‘I’ll make a cup of tea for you, Christine, but I’ll leave it in here though, if you don’t mind. I already need an extra pair of hands.’
Christine laughed as she retreated from the room. ‘You and me both, Marcus. You and me both.’
Back in the dog-grooming parlour, Marcus placed a mug down on the side close to Georgina. ‘There you go, G.’ Georgina sneezed again. ‘Bless you. Hay fever?’
Georgina shrugged and laughed off the sneeze. ‘Pollen doesn’t normally affect me. But as long as I’m not suddenly developing an allergy to dog fur, then I don’t care what it is.’
Marcus huffed a laugh. ‘Me too, that’s all I need.’ He walked over to the client waiting area. Pippa had her head back, resting on the wall, and her lids were closed. She looked pale, and Marcus noticed small dark semi-circles under her eyes. He was flat out busy today, but there was no way he could turn away Pippa.
‘I’ll quickly see to Ginger now, Pippa.’ Pippa’s eyes sprung open, but they took a moment to focus on him. Had she been asleep? ‘Oh, erm. Thank you so much, Marcus.’
‘Are you able to bring Jess in at closing time tomorrow? I’m afraid that’s the only time I can offer you.’
Pippa nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yes, yes, that would be great.’
Marcus bit his bottom lip, as a thought entered his mind. He really wanted to help Pippa, and what he was about to propose would really stretch him, but he couldn’t see Pippa struggle.
‘Pippa, I have a proposal, and I won’t take no for an answer.’ Pippa’s brow rose. ‘For this year only, I want to help you... I’d like to take over the organising and running of the annual dog competition.’ Pippa shook her head and opened her mouth to protest, but the look of relief behind her eyes spoke volumes. Marcus held up his hand to silence her. ‘You need all the rest you can get at this stage of your pregnancy, and no one knows dogs better than me.’
‘Marcus, I couldn’t possibly put on you like that.’
‘You are not putting on me. I made the suggestion.’ Marcus could see the cogs going around in Pippa’s brain, her mouth opening and closing, as if she was unsure what to say. ‘That’s settled then.’ Marcus took the lead from Pippa’s hand. ‘Come on, Ginger. Mummy is going home for some R ‘n’ R.
Pippa pushed herself up from her seat and hugged Marcus. ‘You are an angel, Marcus.’
‘No worries, Pippa.’ Marcus looked out the window at the blue sky he was missing. ‘One question, would it be okay to change the location of where the competition is being held this year?’
Pippa grimaced. ‘I’m not sure. People are expecting it to be held in Seagull Bay.’
Marcus laughed and shook his head. ‘I don’t mean to move it away from the bay, just from The Cheese Wedge and Pickles. I’m thinking of an outdoor event—maybe making use of the beach?’
‘Oh yes! I love that idea.’
‘Then that’s settled. Can you drop in any information I need to know about, when you come to pick up Ginger?’
Pippa nodded, the relief already smoothing her features. ‘Of course, and if I can help in any w—’
Marcus held up a finger to her lips. ‘No. All you are doing is attending the event. Now, be off with you... before you run out of your R ‘n’ R time.’
Pippa giggled, as Marcus gently shooed her out of the door.
A moment later, Ginger was at the wash station, his fur wet through, just as Marcus’s first client arrived, twenty minutes late, and precisely when the phone began to ring. Marcus paused for a moment, but it was all the time Ginger needed. Ginger shook away the excess water from his coat, showering Marcus from head to waist. He closed his eyes and inhaled, before fixing a bright smile on his face, and opening his eyes.
Making his way to the phone, he lifted the receiver, and put on his best bright, yet calm voice. ‘Good morning, Ruff to Regal, how can I help you?’
The voice on the other end was deep and calm. ‘Good morning. This is a bit of a strange request being as I specialise in dog behaviour, but...’ Marcus’s breath caught in his throat, as he waited hypnotised by the caller’s sultry tones. ‘...I’m having trouble bathing my dog. Do you think I could book him in there, tomorrow?’
Marcus looked at the appointment book for tomorrow. It was completely full, and he’d already told Pippa to bring Jess on top of that... Yet, there was something edging the man’s strong voice, and Marcus swore it was vulnerability he heard.
‘Yes, but I only have a slot available last thing, about five-thirty. Is that any good to you?’
There was a long pause. ‘Yes, I’ll take it. My dog’s name is Atlas... He’s a German Shepherd.’
‘Okay. I’ll see Atlas at that time then. Goodbye.’
‘Goodbye.’
Had he done the right thing for himself? No. But it had certainly been the right thing for Atlas—and that was all that mattered.
