Page 3 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘What if we can’t commit to a certain time each week?’ A man towards the front of the group spoke up. ‘Can we just turn up?’

Flora paused. ‘We prefer people to commit to a regular time. Just so we can make sure we have an even spread of volunteers. With only the two paddocks, there’s a limit to how many dogs we can walk at once so we wouldn’t want people to just turn up or they might find it’s a waste of their time. Of course, if you can’t commit to a regular time slot, we can try to work around you and come up with a solution. We just ask to be kept in the loop, so to speak.’

‘Of course, thanks.’ The man nodded, seemingly happy with Flora’s answer.

Flora steered them towards the gate to the top paddock and waved towards Sally and Susan, who made their way towards them.

‘This is Susan and Sally.’ Flora introduced them.

‘Hi, everyone. Lovely to meet you all.’ Susan waved as the small Jack Russell Megan had seen Sally walking earlier bounded up to the gate.

Turning back to the group, Flora raised her voice again. ‘We won’t go into the top paddock as Susan and Sally are socialising two of our newest arrivals, but as you can see it’s much the same as the bottom paddock. Now, if we head back to the reception area and the kennels, we’ll grab a cuppa, and I can answer any other questions you may have.’

Turning, Megan followed the group back through the bottom paddock.

‘Megan, isn’t it?’

Jerking her head up, she caught her breath. It was Flora.

‘Yes. I’m sorry, I can go. I just…’ She shoved her hands in her pockets.

‘You’d like to volunteer here?’ Flora began to walk beside her, matching her pace.

Megan nodded.

‘Good to have you here, then.’ Flora indicated the people ahead of them. ‘I’d better get to the front. Shall we have a quick chat after the induction? If you have time, of course?’

‘Okay.’

‘Great.’ Flora smiled before quickening her pace and weaving her way towards the front of the group.

Megan could feel the tension melting from the knots in her shoulders. Flora hadn’t asked her to leave. That was a start.

2

‘Here you go.’ Flora placed a fresh mug of coffee in front of Megan and slipped into the chair next to her. The kitchen was now empty, the last of the volunteers having signed up for their first volunteering shifts and left. ‘Thank you for staying behind. I think it’s best we have a chat before you begin volunteering, don’t you?’

‘Thank you.’ Megan took the mug and wrapped her hands around it, the heat from the ceramic warming her skin. ‘Honestly, I don’t have to volunteer here if you’d rather I didn’t. I half expected you to tell me to leave when you first spotted me. And I understand. I really do.’

‘I’m not going to ask you to leave. I’m just curious. Why do you want to help out here?’

Glancing down into her coffee, Megan swallowed. There were so many reasons, many of which she didn’t fully understand herself. How could she explain something that she didn’t understand?

‘It feels like the right thing to do,’ she said tentatively. ‘After everything that happened… the way Lyle tried to force you to sell, what happened to Sally and her dog…’

‘You feel responsible?’

‘No, yes. Yes, I do. I should have realised what was happening. I should have guessed what he was doing. I was living with him.’ She laughed, a short hollow sound escaping her lips. ‘I was married to him. I should have known.’

‘I think he was just a rather good showman. He had Andy fooled too.’

Megan nodded, automatically touching her ring finger, still uncomfortable with the sheer absence of the wedding ring which she’d been wearing for the past fourteen years. ‘That’s right.’

‘It must have all been such a shock to you.’ Flora smiled sadly.

‘It was. But it shouldn’t have been. I don’t know how I didn’t see what he was like earlier. How could he have kept such a secret from me? How didn’t I realise what sort of person he really was?’

‘Love does that to people. Love covers up the most damaging secrets.’

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