Page 29 of All Wrapped Up
‘It will get easier,’ I said, leaning over and kissing her wiry head. ‘You will feel better one day and for more than just a few minutes and then a few hours at a time. I promise.’
She huffed out a breath, but didn’t move.
‘Come on,’ I said, sitting up. ‘Let’s go and greet the day.’
It was, in part, the little things that had saved my sanity. The dishes that had to be cleared, the laundry that had to be washed. The domestic tasks had given me routine and occupation and I hoped that letting Pixie into the garden and then giving her some breakfast might help distract her.
‘Hello, Mum. Hey, Dad,’ I said a while later, with Pixielooking much happier and balanced on my lap, so she could clearly be seen on the screen.
I had decided to bite the bullet and tell my parents that there had been an unexpected change of plan and that the event I had said I was going to be involved with in town was now a non-starter. I was probably making more of the explan-ation than was necessary, but I knew they had both been worried about what I was going to do now the cottage renovation was complete and had therefore taken the opportunity to rope Pixie in to help.
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Mum gasped, the moment she saw her, which was exactly the reaction I had been hoping to elicit.
‘Who’s that little cutie?’ Dad joined in, moving closer to the screen.
‘This,’ I said, kissing the top of Pixie’s head and receiving a chin lick in return, ‘is my pal, Pixie.’
‘Hello, Pixie.’ Mum beamed.
‘Is she yours?’ asked Dad.
‘No,’ I said. ‘She’s not mine. I’m dog-sitting for a friend. She’ll be going home later.’ That was something else I wasn’t keen on. I was going to miss her padding about the place and muddying it up. ‘I thought you might like to say hello before she gets picked up.’
‘We like that very much,’ said Dad.
‘No wonder I haven’t been able to get hold of you,’ said Mum, assuming that I had been preoccupied with Pixie for the last few days.
I didn’t correct her and it occurred to me that Pixie was providing both a distractionandconfirmation that I had friendsin the Fens. You’d have to know someone pretty well to ask them to look after your dog. Ash might have been desperate for help, rather than having been my friend for months, but Mum and Dad didn’t know that and actually, I was pleased Ash had called on me in his hour of need. It was nice to feel trusted.
‘She’s certainly kept me on my toes.’ I smiled, as I kissed her again.
‘And what about this big town event?’ Mum asked. ‘Is that keeping you busy, too?’
Pixie chose that moment to jump down and wander off, but I didn’t mind because she’d got the call off to a great start.
‘Sadly not,’ I sighed. ‘It’s now been decided that there’s not enough people available to support it. Health and safety and all that, so it isn’t going to happen.’
That was one way of putting it. Definitely a creative and positive spin on the truth.
‘Oh, no,’ said Mum. ‘That’s such a shame.’
‘I’m really sorry about that, love,’ added Dad.
‘Yes.’ I swallowed. ‘I’m sorry, too. I was rather looking forward to it.’
I gave my ideas notebook a cursory look and realised that as well as still smarting over what Jason the jeerer had put me through, I was upset that what could have been a wonderful celebration of autumn, wasn’t going to be happening, either.
‘Will you still want us to come down?’ asked Mum.
‘Absolutely,’ I said, without hesitation. ‘I miss you guys and I can’t wait to show you all of the finishing touches I’ve given to the cottage.’
They both looked delighted about that.
‘And this time,’ laughed Dad, ‘because I won’t be up to my ears in plasterboard and grout, there might be time and opportunity for you to introduce us to your friends.’
‘And Pixie!’ Mum added.
Pixie ran back over to me at the sound of her name and I scooped her up again and knocked over the phone.
