Marcus laughed as he walked past him towards the counter, placing him third in the queue. The smell of freshly roasted coffee and baked cake, had him salivating as he waited his turn to be served.
‘Good morning, Marcus. Your Friday usual will be ready in a minute. No Rowan?’
‘Morning Tammy. Thanks. Rowan just arrived, but I’m sure he and Atlas will call in soon. They’re meeting me lunchtime.’
Declan’s head appeared around the door of the kitchen. ‘Morning, Marcus. I couldn’t help myself from overhearing. You said, Rowan is calling in?’
‘Yes, he’ll probably be down in the town within the hour. He can’t resist Tammy’s homemade carrot and ginger cake.’
‘Ah thanks, good. Do you think he’ll mind consulting me on something Fernando is doing at the moment? Only it’s easier for me to show him than explain.’ Declan lifted his eyes to the ceiling, indicating he meant taking Rowan up to his flat above the tearoom, where he lived with his pet.
‘Of course he will. You know he’ll do anything for animals.’
Declan nodded with a smile. ‘Great.’ Then his head disappeared again.
‘And he’ll do anything for you, too,’ winked Tammy. ‘Like travelling all the way here from the south every weekend.’
Marcus grinned, too excited to contain the news any longer. ‘He won’t have to travel for a whole year as of next month, because he’s renting out his house... He’ll be in Seagull Bay full-time.’
Tammy squealed with delight. ‘That’s amazing news, Marcus.’ She smiled warmly and tapped the side of her nose.
Marcus had grown closer to Tammy and Declan in the three weeks since the dog competition, and as well as Christine, he’d also confided in Georgina, Tammy and Declan about Rowan and him.
Declan appeared again with two paper bags. ‘There you go, mate.’
Marcus took the bags and handed Tammy a bank note. ‘Can you keep the change for Rowan’s order?’
‘Awww, you are such a romantic sweetie,’ Tammy said.
Marcus shook his head with a smile. ‘I’m not so sure I want that tag. See you both later. Have a great day!’
‘You too,’ Tammy and Declan chorused.
WARMTH SETTLED OVERMarcus as he entered Ruff to Regal. He was surprised to see Georgina already at her grooming table, clipping the nails of a small terrier.
‘Morning, G. Another drop in appointment?’
Georgina looked up and smiled. ‘Yes. I don’t know how you managed drop-ins on top of all those extra appointments the competition generated when I was off ill. I’m so sorry you had to deal with that alone, Marcus.’
‘That’s life, G. I managed, and you got better. That’s all that matters.’ He placed Georgina’s breakfast sandwich down. ‘Your butty is here, G. I’ll put the kettle on.’
‘Thanks, Marcus.’
He walked over to the appointment book and quickly scanned the day ahead, a small smile playing across his mouth when he saw two of the appointments had requested the quiet zone, and three new clients had already asked about Rowan’s behaviour consultations. Rowan already had three behaviourconsultations booked through Ruff to Regal for the following weekend. He headed for the tearoom.
Christine was standing in front of the kettle, a spoon clicking against the porcelain of her mug as she stirred.
‘Good morning, Christine. How’s your day looking?’
Christine turned around, a smile already in place. ‘Morning, Marcus. Mine’s steady. You?’
‘Busy. There’s been no let up since the competition... Not that I’m complaining, but I was hoping to take a longer lunch hour today.’ Christine’s brow lifted inquisitively. ‘Rowan came a day early. We’re having lunch and cocktails in the pub to celebrate his house being rented out for a year.’
Christine placed her mug down and opened her arms wide as she walked over to Marcus, embracing him with genuine love.
She held Marcus at arm’s length and searched his eyes. ‘I am so pleased for you both. He finally saw sense, eh?’
Marcus’s grin stretched from ear to ear. ‘He did.’
