Page 99 of The Good Boy

“What are you, the dog police?” the bloke says, but his bravado is wearing thin.

“Yes,” Rory says, and this time he flexes his muscles, broadens his chest to show his power. “Yes, where you are concerned, I am the dog police. I don’t want to fight, I don’t like fighting, Andy. I am a peaceful guy. But I am pretty sure that if I make one call, we’d find out you are in violation of an order that will cost you a lot of money in fines, and might even see you go inside.”

“So... what?” Andy looks around, his eyes darting back and forth, searching for a way out of the crowd.

“Give Mabel to me, and I’ll let you go,” Rory says, holding his hand out for the lead.

“Yeah, give the dog police Mabel and we’ll let you go,” someone else in the crowd shouts in support. Other people voice their approval of the idea too. Looking around I realize it’s not just Rory, me, and Miles that care about Mabel. It’s everyone here. Everyone here is ready to stick up for that sweet girl. But it’s Rory that’s standing his ground.

“You bloody what?” Andy shouts. “What do you think gives you lot the right to tell me how to treat my property?”

“Haven’t you heard?” a lady with a baguette in one hand, and a lovely cuddly Doberman on a lead in the other, says. “We are a nation of dog lovers.”

“Give Mabel to me, Andy,” Rory says, his tone calm but powerful.

Andy looks around, and he finally realizes that he is not leaving the beach with Mabel. Not when all these people are determined to stop him. He hands the lead to Rory and tries to walk away.

“One more thing.” Rory’s voice stops him in his tracks. “If you ever try and keep any other animal again, and I mean any animal, I will know. And I will come and find you. Are we clear?”

“Fuck’s sake. I don’t bloody care, more bother than they’re worth,” Andy says. He tries to leave but Rory steps in front of him.

“Are we clear?” Rory repeats, slowly.

“Fine, yes, we are clear.” Andy cowers. “Can I go now... Please?”

Rory thinks for a moment.

“No, I have one more thing to say.”

“What’s that?” Andy asks, eyes down.

“I forgive you, Andy.”

“What?” Andy glances at him.

“You had a rescue golden retriever; you made his life a misery. And I want you to know that I forgive you for that. And that you don’t frighten me anymore. I realize now that you are nothing to be afraid of, and all of that, it’s in the past. It’s never going to happen again, because I’ve changed. And I’m stronger now. Forgiving you isn’t about making you feel better, it’s about setting myself free from that hurt. And that, Andy, is the best thing about being a human. If you wanted to, you could change too.”

“Like I give a fuck what you think.”

Shaking his head Rory steps aside and Andy hurries away a few steps before turning back.

“Thanks,” Andy says.

The crowd claps and congratulates Rory, moving around him, patting his back, shaking his hand. I lose sight of him for a second and then there he is, crouched down with his arms around Mabel.

“Rory!” Tears fill my eyes as I sink on the sand in front of him, flinging one arm around him and one arm around Mabel. “You were amazing.”

Laughing, Miles joins us.

“Seriously, mate, you were so cool,” he says, stroking Mabel’shead gently. She leans into his hand with her broad head, glad of a kind touch. A tremor of worry trembling down her back.

“You’re okay, Mabel,” Miles tells her, his voice low and gentle. “You are safe now and so are all your pups. We are going to look after you.”

Later, much later, after another trip to the vet to visit Matilda and get Mabel checked over, we are home. All of us, even Matilda, whom the vet let come home since she was doing so well, even if she does hate her murder cone. I’m nervous for a second when I open the front door, but I don’t need to be.

Rory walks into the front room; grabbing Diego he takes his seat on the sofa and gives Matilda a long look.

“I suppose you are okay for a cat,” he says. She turns her back on him, which I think might be the closest we will ever get to her acknowledging that he’s not that bad either. Mabel is hesitant, standing in the doorway looking warily around, but after a few moments Rory gets down from the sofa and sits on the floor. Mabel comes and sits next to him, and he puts his arm around her. Slowly Mabel leans into him and sinks to the floor. This is my new family.

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