Page 8 of Happy Days Ahead in the Cornish Village

‘Flora sent me in here to see if you need any help?’

‘I think we’re about done now. I’ve washed him but look at how matted the fur is.’ She turned the water off before indicating the matts.

‘That looks painful. I wonder if he can even walk with that much matting around his legs. If he can, I imagine it would hurt.’

Jay picked up a towel from the shelf beside him.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he can’t. How could anyone let him get into such a state?’ she said, voicing her earlier thoughts.

She took the towel from him and began to gently rub the dog’s face dry.

‘I don’t know. Someone who certainly doesn’t deserve the love and loyalty of a dog, that’s for sure.’

Megan nodded.

Wrapping the towel around the dog, she could feel the dog’s bony body and realised that although he looked quite well fed, the bulk of his size was simply the matted fur.

‘He’s ever so skinny, too.’

Jay glanced down at the floor. ‘Poor thing.’

‘Can you grab the door for me, please?’

‘Yes, of course.’ Jay stepped forward and held the door open as Megan carried the dog through to the reception area. Flora was still on the phone, her voice full of concern.

‘…of course. We can work with that.’ Covering the mouthpiece, Flora whispered across to them. ‘Take him through to the kitchen and dry him off there, would you, please?’

Nodding, Jay moved towards the kitchen door and opened it, letting Megan carry the dog through. Then he hurried in and pulled a chair out for her.

‘Thanks.’ Lowering herself, Megan drew the dog onto her lap, the towel still wrapped around him. She could feel him shaking beneath the thick fabric. ‘Aw, he’s shaking. Poor thing.’

‘He probably doesn’t know what to make of this place yet. If he’s been mistreated, he might assume that’s how everyone acts.’ Jay flicked the kettle on and held up a mug. ‘Do you fancy a cuppa? We might as well quench our thirsts while we wait in here.’

‘A coffee would be great, please. I didn’t actually manage to get one before I left this morning.’

‘Really? I don’t think I could function without my morning coffee fix.’ Jay chuckled as he spooned coffee granules into the mugs.

Megan smiled as she rubbed the towel against the dog’s body. She was normally the same. She could almost taste the coffee from the expensive machine Lyle had given her for Christmas a few years ago. A fresh coffee had been so engrained in her morning routine for so long and the tiny sachets of cheap instant the bed and breakfast offered just weren’t the same. Mixed with a pot of long-life milk, it wasn’t even worth calling it a coffee.

‘I used to be the same,’ she said.

‘Ah, you’re trying to cut the caffeine habit, are you? I hope I’m not sabotaging it by making you one.’

‘Something like that, but no, you’re not sabotaging anything. This is very much appreciated. Thank you.’ Taking the mug, she took a sip, the bitter taste hitting the back of her throat. It still wasn’t quite what she was used to, but it was nowhere near the mellow liquid from the bed and breakfast.

‘It looks as though he’s settling.’ Jay nodded at the dog, who had now laid his head on Megan’s jeans.

‘Yes, he’s not shaking as much now either.’

Looking down at him, she wondered what his story was, what circumstances Flora had rescued him from. Did he know he was safe now? Or had he settled simply because he was used to being scared? She sighed.

Jay frowned, deep lines appearing across his forehead. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I was just wondering if he knows he’s safe now and understands he’s been rescued.’

Megan stroked the dog between the eyes, possibly the only part of him not covered in knots and matts. His eyelids flickered open before slowly closing again.

The door opened and Flora hurried into the kitchen.

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