Page 71 of The Boathouse By the Loch

David continued giving Olive a fuss. ‘Yes. I’m going to get her a puppy.’

‘A dog?’ said Doris.

David grinned. ‘Oh, yes. She loves Olive.’

‘You’re going to get an Old English Sheepdog?’ asked Gayle.

‘Well, I don’t know what breed yet. Then I was thinking I actually haven’t taken her out on the boat. I’ve got a small wooden rowing boat. The weather has been amazing. I also thought how she’s kind of not into driving, really. I thought she might like a bike to cycle on the footpaths in the forest.’

‘You could both get a bike,’ suggested Doris.

Gayle leaned forward in her chair. ‘Actually, I think you’re on to something. You know, decorating is kind of what she does for a living. It’d be nice if there were things she could do, you could do together, that had nothing to do with work. In fact, when was the last time you two took a holiday?’

‘A holiday? We’ve only been together since Christmas.’

Gayle said, ‘But it’s July! That’s a lot of months with no break from work, from your usual routine.’

‘You’re right, Gayle. But I don’t think Robyn wants to go anywhere else. She loves it here. And besides, I’m meant to betrying to make her feel settled in the boathouse. Taking her away on holiday isn’t going to help, is it?’

Gayle grinned. ‘So, you know what you need to do.’

David scratched his head.

‘Have a holiday closer to home. In fact, in your new home together.’

‘In the boathouse?’

‘Yes – why not? Spend some time together there. You mentioned your boat, and getting bikes. Then there’s this puppy. You’ll both want to be around if you’re getting a new family member.’

‘You know, I think you’re on to something.’ David thought it was a fantastic idea, but he could already see a problem.

Gayle sighed. ‘What is it?’

‘She’s got so much work on, what with her outlet in my dad’s store, and all the other work she’s taken on lately.

‘I’m sure Annie will mind the store. It’s the summer holidays. She doesn’t have to do the school run. And Evie loves spending time with her mum at the shop, so she won’t mind going there while Joe is at work. Robyn’s other commitments will just have to wait for a week or two. Everyone deserves a holiday.’

‘But what about my dad? I’m still working at the store doing deliveries.’

‘Alec works part-time at the store as a Saturday job. I hear he’s passed his driving test. Off to university in September. I’m sure he could do with the extra money from working more hours over the summer break.’

David smiled at Gayle. ‘I think you’ve got everything covered.’

‘Not quite.’

‘What are you thinking?’

‘About your puppy …’

‘You don’t think it’s a good idea?’

‘Oh, on the contrary. It’s an excellent idea, but I was thinking …’

David knitted his brow. ‘Yes?’

‘Robyn threw a lovely party for me to celebrate the opening of Lark Lodge as a guesthouse.’

David thought back to the garden party at Lark Lodge. Robyn had even hired a marquee for the garden, just in case it rained, but that day in June had been all sunshine and blue skies. She couldn’t have picked a better day. ‘So, what are you suggesting?’

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