Page 80 of The Boathouse By the Loch

Gayle sighed. ‘I guess Percy will have to go to the local shelter to be rehomed. Such a shame. He’s only three years old. Apparently, they told their parents not to get another dog when their old dog died, but would they listen?’ Gayle shook her head sadly. ‘This is exactly what they could foresee, apparently. That not too long down the road, their aged parents would have to give him up.’

David sighed too. ‘That’s just sad.’

‘Yeah.’

David furrowed his brow. ‘You said puppies are hard work.’

‘That’s right. Chances are that the first few nights in their strange new house they will cry, then there will be the dilemma of whether you bring puppy into your bedroom, or leave him downstairs. Then, of course, there will be several trips to the toilet in the night.’

‘Pardon?’

‘You know, they’re still little, and can’t hold themselves the night, they have to be taken outside in the cold and dark to do their business. They’ll probably need paper training too, just so they don’t go all over your nice hardwood—’

David held up his hand for her to stop.

‘Floors,’ concluded Gayle.

David gave her a sideways glance, and lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘Are you trying to put me off my idea of getting Robyn a puppy?’

‘Of course not. I haven’t put you off – have I?’

‘No, I’m not put off getting a dog. But a puppy … I hadn’t thought through the reality.’

‘I imagine most people don’t, and they get a bit of a shock when they bring a puppy home.’ Gayle’s face lit up. ‘Now, adopting an adult dog is a whole other ball game. Already toilet-trained. No accidents indoors. Comes with all their bits and bobs, like bed, blanket, and toys.’

David stared at Gayle. ‘What sort of breed is Percy?’

‘A beagle. Very sweet boy. Rose showed me a photo. He is rather fond of water, apparently. Loves a good splash around. Now, if his new family happened to live near water, in, oh … I don’t know, a boathouse …’ Gayle grinned. ‘He loves long forest walks and swimming, but he’s equally content cosying up to you on the sofa in the evening. Does he sound like a pet made in heaven, or what?’

David eyed her. ‘You’re doing a very good job of persuading me to consider taking Percy on.’

‘Am I?’ Gayle said innocently. ‘You know, you’d be giving Percy, who has lost his home through no fault of his own, anotherchance. I think Robyn would like that too, the thought that she’d rehomed a dog.’

Gayle wiped her hands dry on the dishcloth in David’s hands and took out her phone from the back pocket of her jeans. ‘Shall I call Rose? Check Percy still needs rehoming?’

David replied, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’

Chapter 27

Robyn emerged from the study across the hall and walked into the kitchen. ‘What are you two looking so pleased about?’

David exchanged a smile with Gayle and pointed at the letter. ‘All done and ready to post?’

‘I think so.’

Neither of them asked what exactly she’d written to Judith. Gayle was just relieved she’d finally written the letter. It was something she had been putting off.

Gayle hoped that spending time with David at the boathouse, and inviting her mother to stay, would help Robyn settle there – for both their sakes. But what Marty had overheard – Robyn on the phone in the bedroom soon after she’d arrived, saying she would return to London as soon as she could – was troubling. Gayle had told Marty she’d speak to Robyn and find out what was going on, but just then, it didn’t seem a good time to try.

She looked from Robyn to David. With all these plans in place – having a holiday, spending time in the boathouse, and inviting Robyn’s mum – Gayle hoped that whatever was really pulling her back to London – and she had a feeling it was more than simply work – would be put on the backburner for good.

‘You did tell your mum you want her to come and stay with us at the boathouse?’

Robyn said, ‘Yes, I told her. I even wrote our address in the letter, and told her I’m engaged, and that I’m living in a boathouse.’

‘Wow.’ David was taken aback. ‘You told her everything in your letter, then?’

‘Not everything.’

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