Page 21 of All Wrapped Up
‘One hundred per cent,’ he pledged. ‘Every spare minute I have, is yours, Clemmie. The festival’s, I mean…’
‘Well, that settles it then.’ I smiled. ‘We’re kicking everything off with a planning meeting in the pub Wednesday night. I’ve only met a few people so far, so it would be great to have you there for some moral support. Will you be able to make it?’
‘Of course.’
‘Fantastic.’
‘And, as that’s so soon now, we’d better start coming up with some ideas. From what I can remember, Moses hadn’t got any further than having pumpkins take centre stage but we’re going to need more than that if we’re going to make a success of it and have an entire season’s worth of celebrating.’
‘We’re going to needloadsmore and don’t worry, because I’ve already made a start,’ I told him, pointing at the notebook on the table next to my chair. ‘I’ve got a few suggestions to offer that I think should work.’
‘Okay, let’s hear them then,’ said Ash, making himself comfier in the chair.
My tummy gave the loudest rumble as I reached to pick the notebook up and my mind flitted to the salmon and salad in the kitchen. I could easily double the salad and I’d steamed two salmon fillets to have one in a different dish the next day.
‘Ash, I don’t suppose you fancy staying for dinner, do you?’ I offered, before I could overthink it. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d shared a meal with someone and issuing the invitation felt like another leap forward. ‘Unless you’ve already got plans?’
‘No plans,’ Ash smiled, ‘and thank you, I’ll happily stay, but on one condition.’
‘Which is?’ I cautiously asked.
‘That you’ll rethink your opinion about hound rehoming.’
He nodded at Pixie who was still fast asleep on my lap. It felt so comfortable with her there and she was the perfect fit.
‘Well,’ I said, as I looked down at her. ‘I’m not sure—’
‘Just think about it,’ Ash said softly. ‘Please, because I haven’t seen her as content as this for a single second since she’s been in my care.’
‘Well, all right,’ I relented, ‘I’ll think about it, but please don’t go getting your hopes up. Or hers.’
‘I’ll try not to.’ Ash smiled. ‘But the two of you do look made for each other.’
If only he knew.
Chapter 6
By the time Ash and Pixie left that evening, I was shocked to discover that I was genuinely, and surprisingly, wavering about taking the little dog on. She had pottered about the cottage and out in the garden, finding the water bowl and making herself at home just as naturally as she’d settled on my lap and as if she’d always lived with me.
Ash said repeatedly that he hadn’t seen her looking so relaxed in all of the time he’d known her and even though someone else might have assumed that he could have been saying that to try and influence me, I knew he wasn’t. He loved Pixie too much to risk her future happiness on a whim.
For some reason, the little dog had felt comfortable around me and in return, I had been relaxed around her, too. However, in spite of the fact that I was fast falling for the little scruffy black and tan bundle, I told Ash that I wouldn’t make a decision about potentially moving her in until after the first autumn festival meeting.
‘If I find myself inundated with planning and prepping after that,’ I pointed out, ‘I won’t have time to commit to settling her and that’s not fair on her, is it?’
I ignored the fact that as I was saying the words, Pixie was cosily snuggled up in my favourite armchair and didn’t look as though she’d need much, indeed any, coddling. I also tried not to be swayed by the words from Callum’s last note. Pixie certainly had the potential to be a very lovely thing that could come as a result of taking a risk, but I needed to take her needs seriously and give them further consideration.
‘And of course, I’d have to leave her here on her own while I’m setting things up in town sometimes,’ I added, as much to convince myself as Ash that rushing a response would be the wrong thing to do, ‘and she might not like that.’
‘I think if you left her in that chair, she wouldn’t budge.’ Ash grinned. ‘And I can tell you, her previous owner was a very sociable woman, so I’m sure Pixie would soon get used to going out and about with you. It’s not like she doesn’t know the town or the people in it and having the cottage to come back to with you after a trip out, would make all the difference.’
‘That’s not helpful,’ I grumbled.
‘Just giving you all the facts,’ Ash laughed and gently picked Pixie up. ‘I’ll see you in the pub on Wednesday.’
‘See you Wednesday,’ I said as I opened the door to let him out.
‘And thanks for dinner.’
