“Oh Jude.” Isla looks at the last two items in the corner of the trailer—a washing machine and tumble dryer. “These are perfect.”
“We bought new ones a few months ago, but there’s nothing technically wrong with these. I thought they could tide you over until you bought some.”
“It’s very generous,” Beth says softly.
He helps Tyr fold up the tarpaulin. “Not generous, just surplus.”
Beth glances at me, picks up one of the boxes, and takes it indoors.
Jude watches her go, then looks at me. I wonder whether he’s going to comment on her being here, but instead he says, “Have you got a sack barrow?”
“Isaac’s got one,” Isla says. “I’ll go and get it.”
“I appreciate this,” I say to Jude as we wait for Isla to return. “It’s really helpful.”
He shrugs. “It’s pointless it all sitting in the storeroom. Might as well put it to good use.”
“Thanks, anyway.” I turn away and gesture to Tyr. “Help me with the washing machine?”
We maneuver it inside to the small laundry room, and then Jude and Dane bring in the tumble dryer to sit beside it. Isaac’s still working on the plumbing but promises he’ll have them hooked up in the next day or so.
Tyr helps me carry in the trestle table and chairs, and we put those in one of the therapy rooms we’re using for storage until everywhereis plastered and painted. The others bring in the gates and crates, and it doesn’t take long before everything’s done.
“One more thing,” Jude says. “Dane, give us a hand?” They go out to his car, extract two big boxes from the back seat, bring them in, and place them on the counter that separates the kitchen from the Den. “These are from Noah,” he says.
One of them contains a large, rather flash coffee machine. The other has a brand-new kettle, a dozen mugs with pictures of various dog breeds on them, a box of teabags, a couple of cartons of coffee pods, a bag of sugar, two cartons of milk, and a few packs of chocolate biscuits.
We all cheer at the discovery, and the guys immediately open the biscuits and dive in.
“Just what the doctor ordered,” Beth says happily, and she plugs in the coffee machine, while Tyr finds some water bottles and tips the water into the machine and the kettle.
We all make ourselves a drink, Isaac’s men included, pick up a biscuit, and then go outside onto Cullen’s freshly mown lawn.
Everyone stands around chatting, watching Cullen tossing a ball for Ghost, while Tyr practices Queenie’s recall again. A sense of peace settles over me. People are talking in groups, and I can hear them discussing PAWS, coming up with ideas and plans. Everyone seems to be getting on great, and there’s already a pleasant atmosphere at the center, which is what I wanted more than anything. I don’t want anyone to dread coming to work. I want everyone to be excited to get up in the morning, and to come here eager to get started.
“Cullen was saying he was thinking about an assault course for the dogs,” Jude says, appearing beside me. He sips his coffee. “That’s a great idea.”
“Yeah, we want to give them something to do in between therapy sessions, and it’ll help with their training as well.”
“You’re doing a great job here,” he says. “You should be proud of what you’ve achieved.”
Touched, I say, “Thanks.” I hesitate, then add, “You could have been a part of it, you know. Still could, if you wanted.”
But he shakes his head, his lips twisting. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you?” He glances at Beth, then looks away, across the garden at the view of the sea beyond. “I’m happy at the Ark,” he says. “And you need someone to sort out the dogs for you.”
I’m both disappointed and relieved. “That’s true.”
He finishes off his coffee. “I’ve got to get back; I have a couple coming in to pick up a Dalmatian soon.”
“Okay. But thank you for all the stuff. It’s really appreciated.”
“No worries. I’m glad I could help.” He glances at Beth again, but she’s talking to Natalie and Dane, and so he walks back into the center.
As a therapist, I know that few people enjoy change. Buddhists say it’s a refusal to accept change that causes suffering, and I feel that right now. I want the center to work, and I’m excited to see it grow. I want to be with Beth, too. But it means letting go of the past, and accepting that my relationship with Jude is probably never going to be the same. It makes me sad, but the doors behind me are all locked, and the only thing I can do is take the path forward, even though the future will always be obscured by forest, and it’s difficult to see through the trees.
I pin a smile on my face and join the others, enjoying the sunny afternoon and the pleasant company, and trying not to worry about what might come.
Chapter Nineteen
