Page 37 of All Wrapped Up
It had been delicious, but strong and I didn’t think I should have more.
‘As lovely as this one was,’ I therefore said, as I handed him back the empty mug, ‘I’m going to say no, otherwise I’ll never sleep tonight.’
‘You’re right,’ Ash agreed, having looked at the clock on the wall. ‘It is rather late to be having another. Can I get you something else?’
‘No,’ I said. ‘I really should get back soon, but before I do, there is something else I’d like to discuss.’
I looked down at Pixie who had somehow stealthily moved to snuggle so close to my side that she was practically melded to me. Ash followed my line of sight.
‘I’m about to lose my little companion, aren’t I?’ he asked, sounding endearingly emotional.
‘If that’s all right,’ I said softly.
‘It’s more than all right,’ he smiled. ‘It’s perfect in fact, because I’d already made up my mind, and so had Pixie, that she was going to go to no one else but you.’
‘Really?’
‘Really. Her heart is yours, Clemmie.’
‘Oh, Ash.’ I swallowed, feeling equally as emotional.
‘You’re going to be very happy together.’
‘Do you really think so?’ I whispered.
‘Given that you said earlier that you’ve got so much in common,’ he said, making my eyes snap up to meet his, ‘I think your happiness is guaranteed.’
He didn’t ask me to explain anything and I was very grateful for that. We agreed that he would drop Pixie off at mine the following morning because it was late in the day for me to take her and settle her in then.
Given that I was going to be in need of a distraction ahead of the festival meeting, I thought the timing was perfect. A day settling Pixie into her new home would stop me fretting and faffing and hopefully she’d be okay to be left home alone when Ash and I headed into town to meet my fate. Or fete… depending on your point of view.
I had been worried when I first started to seriously consider taking her on, that settling her inandrunning the festival would be too much, but knowing that she’d previously been a town regular and could sometimes join me, had helped me decide that I could cope and that she wouldn’t find the busyness too stressful as she adapted to her new life.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ I happily sighed as I got ready to leave.
‘We’ll see you bright and early,’ Ash said, sounding equally as happy, even though I knew he was going to miss having Pixie around.
‘Bright and early it is, then,’ I said, dropping a kiss on Pixie’s head. ‘And thank you, Ash.’
‘No,’ he said, ‘thank you.’
Chapter 10
I was up bright and exceptionally early the following morning and as I wandered around the garden, with my first cup of tea of the day as was my usual habit, I could feel a definite change in the air as a result of the rain and wind from the few days before.
During the height of summer, there had been some occasions when this had been the only time I ventured out into the garden during the day because the August heat had soon turned oppressive, but now, in the second week of September, I needed a light cardigan to stave off the early chill and I enjoyed the sensation of that.
Having taken and posted a stunning photograph of the sunrise on AutumnEverything, I went back inside the cottage and turned my attention to making it Pixie ready, ahead of her stately arrival. Not that I needed to do anything much. Finding a few more towels to put in the utility room, which would be stored there with the sole purpose of drying her muddy paws when the weather turned inclement again, was the only real necessity.
By seven thirty, I was all set and when my phone pinged, Isnatched it up, but it wasn’t a message from Ash, it was Lizzie. She wanted to check that I was ready for the meeting that evening and to say that she appreciated that I had commented on the post that had been added – and this time, not sabotaged – to the Wynbridge community page online. Given the number of responses the post had already received, I had a feeling that by the end of the evening, I might possibly be eating my former words about Lizzie overestimating the interest in the autumn festival!
The sound of Ash’s truck horn on the drove had me typing a super speedy message in reply and then rushing to the door to welcome my new best friend. Or should that have been, friends?
‘Here we are then,’ announced Ash as he jumped out and walked around to the passenger side where Pixie was sitting on the seat, strapped into her travelling harness. ‘Are you ready for her?’
‘As ready as I’ll ever be,’ I said, feeling a sudden rush of nerves.
It was gratifying to see Pixie respond so positively to the sound of my voice and she practically leapt from Ash’s arms into mine when he lifted her out. I hoped I was going to be able to look after her as well as her original owner had because she certainly seemed keen to be back with me at Rowan Cottage.
