‘Well…’ Jay was pulling a face.
‘I love them. Teal is the perfect colour for this room and it goes with the painting,’ said Nora, studying the beautiful picture of a café on what looked like a Paris side street.
‘What painting?’ asked Jay, swivelling his head in different directions until he spotted it.
‘Oh that’s nothing. I whipped it up in a morning,’ said Renee. ‘I was briefly Salvador Dalí’s muse,’ she added. ‘Lovely man. The locals frowned upon him taking hisanteater out in Montmartre. Groovy times.’ Nora wasn’t sure if that was a euphemism or not and couldn’t hide her giggles but Renee hadn’t noticed because she seemed to be lost in the painting for a moment. Jay continued to look bewildered as he stroked the dog, who was the most chilled-out Nora had ever seen him.
‘Renee,’ said Jay, ‘have you drugged Bruce?’
Renee cackled. ‘Good heavens. Of course not. What do you take me for? And anyway I wouldn’t waste the good stuff on him,’ she said with a cheeky wink. ‘There’s no witchcraft. It’s just good manners and a little chicken.’
Bruce lifted his head. ‘Brucey, come here, please,’ said Renee. The dog got up and came to sit in front of her. ‘Thank you. Brucey, lie down, please.’ Renee held out a piece of chicken and moved her hand towards the floor. Bruce lay down and gently took the chicken as his reward. ‘Good boy,’ she said, giving him a rough rub on his head.
‘Wow,’ said Jay.
‘He definitely has had some training before. I just tapped into the fact that he’ll do anything for a piece of chicken. Now all I have to do is train you,’ she said.
Jay looked alarmed and Renee started to laugh.
‘I need to train you how to command Bruce. Not to lie down!’
‘Oh OK,’ said Jay, looking relieved.
‘Right. Dinner time!’ Renee knocked back the rest of her drink. Bruce quickly righted himself. ‘Not you, Bruce. You stay here. There’s a good boy.’
‘I’ll feed him,’ said Jay, getting to his feet.
‘No you won’t,’ said Renee. ‘He’s learned that he has to wait until we’ve had ours. Then it’s his turn. He’s the beta.’
‘Does that make me the alpha?’ asked Jay, looking chuffed.
‘You’ll get there.’ Renee ushered him to the table, where they found a new tablecloth and a lovely floral centrepiece.
Nora pointed at the flowers and Jay shrugged. Renee definitely had an eye for interiors and she’d brightened Jay’s place up a treat. ‘I really like what she’s done,’ whispered Nora.
‘I think I’ll need a few days to get used to it.’ Jay’s eyes darted about as if searching for any other alterations.
‘I especially like the conservatory she’s added on,’ said Nora, making Jay spin around to face the back of the house.
‘Oh very droll. Although I wouldn’t put it past her. She’d have probably dug the foundations herself.’ They both laughed.
‘What’s the joke?’ asked Renee as she ferried lasagne and salad to the table.
‘We’re impressed with what you’ve done this weekend,’ said Nora.
‘Gotta keep busy,’ said Renee.
‘You’ve definitely done that.’ Nora was amazed by what Renee had achieved in such a short space of time. ‘Did you make this too?’ she asked as a waft of rich pasta sauce floated in her direction.
‘Goodness, no. Life’s too short for fannying around with lasagne. I bought it from Marks and Spencer. Red or white?’ she asked, holding up two bottles. Nora could only admire Renee’s priorities.
They were interrupted by the doorbell. Bruce ran to the hallway and barked once. ‘Good dog,’ said Renee. ‘Right, that’ll be my taxi. You too have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, which gives you quite a lot of scope.’
‘Are you not staying to eat?’ asked Jay.
‘Sorry. It’s illicit poker night and I’m hosting. Cheerio.’ And with that she picked up her bag and left.
Nora and Jay looked at each other. ‘She’s exhausting,’ said Jay.
