Ros looked at the dog dragging her along. ‘I don’t think I can. I’m having to walk my dad’s dog because he’s got trouble with his back. My dad, not the dog.’
Cameron laughed. ‘I guessed that. Okay, how about we meet at a different café, one that’s dog-friendly? Do you know the coffee house on London Road?’
‘Yes, I’m not far from there.’Andat the speed Gazza is going I’ll be therein ten minutes,she thought.
‘Great. I’ll see you there in, say, fifteen minutes?’
It seemed like a good solution.
Ros took back that thought as she entered the little café. It was clearly a whole new experience for Gazza and one he was ill-equipped to handle. Being in an unfamiliar place where everyone was eating and there were new friends to meet under every table, Gazza wanted to meet them all immediately. He darted about until he’d tied himself and Ros to a table, a chair and a lady’s walking frame. A kind waitress was clearing a table nearby and came to Ros’s rescue.
‘Here you go,’ she said, leading Gazza away with a small treat and untangling his lead with the other hand. ‘What can I get you?’
‘Coconut latte with an extra shot please,’ replied Ros.
The waitress attached the dog’s lead to a loop on the solid-looking table before fussing Gazza who lapped up the attention. ‘And what can I get for this little cutie?’ she asked.
‘Oh, he only drinks water,’ replied Ros.
The waitress laughed. ‘We have a doggy menu if he fancied anything to eat.’ She pointed at a board.
Ros was wrong-footed so scanned it quickly. ‘He likes sausage.’
‘One hot diggity dog and a coconut latte extra shot coming right up.’ The waitress left them and Gazza gazed adoringly after her. Ros hoped she wouldn’t be long because she doubted that Gazza would behave himself for more than a moment.
The door opened and in came Cameron. Lots of furry faces all checked him out including a bearded man by the window. As he approached the table Gazza started to bark. ‘Hiya,’ said Cameron, kissing Ros on the cheek, which took her by surprise. She wasn’t the sort of greeter who kissed people. She mourned the dying tradition of shaking hands. ‘Oh would you look at you,’ said Cameron, dropping to his knees to greet Gazza. He stopped barking and wagged his tail so hard Ros feared he might strain it. ‘He’s gorgeous. What’s his name?’
She stopped her automatic need to apologise or explain and opted simply for the facts. ‘It’s Gazza.’
‘Cool name for a cool doggo,’ said Cameron.
Doggo?Ros let it go.
‘Hang on.’ Cameron had a huge grin on his face when he looked up at her. ‘Does this mean your dad and his dog have rhyming names? Barry and Gary. Imagine that – names that are very similar,’ he teased.
‘I hate to disappoint you but he’s not a Gary. Gazza was some footballer when my dad was younger. And this dog loves a ball.’ Gazza’s face spun in her direction at the word. There was another one they’d have to spell out.
‘Ahh okay. I’ll let him off.’ Cameron’s voice changed as he addressed the dog. ‘Who’s a good boy? You’re a good boy. Yes, you are. Gazza’s a good boy.’
‘I’ve ordered. Sorry, I didn’t know what you wanted to drink,’ she said, interrupting the particularly one-sided conversation. Although to be fair Gazza did seem transfixed by Cameron’s every word.
‘I’m a large Americano with hot milk.’
‘Okay. I’ll remember that.’
The waitress appeared with Ros’s drink and Gazza’s sausage, which the dog inhaled before the bowl was even on the floor. Cameron gave his order and they settled down to talk. Thankfully Gazza was happy to sit between Cameron’s feet in the hope of him dropping some pastry crumbs from the pain au chocolat he’d ordered.
‘There’s something you need to know,’ said Ros.
Cameron looked concerned. ‘Okay, what’s that?’
‘I sort of panicked and now Dad is expecting you for lunch tomorrow.’
‘That’s cool,’ said Cameron. ‘Who doesn’t like a free meal? And I love a roast dinner.’ Ros instantly relaxed a fraction.
‘Right. Shall we pick up where we left off?’ said Ros, pulling her notebook from her bag.
‘Okay,’ he said, wiping the last crumbs from his lips and surreptitiously letting Gazza lick his fingers. Ros took her hand sanitiser out of her bag and pushed it across the table to him. ‘Cheers.’
