Page 28 of All Wrapped Up
‘Come on!’ I called, when she started to show a rather too keen interest in the feeders hanging off the bird table and I felt a few heavy spots of rain. ‘Time to go back in.’
The utility and kitchen floor was covered in wet little footprints within seconds of closing the back door and I quickly realised what the towels Ash had included in Pixie’s bag were for.
‘Stand still then,’ I laughed, as I attempted to dry her feet and she scampered about and tried to lick my face.
Her tail was working like a rudder and I was relieved to find that she had accepted her unexpected sleepover with such good grace. That said, we hadn’t tried to sleep yet… She wasn’t keen on the mop I washed the floors with and retreated to my armchair, where we later whiled away the afternoon curled up under a fleecy blanket and watched bothSleepless in SeattleandYou’ve Got Mail.
‘Ash,’ I yawned, when my phone woke me from a nap I hadn’t expected to take, and I saw his number on the screen of my phone.
I’d got a stiff arm thanks to Pixie’s dead weight laying on it but I didn’t mind that, because it had been cosy to cuddle and I was very much enjoying her company. Had she not been visiting, I daresay I would have still been dug deep into the fug I’d fallen into as a result of the failed festival meeting, but having her to consider had pulled focus away from me and my woes and embarrassment, and I was both mindful and appreciative of that.
‘Clemmie?’
‘Sorry,’ I apologised, stretching a bit as Pixie jumped down, then headed for the kitchen. ‘I was asleep. How are you getting on? How’s your nan?’
I heard Pixie bark and got up to see what she wanted. The pins and needles in my legs, which had been curled under me, made walking agony and I was pleased there was no one there to see me as I hobbled along.
‘Was that Pixie?’ Ash asked.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I think she wants to go out.’
She was certainly looking very pointedly at the back door. I opened it for her and she dashed off.
‘She’ll always let you know,’ Ash said. ‘Are you getting on okay?’
‘Yes, we’re absolutely fine. We’ve just had a lovely nap. But what about you?’ I asked again.
‘Better than expected,’ he happily said.
‘Thank goodness.’
‘Nan’s definitely had a stroke, but it’s quite a mild one.’
‘That’s a relief.’
‘It really is. Mum was in a flap, not surprisingly, when she phoned, but the prognosis is looking good and as soon as Nan’s up to it and her consultant is happy, she’s going to move in with Mum and Dad. It’s something they’ve been talking about for a while and they’ve got this little annexe at the side of the house, which is where I was living before I moved to Wynbridge, so that will be perfect for her.’
‘Well,’ I said, as I considered everything he’d shared. ‘I’m sorry it’s happened at all, obviously, but I’m pleased everything is going to work out and that you were able to get there so quickly.’
‘It would have been a nightmare with Pixie,’ he told me, ‘so I really do appreciate you taking her at such short notice.’
‘It was my pleasure and don’t give us another thought,’ I told him, as Pixie trotted back in with wet paws again and I realised I should have put the towel down for her to walk over. ‘We’re having a wonderful time.’
‘That’s a weight off my mind,’ he said, then had to go.
I was pleased to have heard from him and even more pleased that the outcome for his nan was sounding so positive. I wasn’t quite so pleased about the state of my floors, however, as Pixie chose that moment to skitter about and shake and made even more of a muddy mess.
That evening, I felt a little apprehensive as bedtime approached, but it all turned out fine. I had made a vague attempt to settle Pixie in her bed, but didn’t stop her when she jumped out and followed me up the stairs to my room. She had soon snuggled down next to me and my only complaint was thatshe was a bit of a snorer, but she didn’t hog the bed or scamper about in the night, so I soon forgave her that.
In fact, when I woke with sunlight streaming through the bedroom curtains, I realised I must have quickly tuned her snuffling out and that I’d enjoyed the best and longest night’s sleep I’d had in years.
‘Good morning, my friend,’ I smiled, when I opened my eyes and found her looking intently at me. ‘Are you all right?’
Her head dropped on to her paws and she let out a little whimper.
‘Oh, Pixie.’ I swallowed. ‘It’s okay.’
I had a horrible feeling that she had just experienced something I myself had been through many times before, though thankfully, not recently. In the time since Callum had died, I’d lost count of the number of mornings I’d woken and just for a second, I had forgotten that he was gone. The agony of then remembering what had happened was awful and it was my guess that Pixie had opened her eyes and recalled what had happened to her and her owner, too.
