Page 22 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘No, she didn’t. There was never any mess in her kennels, no chewed beds. She even used to leave the soft toys we gave her.’ Ginny laughed. ‘Do you remember that little pink teddy she had? She used to carry it around in her mouth as though it were an egg or something equally fragile.’

Flora smiled and leaned over, fussing Cindy. ‘Oh, lovely, we’ll find you a happy home. Soon.’

‘It’s a shame they weren’t at all willing to put any time into training her or anything.’ Megan sighed.

‘Yes, it is, but unfortunately, some folks are like that. They give all the talk and do very little action. I’m still shocked by the Stevens though. They came across as very experienced and dedicated.’ Flora shook her head. ‘And now we need to clear that cupboard out again and ask Susan to replace the gate.’

‘Cupboard?’ Jay placed his now empty glass on the work surface.

‘That’s right. When Cindy first came to us, we quickly discovered that she couldn’t be left alone at all so Sally and Ginny here cleared out the storage cupboard off the reception area and Susan replaced the door with a gate so she could always see or hear someone.’

‘Oh yes, and we’ll have to make sure at least one of us is in the reception area or kitchen at all times or she’ll start crying and set the other dogs off, too.’ Ginny looked across at Megan. ‘It’s a good job we’ve got you here now doing the books. She’ll have company. And if you wanted to work in here rather than at the counter, you could always bring her in – if that’s okay with you, obviously?’

‘Of course it is.’ Megan grinned. ‘It’ll be nice to have the company.’

‘That’s decided then. We’ll get that cupboard cleared out and get Susan on the case of the gate. Cindy can come over with me and Poppy to the cottage of an evening again. She and Dougal became the best of buddies by the time she was adopted.’

‘Who’s Dougal?’ Megan asked.

‘He’s Poppy’s little dog. Sweet little thing, he is.’ Flora looked at Jay and Megan. ‘Why don’t you two go on your lunch break now? You must be done in after digging all morning.’

Ginny stood up as well. ‘The chippy van is parked up in the village at the moment, too. I passed it on the way back from the suppliers.’

‘Ooh, that’s good timing.’ Jay turned to Megan. ‘Do you fancy chips on the beach?’

Megan glanced at the fridge where the pre-made sandwich she’d picked up from the corner shop was sitting and nodded. ‘Sounds good.’

9

‘This is nice.’ Megan finished the last of her chips and leaned back on her elbows, looking up at the summer sun. With the sand beneath her and the gentle hush of the waves lapping at the water’s edge, she might have been mistaken for thinking she was on some exotic holiday somewhere or other. She smiled. No, this was much better than a holiday. She had good company and after working on Wagging Tails’ books and digging the ground, she actually felt as though she’d done a good morning’s work. She felt as though she’d earned this lunch break.

‘It is. You can’t beat West Par beach. Especially during the height of the tourist season.’ Jay sank against the sand next to her.

Sitting up on her elbows again, Megan glanced up and down the beach. It was desolate. ‘It’s empty,’ she commented. Not another soul was even wandering across the sand.

‘Exactly.’ Jay grinned. ‘That’s how I like it. The peace and quiet.’

Megan laughed. ‘I see. Yes, it is rather nice.’

It was definitely a stark contrast to the beaches she, Lyle and their friends would frequent in Mallorca. They’d often be lucky to carve enough space to stretch their legs, let alone to lounge and enjoy the tranquillity of being able to hear the ocean.

She looked down at Jay, suddenly realising that apart from the fact he was divorced, she knew very little about him despite having spent the last few days in each other’s company at Wagging Tails.

‘Do you live here?’ she asked. ‘In West Par?’

‘I do. Just up the road from the village hall. How about you?’

‘Oh no. I used to live up in Cumbria. I moved out when my soon-to-be ex-husband and I broke up.’ She swallowed. After what Jay had said yesterday about Lyle and the proposed development, she was careful not to say his name.

Sitting up again, Jay shielded his eyes from the bright sun’s rays with his hand and looked at her. ‘You’ve got family down here?’

‘No.’ Megan shook her head.

‘Friends then?’

‘Nope.’

‘How come you chose West Par, then, if you don’t mind me asking? Have you been here before?’

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