Harriet carefully extended her arms and Pippa almost didn’t dare take another peek at the puppy for fear of falling instantly in love. Harriet’s heart had apparently melted faster than a snowball in the sun and Pippa’s was halfway there. She knew exactly where this conversation was going and gripped the back of the chair to put a barrier between her and the puppy, feeling a tremor of panic at what Harriet clearly wanted.
‘She’s a springer spaniel and she’s only eighteen weeks old.’
‘Is that right? Are they the bouncy ones?’ The puppy whimpered and Pippa’s heart clenched at the sound, a tiny tail thumping gently against Harriet’s arm.
Two deep, knowing pools for eyes were staring right back at Pippa, set between brown ears on a perfect face with neat little whiskers divided by a white stripe running through the middle. Harriet snuggled the puppy close, murmuring to her, and Pippa seriously doubted she’d ever get the dog out of her daughter’s embrace.
‘She’s a stray, dumped on Dorothy’s doorstep with a broken leg!’ Harriet kissed the puppy as it whimpered again. ‘Dorothy thinks she was the runt of the litter, and nobody wanted her. She’s not even microchipped. She’s better now, Gil treated her.’
Of course he had. They’d reverted back to a version of their previous relationship since the intimacy of that evening in the sitting room a few days ago. One where they were polite but cool, moving carefully and awkwardly through the house and around one another.
‘She must belong to someone,’ Pippa said helplessly.
‘Not so far as I can tell. Mind if I come in?’ Dorothy appeared through the kitchen door and Pippa wondered if Harriet had called for reinforcements on purpose. ‘My guess is she’s from working stock and they decided dumping her was kinder than drowning once her leg got broken. Stood on, probably.’
‘Drowning?’ Harriet’s eyes were swimming with tears, and she clutched the puppy fiercely. ‘That’s despicable. But what’s going to happen to her, Dorothy? Will she have to be rehomed, or—’
‘Definitely rehomed,’ Dorothy confirmed, giving Pippa a sideways look. ‘She’s got plenty to offer the right family and years ahead of her. No good reason for her to see out her days with me, she’d make a lovely pet. Pop her down, Harriet, let her have a sniff.’
‘I thought you said working stock?’ Pippa was trying to be rational, but it was nearly impossible with those eyes imploring her, and that was just Harriet’s. Pippa didn’t really want to look at the puppy again but couldn’t help it, as Harriet lowered her to the ground and she looked around cautiously, tail curling up adorably.
‘Doesn’t that mean she isn’t suited to a family home, Dorothy? Wouldn’t she be better on a farm, running around?’ Not in a city house with a courtyard garden. Pippa had to make a stand somehow. Try, at least.
‘In theory, but beggars can’t be choosers.’ Dorothy bent down with a grunt, and the puppy smiled up at her as she gave it a gentle push, encouraging her forward. ‘Give her plenty of exercise and the right food, and she’d be absolutely fine. Do a job for someone.’
‘Mum, please, can we, pleeeeeeease?’ Harriet looked ready to get on bended knee and Pippa was grasping for resolve coupled with sense, trying to ignore her fears. ‘I’ll help, I promise. I’ll walk her every day and do all the dirty stuff.’
‘For about a week,’ she muttered. ‘Then it’ll be me tramping the streets and scooping poo off pavements.’ As if to prove her point, the puppy squatted down and left a puddle on the floor.
‘But you’ll at least think about it?’ Harriet gently lifted her up, beaming as a little pink tongue licked her cheek before tiny teeth tried to nibble her nose. ‘Promise?’
‘I promise to at least think about it. Watch where you’re putting your feet, Harriet,’ Pippa said weakly, grateful for the huge grin Harriet threw her, obviously believing that the puppy moving in was a done deal and Pippa had the sinking feeling that it was. Harriet would have her jumping in the car and rushing to the nearest pet shop for a cosy bed and a cute collar if she didn’t watch out. ‘Does she have a name, Dorothy?’
‘Maud,’ Dorothy replied. ‘Seemed to suit her. Name of m’favourite aunt, too. Nice sort, knew her way around a tup as well as anyone.’
Pippa was so distracted it took her a second to realise Dorothy was still talking about her aunt and not the puppy as she gathered some kitchen roll to wipe up the mess. She jumped nervously as the door opened.
‘Ah, Gil, excellent.’ Dorothy nodded at him. ‘Puppy needs another wormer, did you bring it?’
‘Yep.’ He glanced at Pippa, who’d backed away at his appearance while Lola set about investigating the new arrival. Harriet lowered her arms, laughing as Maud let out a tiny bark and Lola jumped back. Gil drew liquid into a syringe and approached Maud, talking to her as he gently opened her mouth and slid the syringe into a corner. He gave her a pat and she licked his nose, not appearing at all affronted by his treatment.
‘Well done, little one. Same again in four weeks, until she’s six months old. I’ll microchip her in the surgery once we know who the new owner’s going to be.’
‘Harriet, Maud can’t stay with us,’ Pippa said as gently as she could, ignoring Harriet’s glare. ‘We don’t have anything we’d need to take care of her, and it wouldn’t be fair if she’s not going to be permanent. I will think about it, but I’m not making any decisions right now.’
She’d already made a decision today and if she couldn’t get Gil and Dorothy out of here and quick, then that one could very well blow up in her face any minute.
‘Mum, seriously! Look at her.’ Harriet stomped over and thrust the puppy under Pippa’s nose. Maud smelled divine, all babyish and desperate for a cuddle as she squirmed. ‘Why can’t she stay with us? Can’t we foster her or something, until we go home?’
‘Foster? Are you kidding me? Once that puppy gets its paws under the table what do you think will happen then, Harriet? And how are you planning to look after her when you’re away at school all week? What about when I’m at work? You can’t just take in a dog without thinking it through, it’s not fair on anyone. This is years and years of commitment, not something you do on a sudden whim.’
‘Your mum’s right.’ Gil’s voice was level and Pippa hadn’t been expecting the show of support. Of course he had the puppy’s best interests at heart, but still, it was something to be on the same side. ‘Let Dorothy take her, have a proper talk with your mum and sleep on it. The puppy isn’t going anywhere for now.’
‘Fine.’ Harriet shot Pippa another look and reluctantly handed Maud over to Dorothy, who tucked her cheerfully under one arm.
A knock at the back door had Pippa rushing to answer it but Gil was nearer. The room fell silent at the sight of the man who’d entered and even the dogs seemed riveted. Harriet’s sulky expression dissolved, and Dorothy shot the chap a filthy look as she stomped past. He might have stepped straight from the pages ofGQwith his immaculate dark hair and trimmed beard, and Pippa couldn’t fault indigo jeans with a tweed blazer and open-necked white shirt.
‘Sorry, I did try the front but there was no answer.’ He offered her a dazzling smile and she hoped her cheeks weren’t quite as pink as they felt as he stepped forward, hand outstretched. ‘I’m Miles Gray, the land agent. I believe you’re expecting me?’
