Kate gasped. ‘From what I know of Raff Gale, he couldn’t be farther fromThe Oneif I threw him into the sea myself and the current took him all the way to China. I’m going out. I’ll be back before lunch.’
‘Aren’t you forgetting something?’ Granny Viv called after her. ‘Aren’t you supposed to be looking after a dog?’
Kate shot back into the sitting room and pointed at Rufus. ‘He’s fast asleep.’
‘I can see that. I was being facetious and simply making a point. Leave him be and get some fresh air.’
‘Thank you. Point taken,’ Kate said. ‘Goodbye, Millie. It was lovely to see you again.’
‘You too,’ said Millie.
Kate could hear the two women mumbling and sniggering as she marched to the front door.
Six
Kate was livid.
Okay, she was acting like a teenager, not a grown-up woman of fifty-six. And her gran had made some valid points.
But if Granny Viv and Millie thought her idea of getting a dog was ridiculous, how could they not see that their belief that Raff Gale wasThe Oneand Fate had sent him to her … or her to him … or them to one another, was even more farcical?
She shoved her gloved hands into her coat pockets. Was it getting colder? She shivered as if to confirm it.
Why was Granny Viv putting such a damper on her idea? She could usually count on her gran’s complete support.
Over the years, Kate had come up with far more ludicrous ideas than getting a dog. Granny Viv had always been behind her one hundred and ten per cent in the past. What was different now?
She knew her gran had always had her best interests at heart, so Granny Viv’s reaction today must mean that she genuinely believed Kate getting a dog was not a good move.
Kate could understand the logistics were a slight problem but thousands of people worked and had dogs. Rescue centres would be splitting at the seams if no one who had a job could have a dog.
Or was the issue about something else?
Kate remembered what Granny Viv had said at New Year. “Now if only my granddaughter, Kate could find someone to share her life with, that would be the icing on all our cakes.”
Maybe that was the problem. Granny Viv was so fixated on Kate having a man in her life that the thought of Kate doing anything that might make that more difficult could not be allowed to happen.
But why would Kate having a dog make it more difficult for her to meet a man? Surely it might make it easier, if anything?
After all, Kate only met Raff today because of Rufus. Without Rufus losing his ball in the sea – well, without her losing the ball – would Raff have stopped and talked to her?
He wouldn’t have had to march into the sea and get it, because it wouldn’t have been there.
He wouldn’t have dropped his keys.
She wouldn’t have found them and seen the tag.
He wouldn’t have discovered who she was.
In fact, without Rufus, would she have even been on the beach this morning?
She did like to walk on the beach, regardless of whether or not she had a dog or anyone with her.
But she wouldn’t have dashed out in such a hurry if Rufus hadn’t needed his walk.
So … the only reason she and Raff had met today was because of Rufus. Surely that meant something?
If only she could figure out what.
