Page 79 of The Boathouse By the Loch

Gayle smiled. ‘Perfect. As soon as you’ve set a date, let me know and I’ll ask him.’

‘Ask who?’ Robyn was walking down the stairs, and caught the tail end of the conversation.

Talk about déjà vu, thought David, thinking of earlier that morning when he’d nipped down first while she was blow-drying her hair. He turned to her. ‘Oh, never mind. Look, Gayle is going to fetch some writing paper and a pen so you can write your letter. We’ll stop off in Aviemore and get a stamp, and post it.’

‘Oh, okay. Do I have to write it now? Why don’t we go back to the boathouse?’

‘But where will we get a stamp?’

‘On the way through Aviemore, like you said.’

‘But when will you post it? I was rather hoping we could spend our week at the boathouse without venturing out.’

‘Ah.’

Gayle and David exchanged a glance. Robyn was clearly putting it off.

Gayle opened a kitchen drawer and handed her a notepad, pen and envelope. ‘Go sit in the study, why don’t you?’

David mouthedthank youto Gayle. Robyn left her handbag with David and walked across the hallway to the study door. She glanced at them briefly before walking inside and closing the door.

Gayle walked back to the washing up. David followed, pickingup a dry tea towel and wiping up the dishes.

Gayle said, ‘Now, I’ve got a favour to ask you.’

‘Anything, Gayle.’

‘I went to do Rose’s hair the other day.’

‘David smiled at the mention of her name. He knew Rose and George, the retired couple, who had sold their old house in Aviemore and moved into a new-build on the development where Nick worked as the site manager. They had been Robyn’s first clients. They had been the start of her business when she had changed their bare, soulless estate house into a cosy home.

‘Well, the thing is,’ continued Gayle, ‘a dear friend of theirs, a widower, has gone to live in a home, but he can’t take his pet with him. In his case, a dog.’

‘A dog?’

‘Yes. His son has taken the dog for now, but he’s got a family, and they are far too busy with work to take care of a pet. The thing is, he really doesn’t want to send it to a dog shelter if he can get it rehomed. Unfortunately, Rose and George can’t take the dog. They’re far too busy socialising, and besides, they said it wouldn’t be fair for him to go to another elderly couple.’

David nodded. ‘They’re fit and healthy right now, but I see their point. They wouldn’t want him to have to be rehomed again because they become too infirm to look after him.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Gayle. ‘I’d love to take Percy, and although he’d really be no bother, that would mean two dogs living at the guesthouse. I’ve got to think of my guests.’

‘Hold on. Is this favour you’re asking to do with the dog?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you asking me to take the dog?’

‘Oh, god no. But I was wondering about Duncan …’

‘My dad?’

Gayle nodded. ‘He’s on his own now, living in the flat above the shop, and he must be lonely up there … I know a flat isn’t necessarily ideal for a dog, but Percy isn’t a puppy who needs house-training. Puppies are hard work, a bit like having a baby. He just needs two walks a day, somebody to make a fuss of him, and he’ll be no bother during the day when Duncan is at work. I’m sure he’ll just doze in a corner like Olive does when she visits Robyn’s outlet in Duncan’s store.’ Gayle looked at him hopefully.

David shook his head. ‘We’ve already suggested to my dad that he could get a pet, a dog for some company, but he said no. And besides, he won’t have dogs in his shop around food. He’s worried it will put off his customers.’

‘But what about Olive?’

‘Olive stays in Robyn’s side of the shop.’

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