Page 77 of It Was Always You

Following Lily’s crazy, harebrained suggestion and Adam’s subsequent acquiescence, a team from Borders Pet Rescue came out to assess Adam’s home and living situation. After acquiring his mum’s assurance of help and proving that a dog wouldn’t be left unattended for long periods of time, that he could take care of a pet, Adam received approval. He wasn’t sure who was the most excited about this situation, Lily or himself.

The day of reckoning arrived. Adam picked Lily up and they made their way to the kennels to choose a furry friend. She was acting like a teenager, and he couldn’t help but smile.

‘Oooh, I wonder who’ll pick you, Adders!’ she said as she bounced up and down in the passenger seat.

He scrunched his face and eyed her cautiously as if she was some kind of escaped lunatic. ‘Erm, hang on… I’m picking it, not the other way around.’

She snorted. ‘Good grief, it’s obvious you’ve never owned a dog in your life.’

He chuckled and shook his head as he glanced over again at his hyperactive friend. ‘What are you on about, Lil?’

‘Just wait and all will become clear, Adders.’

They arrived to a cacophony of barks and yelps as the rescue home manager showed them through to where the animals were cared for. The greetings from the friendly canines became louder as they began to walk down the aisles.

A lump lodged in Adam’s throat as he looked at the dogs, all of which needed good, caring homes. ‘Oh God, Lil, how do I choose? I’m going to feel like such a shit not taking them all.’ He ran a hand through his hair.

She squeezed his arm. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll know. Trust me.’

As they passed by each kennel, dogs lurched up vying for their attention, tails wagging frantically, each trying to bark the loudest. Suddenly, Adam stopped and stared down at a scrawny-looking black dog with a big head. The dog sat there, tail swishing along the floor, head cocked to one side. He was what was known as a ‘Heinz 57’. Basically, no one knew what breed he was supposed to be. His ears were pricked up, and his big brown eyes gazed up at Adam. He had a white patch of fur on his chest and was almost smiling, if that were possible for a dog.

Adam was besotted. He couldn’t tear his eyes away.

The manager came to stop beside Adam. ‘Ahhh, this is Monty. He hasn’t been with us long. His owner moved away to work on the oil rigs, and he couldn’t find anyone else to take care of him. He was heartbroken, poor guy. Monty’s been fretting a little and so he’s lost weight. We think he’s a Labrador-Staffy cross breed, but it’s hard to tell really.’

Adam nodded, swallowing past the lump in his throat, his eyes glassy. Lily squeezed his arm again, making him turn towards her. ‘Why don’t you take him out and say hello properly, Adders?’

He turned to the manager and gestured towards the dog. ‘Could I…’

‘Sure. Go through the doors at the end and wait for me. I’ll bring him through.’

Walking through the door the manager pointed to, Adam and Lily found themselves in an enclosed grassed area.

Adam looked down at Lily. ‘I think you were right. The way he just looked at me as if he knew. He was so sure of himself sitting there. He didn’t bark like the others. I… I think he picked me,’ Adam said, biting back the emotion that had sprung from nowhere.

Lily bit her lip, seeing the effect the black mongrel had on him. ‘I’d say I told you so, but I’m not like that.’ She winked.

Suddenly, the rescue centre manager brought the black dog through the door on an extender lead. Adam crouched down and the dog lurched forward to him, knocking him onto his back. The dog proceeded to bathe Adam in saliva as it greeted him like a long-lost friend. Lily stood by and laughed hysterically, taking photos on her phone as the adoring animal mauled him.

‘Erm, I think we can safely say that he likes you, Mr Armstrong,’ the rescue home manager laughed.

‘And, Adders, he’s called Monty! How cool is that? You being a humongous Monty Python fan and all. Quite apt, don’t you think?’

He somehow managed to get the giddy dog to calm down and roll on his back for a belly rub with his tongue hanging out – the dog that is, not Adam. Lily looked on with a smile which was mirrored in the one that beamed on her best friend’s face. It was a beautiful sight, Adam smiling. It took her breath away. This was far better than playing matchmaker to him and another woman. This was safer. Lily’s heart could share Adam with a dog. She could most certainly cope with this match.

Monty accompanied Adam to his new home. He was supposed to make the journey in the back of the car but after only five minutes of the journey had made his way onto Lily’s lap and proceeded to wag his tail in her face or lick her from chin to forehead. Adam laughed, as Lily struggled to keep the dog off his lap while he drove.

TRACK 32

‘SHARP DRESSED MAN’ (ZZ TOP)

January 2025

Christmas and New Year were over quicker than you could say ‘Frosty the Snowman’. Lily and Adam made regular trips out to walk Monty even though there was a thick covering of snow blanketing the ground and dulling every noise, like soundproofing. It was ridiculously cold and Monty had discovered a real affection for snow. Adam and Lily laughed hysterically when they saw the confused expression on the dog’s face as he tried to eat some and it melted as soon as it made contact with his long floppy tongue. The canine was nothing if not tenacious. By the time they got back to the car he was soaked and the odour of wet dog permeated every fibre of their clothing.

‘Bloody hell, Monty, you need a bath,’ Lily informed the soggy black dog whose tail was still wagging frantically.

‘Now that will be an experience.’ Adam laughed.