He turned to face her and she waved the keys in the air. He patted both pockets of his blue-black cashmere overcoat, let out a sigh, judging by the expression on his face, and marched back towards her.
Kate still held the keys aloft. The man smiled as he took them from her.
‘Thank you,’ he said with a tight smile.
‘No, thank you,’ she said. ‘We’re even now, I believe.’
‘Even?’
‘Forget it. Mad woman here due to lack of sleep. Erm. I know it’s none of my business, but since when did Old Farm become a dog rescue centre? Old Farm has always been a farm. Well, it hasn’t been a working farm for a long time, but it’s definitely never been a dog rescue centre. And who on earth are Rafferty and Hope?’
Once again the stranger raised his brows.
‘Do you live in Bluewater Bay?’
‘No. But my grandmother does. She has done for years. We all come and stay with her. On frequent occasions. I’m staying with her now. She knows everything that happens in this place.’
‘I see. Clearly not everything. If so, she would know that, not only does Old Farm have new owners, it’s also had planning permission and change of use to become a dog rescue centre since the latter part of last year.’
‘Really?’ Kate couldn’t hide her astonishment.
‘Really.’ The stranger didn’t hide his sarcasm.
‘How did that happen without Granny Viv’s knowledge?’
‘It’s clearly a shocker.’ His brows drew together. ‘Wait. Granny Viv? Do you mean Viv Day? The Viv Day who lives in Prince Regent Terrace?’
‘Yes. She’s my grandmother. But how…? You know her? She hasn’t mentioned you. Who are you, by the way?’
He smiled half-heartedly. ‘I’m Raff Gale. Co-owner of Rafferty and Hope’s Rescue Centre for Dogs. And you are…?’
‘Totally and utterly bemused. How can this be? She would’ve told us. When, exactly, did this happen? Is the rescue centre open for business?’
He laughed sardonically. ‘Pleased to meet you, Totally and utterly bemused. That’s a rather unusual name. As much as I’d love to be interrogated by you, I’m afraid to say my feet arefreezing and I’d really like to go and get warm. Perhaps you can ask your grandmother about it instead.’
‘I will, don’t worry. Wait. Are you … Rafferty? You said Raff. That’s short for Rafferty, isn’t it? But you said you co-owned it. Who else is involved? Your wife? Is that the ‘Hope’ in the name?’
He stiffened visibly. ‘No.’ And then he relaxed. ‘Hope is a dog. Was a dog. I really must go. I’d rather like to keep my toes and I can feel frostbite, or something similar, may be setting in. If you insist on an inquisition, may we do this another time? I know where to find you. And you know where to find me.’
‘Fine,’ Kate said grudgingly as Raff Gale turned away. She watched him for a few moments and then shouted after him. ‘It’s Kate. My name is Kate Stone.’
He glanced over his shoulder and smiled. ‘Nice to meet you, Kate. See you again, Rufus.’
Kate looked down at Rufus and quickly attached his lead. ‘We must get home, boy. You need your breakfast and I need to ask my gran why on earth she hasn’t told any of us about this man Rafferty Gale. And about Old Farm becoming a dog rescue centre.’
Four
‘Guess who I’ve just met?’ Kate asked Granny Viv, the moment she returned to the house and had taken off her coat, scarf, gloves and boots.
Her gran was still seated in the sitting room in the chair beside the fire, as she had been when Kate and Rufus had gone for their walk. Rufus bounded over to her and Granny Viv closed the book she was reading and smiled as she placed it on the table beside her and then she petted Rufus, but Kate didn’t wait for an answer.
‘Raff Gale. The co-owner, apparently, of Rafferty and Hope’s Rescue Centre for Dogs. Imagine my surprise to discover that, not only has Old Farm been sold, but it’s already got planning consent and change of use to a dog rescue centre. As the name implies, obviously. Now my question is, how come you never mentioned a word of any of this to any of us?’
Kate marched to the sofa as she spoke and perched on the edge of the cushion, leaning forward, her elbows resting on her knees and her hands locked in front of her.
‘Raff Gale? Oh how lovely. He’s handsome, isn’t he? Didn’t I mention it? I thought I had. It must’ve slipped my mind.’
‘Yeah right. Nothing slips your mind. Seriously, Gran. Why haven’t you told us about this?’
