Page 95 of The Way We Fell

“Pup, sit.” Obediently, Pup settles at Jay’s feet, tail slapping lightly at the ground and tongue hanging from his mouth. He’s been with us full-time for almost a month now. We’ve been taking him to weekly training sessions to help us bond—not that there’s an issue there—and for him to learn how best to help Jay. It’s also showing Jay how to use Pup’s skills and abilities.

They’ve already come so far in three weeks. Pup is obsessed with Jay and follows him absolutely everywhere—and if he’s not following my boyfriend like a literal lovesick puppy, he’s curled up on the sofa with me while I work or read. We briefly considered keeping him off the furniture, but he hopped up beside me and curled up in my lap the first time we brought him to my house, and that was that.

This is Pup’s first big trip, before we take him on a plane to celebrate Cam’s birthday in Phoenix with all of our friends next week. We’ve driven down to stay with my parents in Eastbourne, and I can’t wait to take him to the beach. He was an absolute trooper in the car, spending the first half hour of the drive yipping and whining excitedly as he watched the world go by through the window, and then settling down for a long nap.

It’s been a long time since I’ve brought a boyfriend home to meet my parents. I rock nervously on my heels and cant my head slightly, giving Jay permission to rap his knuckles against the blue front door of my parents’ bungalow. Spring flowers tickle at my nose—the fruits of their gardening labour—and within seconds, I hear the telltale thundering of footsteps before my parents’ grins greet us as the door flies open.

“Katy!” Mum exclaims, losing the race as Dad tugs me into a big bear hug first. Ever since I first moved out of their house, they’ve played thewho gets to hug Katy firstgame whenever I come home. I slip my arms around my father’s waist as he crushes me in his embrace. With my face buried in his broad chest, soaking in his familiar, herbal and woodsy scent, I feel rather than see Mum slap lightly at his arm.

“Jim, stop hogging her.”

James Keller can’t say no to his wife. He releases me almost immediately, lightly pushing me into my mother’s waiting arms. God, there’s nothing quite like a hug from my mum. I’m immediately surrounded by lavender and chamomile, with a hint of the fresh linen laundry scent from—I assume—the washing machine I can hear whirring somewhere in the house. When I pull away, we both have wide smiles and eyes wet with tears. Mum swipes mine away with her thumb and laughs.

“I’ve missed you too much, Little K. You need to come here more often.”

“I know.” I press my lips into a tight, watery smile. I really do need to come down here more often. “Mum, Dad, I want you to meet someone.”

Jay takes a step forward. I’d almost forgotten he was here, so caught up in being reunited with my parents. But his presence has the very marrow of my bones humming with a mix of delight and anticipation, and although it terrifies me, it’s time to make the introduction.

“Jay Bevan, sir.” Jay sticks out his hand to my father. “I want to thank you for your daughter. You’ve raised a wonderful woman, and it’s been the honour of my life to fall in love with her.”

He looks at me with the goofiest, lovesick smile and I melt on the spot. How could I ever have worried? My dad takes Jay’s hand and shakes it firmly.

“She’s a very special woman,” he says seriously. “You’d do well to take good care of her.”

It’s almost a thinly-veiled threat. But it’s one Jay takes just as seriously, in his stride. He nods once, his hand still connected with Dad’s.

“With everything I have, Sir. Katy is the most important thing in the world to me.”

Dad nods once, his hard gaze softening.

“As she should be.” He releases Jay’s hand and his eyes drop to the panting, tail-wagging boy sat patiently at Jay’s feet.

“And who on earth is this young pup?”

“This is Pup!” I exclaim. I squat to release the leash from Pup’s harness. Pup executes a full-body shake, almost knocking himself off-balance with the force of it. “Pupperoni is our Hero Pup. Well, he’s Jay’s Hero Pup—but he’s our puppy.” Dad’s eyes soften further, and he adjusts his trouser legs as he squats slowly. I glance up to find Jay already deep in conversation with my mum, smiling down at me with a dopey grin on his face. I beam up at him indulgently.

“May I?” Dad asks. I nod. He holds out a hand for Pup to sniff and he licks it experimentally.

“Go ahead. He’s a service dog, but he’s our puppy. He’s at home with his family now. He’s off duty.”

Dad swipes a hand between Pup’s ears, giving them a little scratch, and Pup yips excitedly. Dad belly-laughs.

“You’re gonna be a grandpa’s boy. Don’t tell Grandma.” He winks at Pup, who yips again, and then he stands, offering me a hand. Jay immediately wraps an arm around my waist as I stand to my full height, which admittedly isn’t especially tall. At over six feet, Jay is a whole foot taller than me and he towers over both of my parents, too.

“Let’s get out of the doorway,” Mum suggests with a laugh. “Katy, I’ve got some more of those sausages in the fridge. Why don’t we have lunch outside? Dad can cook them on the barbecue.”

Pup whines excitedly at the mention of sausages.

“Don’t worry, I think I have some plain ones for my baby grand-dog.” Mum pulls a comically sneering face at Dad, and it’s clear there’s another of their games afoot. My parents appear to in a very serious—and yet not serious at all—competition to see who can win Pup’s affection first. I tip my head back and laugh. Jay leans in to kiss my temple as Pup follows my parents into the house, spinning in circles as he chases along after them.

Lunch is full of laughter and good food. The sausages Mum bought are the same ones we ate on my last visit: a Spanish style from the local butcher, prime belly pork with fresh red peppers, mint, plenty of garlic, and just a hint of chilli. Mum unearths a small steak she’d hidden in the fridge and Dad grumbles good-naturedly as he cooks it on the barbecue. He and Jay are getting along better than I ever imagined. If I weren’t such a daddy’s girl, I’d wonder if Dad likes Jay more than he likes me.

Between the fresh steak, the excitement of new people, and all the new and exciting smells and sounds, poor Pup is tuckered out, and after a few minutes of sniffing around the living room, he curls up at Mum’s feet for a snooze. Dad lost the challenge to become Pup’s favourite, and he grumbles a little more before settling down for his own nap, holding Mum’s hand in the space between their armchairs.

James Keller is a simp for his wife, and Liz Keller would do anything for her husband. It’s a perfect marriage. Their gentle, wholehearted love has been my frame of reference for my whole life, and it’s the kind of love I only ever dreamed of. Until now. I grab Jay’s hand and lead him to the door.

“Come on, let’s walk down to the beach. Pup will be fine.”

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