Page 37 of Summer at the Cornish Garden Café

‘Hmmm.’ Lena sighed. ‘I think we need to carry on as we are for now. And I don’t want to put too much pressure on either of us, so I contacted the letting agency of the cottage I’m renting and asked if I could extend the lease. They said it would have been an issue but the man who’d wanted to rent it for the autumn and winter had just pulled out. Apparently, he has to go on a business trip to Dubai so they were happy I asked.’

‘It’s all working out then.’

‘It seems that way.’ Lena smiled. ‘Sorry, do you mind if I…’ She pointed at her plate. ‘It’s just these tacos smell so good.’

‘Of course not. You enjoy them!’

‘Thanks. There’s just one more thing I need to do now.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Find out if Harvey the pug is still available for adoption.’

‘Wonderful!’ Ellie clapped her hands. ‘I’m so excited that you’ll be staying in the village.’

‘Me too. And hopefully, things with Thomas will work out long term and then I’ll stay permanently. I love it here and don’t want to leave.’

‘I don’t want you to leave.’ Ellie came around the picnic bench and gave her a hug.

Lena felt very lucky to have made a good friend in Ellie and to have secured the cottage for longer. She hoped her luck would hold out now with Harvey and Thomas.

After she’d eaten her lunch, she got her phone out and rang the rescue sanctuary. She spoke to Leanne and asked about Harvey. It turned out he was still available and was currently at the sanctuary with his fosterer, so Leanne invited her to spend some time with him.

Lena packed up her things, took the tray back inside then walked back to her cottage to collect her car. She didn’t use the blue Ford Fiesta often in Cornwall, preferring to walk when she could, but the sanctuary was a bit far to walk if she wanted to get there in time to see Harvey.

She pulled into the carpark and got out of her car then went to the reception area. Inside, she gave her name and soon, Leanne appeared from a back room.

‘Hello there, Lena. Are you looking forward to meeting Harvey again?’

‘Very much.’ She gave a nod. ‘I’m in a position now to apply to adopt him.’

‘Wonderful. Did you bring your documents?’

‘I did.’ Lena handed over a folder containing her ID, permission from the landlord via the letting agency to have a pet in the cottage, and a reference she’d got her old boss to email.

‘Fabulous. Well, come on through with me and I’ll take you to him. His fosterer has left him here for the afternoon so you can spend some time with him.’

In the courtyard behind the reception area, Harvey was playing with a ball that he was chasing around with Fifi. They looked funny together with Fifi being so big and Harvey so small, but it looked like they got on well. Thomas was standing near them and when he spotted her, his face lit up.

‘I’ll leave you in Thomas’ capable hands,’ Leanne said, and Lena felt heat rush into her cheeks. If only she knew…

‘So you’re going to adopt this handsome little chap then?’ he asked.

‘If he’ll have me.’

‘He’d be a fool not to want you.’

Lena felt her blush deepen. ‘You say such kind things.’

When Fifi paused in her game and saw Lena, she ran over to her and jumped up. Lena staggered but caught her balance just in time.

‘Fifi! Down.’ Thomas pointed at the ground and Fifi gave Lena’s cheek a sneaky lick then dropped her front feet to the ground again.

‘She’s just excited to see me,’ Lena said, stroking the dog’s silky head.

‘I’m trying to discourage jumping up though because she’s so big she could knock a child or someone smaller than you over.’

‘Are you saying I’m too sturdy to knock over?’ she asked with mock outrage in her tone.

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