your shoes?’

Frankie nodded slowly. She still looked sceptical, but Cat gave her what she hoped was a winning smile, and Lizzie pressed her hands in front of her in a praying motion, Disco still within the circle of her arms.

‘All right then,’ Frankie said. ‘Henry’s day bag is over here, and should have everything you need. I can talk you through it. If you’re sure you don’t mind?’

‘We’d love to,’ Cat said. Glancing at her friend, she was pretty sure Polly didn’t share the sentiment.

Fairview beach was busy late on a Saturday afternoon, and even walking in the quieter, Fairview cove, which allowed dogs throughout the year, Cat felt conspicuous with six dogs, two young girls and a pram. Polly, too, seemed in a state of shock. She was pushing Henry and kept peering forward, cooing at him even though he was fast asleep under the hood. Cat thought she was probably checking he was still alive.

‘Stay close to us, girls,’ Cat said.

Lizzie had Disco, Emma had Olaf, and Cat was in charge of Chalky and Jessica’s Westies, Valentino, Coco and Dior. The girls ran ahead, crossing paths, getting the leads tangled up, but it was clear they were excited about spending time with new people, and lots of dogs.

Emma raced back to Cat and Polly, Olaf sprinting alongside, his ears mirroring his young owner’s flyaway hair. ‘Can we go in the water?’ she panted.

‘What,
swim
?’ Polly screeched.

‘No, paddle. We’ll stay close.’

‘And keep the dogs on their leads?’ Cat asked. ‘I don’t want to have to go in after them. I know it’s warm, but the water’s cold.’

Emma nodded. ‘Promise.’

‘And stay with your sister. Hold hands at all times, OK? Lizzie?’

The older girl walked up with Disco, took her sister’s hand and they both headed towards the sea. The breakers were small, the sand sliding gently into a calm surf, and Cat didn’t think they had anything to worry about, but she still steered their party closer to the water.

‘How can you be so relaxed?’ Polly asked. ‘How can this be happening? We’ve got a baby and two girls to look after, and that’s if you disregard all the dogs. Imagine if we managed to piss Jessica
and
Frankie off? They’re both formidable, in their own ways. I am
terrified.’

‘I’m calm because I’m with you,’ Cat said, grinning.

‘Oh, well, brilliant. That makes me feel so much better! God, Cat, what do you think I’ll be able to do if they all disappear under the waves or the baby starts choking?’

‘You’re a nurse. OK, an animal nurse, but the principles are the same. Hearts and lungs and eyes and feet. And come on, it’s not like we’re alone. We’ve got Frankie’s number, and the restaurant’s, and there’s Elsie and Joe—’

‘Joe would either be killing himself laughing or running away in terror if he could see us right now.’

‘Joe’s a bit safe, that’s all.’

‘Joe thinks my best friend is a bona-fide lunatic,’ Polly confirmed. ‘And I’m starting to agree with him.
Don’t do that!’
she squealed, as Emma bent down, dangling her hair in the waves. She emerged, smiling, holding a long black tendril of slimy seaweed. Olaf yapped at it, then danced away when Emma waggled it in his direction. Cat saw the glint of triumph in the young girl’s eyes, remembered that exact look from when Disco had escaped at the nursery, and knew that Emma would grow up mischievous. She confirmed it when, still holding onto Olaf’s lead, she raced towards Polly.

Polly screamed and, letting go of the pram, ran up the beach. Laughing, Cat took the pram, checked the dog leads weren’t tangled under the wheels, and started pushing. Chalky looked up at her and sniffed.

‘Don’t look at me like that,’ she said. ‘I’m not a lunatic. I’m helping out.’ The mini schnauzer dropped his head and carried on walking, and Cat felt a squeeze of sadness at the thought that she hadn’t got the old dog’s approval. Polly, Emma and Olaf fell into a heap, Lizzie and Disco not far behind, and Cat pushed Henry up the sand, wishing the wheels were a bit wider, and joined them.

‘Come on,’ she said, ‘that’s enough exertion. Time for ice cream.’ Emma and Lizzie cheered and helped Polly to her feet.

‘This,’ Polly panted, ‘is madness. Why did I let you talk me into it?’

‘You’re having fun, admit it. I’ll buy you a ninety-nine to say sorry.’

‘Oh, well then,’ Polly said, rubbing her sandy hands against her shorts, ‘all is forgiven.’

‘Capello’s Ice Cream Parlour,
’
Lizzie read.
‘Not Just for Sundaes.’

‘But you can have one if you want,’ Cat added. ‘Whatever you want.’

‘A waffle?’ Emma asked. ‘With chocolate sauce?’

Cat nodded. ‘Sounds perfect.’ She dug into her purse, pulled out some money and handed it to Lizzie. ‘You go inside and order, and I’ll find a table out here.’

‘What do you want?’ Polly asked.

‘Share a banana split?’

Polly grinned and opened the door for the girls.

Cat pushed the pram to the side of the low building and found a large table set apart from the others. She tied the dogs up and Disco and Olaf went straight to a silver bowl of water, lapping quickly. The parlour was set back from the sand, between the main beach and the dog-friendly cove, and was clearly owned by a dog lover. Cat rocked the pram backwards and forwards and, while she was alone, quickly checked the baby was still breathing. He gurgled slightly and opened his eyes.

Lizzie and Emma raced up to the table with a large bottle of water, Polly carrying four glasses behind them.

‘Ice cream on the way?’

‘Sundaes,’ Emma said, her green eyes wide. ‘They’re amazing!’

‘Excellent. And d’you think Henry needs feeding?’

Lizzie nodded and went to the day bag. ‘I’ll do it,’ she said. ‘I can ask them to warm the milk up.’ She took the bottle back to the ice-cream parlour.

‘She’s very grown-up, isn’t she?’ Cat said.

Polly nodded. She was staring at the table, running her finger along the rough grain of the wood.

‘She’s ten,’ Emma said. ‘Six years older than me.’

‘Do you think that’s a lot?’ Cat asked.

Emma nodded. ‘It’s whole worlds older,’ she said seriously.

While Lizzie was cradling Henry, expertly feeding him the bottle, and Emma was giving treats to the dogs, Cat moved closer to Polly.

‘Are you OK? I know this is a lot to deal with, and perhaps not how you anticipated spending your Saturday afternoon, but is something wrong? You look—’

‘I’m fine,’ Polly said. ‘Just hot and tired. Looking forward to our ice cream.’ She gave a weak smile, which didn’t fool Cat for a moment.

When their ice creams were brought to the table, Cat thought she knew the answer.

‘One waffle with Belgian chocolate sauce and sprinkles.’ Emma held her hand up. ‘One knickerbocker glory – for you?’ Lizzie nodded. ‘And one banana split, two spoons, extra cream and I took the liberty of adding some pistachio ice cream, as you said it was your favourite.’

‘Thanks,’ Polly said quickly, looking up at the man who had brought their ice creams out. He had thick, almost black hair in tight curls, and large blue eyes. He also, if Cat wasn’t mistaken, had a dog that, about a month before, hadn’t been very well at all.

‘Thank you.’ Cat beamed up at him. ‘How’s your fox terrier, Rummy, isn’t it?’

‘Oh.’ He glanced at Polly, then back at Cat, and ran his hands down his apron. ‘Rummy is back to normal, one hundred per cent, and all thanks to Polly. Honestly, I don’t know what I would have done if—’ He shook his head. ‘All of this is on the house,’ he added. ‘As a very small thank-you.’

‘It was the vet, really,’ Polly said.

‘I don’t believe that. I mean, the vet of course, but you took him in, got him through to surgery so quickly. I owe you everything.’

Cat bit her lip to stop herself grinning. ‘I’m Cat,’ she said, standing. ‘Polly’s best friend and resident Fairview dog walker.’

‘Owen.’ He shook her hand. ‘Ice-cream maker and very, very grateful dog owner. That’s quite a pack you’ve got there,’ he said. ‘Careful.’

Cat glanced behind her and saw that Dior had his front paws on the bench, his bottom waggling in pre-jump mode. ‘No, Dior,’ she said. ‘Not ice cream. Jessica would kill me.’ When she turned back, Owen was gazing down at Polly and Polly was dipping her spoon into the cream on top of the banana split. Cat felt a rush of triumph.

‘If you’re ever in need of a dog walker…’ she said.

Owen shook his head. ‘Rummy and I are pretty inseparable. He gets lots of walks.’

‘Oh, well,’ Cat shrugged. ‘Take my number anyway, just in case…’

Polly frowned as Cat pulled a scrap of paper and a pen out of her bag, scribbled on it and handed it to Owen.

‘Thanks,’ he said. He waggled it and walked backwards a few steps. ‘Nice to meet you, and lovely to see you again, Polly.’ He looked at her, his smile creasing his eyes as he put the piece of paper in the top pocket of his shirt.

Rummy, a pretty fox terrier, with brown ears and spots of grey on his wiry coat, trotted up to meet his owner, almost tripping him.

‘Thanks for the ice cream!’ Cat called, as Owen bent to stroke his dog and then disappeared inside.

Lizzie gave Cat her money back. ‘Didn’t need it,’ she said. ‘The nice man paid for everything.’

Emma was nose deep in her waffle, chocolate sauce on her cheek and fingers.

‘Wasn’t that nice of him?’ Cat kept her eyes on Polly. ‘Why do you think that was, Lizzie?’

‘Because he likes Polly,’ she said, ‘and he wants to impress her.’

Cat grinned. ‘Ever thought of being a detective?’

Lizzie shook her head, giggling.

‘He was just grateful for Rummy,’ Polly said, ‘that’s all.’