Page 51 of Chasing Dreams at Wagging Tails Dogs' Home

‘Ah, look. That’s why.’ Flora nodded towards the window.

‘What?’ Turning around, Poppy grinned. It was snowing! Huge flakes of snow drifting down from the sky, dancing in the wind before settling onto the slabs in the courtyard. ‘Do you think it will settle?’

‘Possibly, it’s certainly cold enough for it to.’ Flora looked at the kitchen door as Alex stepped through.

‘Wow, it’s snowing!’ Alex ran to the door, without stopping to collect his coat, and stepped outside, staring up at the sky, his hands held out palms up to catch the flakes.

‘What’s going on?’ Ginny let the kitchen door close behind her as she wiped her mouth with a tissue. ‘Oh.’ She grinned as she spotted Alex outside before walking towards the door and calling him. ‘Are you not cold out there?’

Alex ran inside, stamping the snow off his trainers onto the doormat. ‘Freezing! But it had to be done, it’s snowing! Let’s hope it starts to settle.’

‘Umm, I hope not. I hate driving in the snow.’ Ginny grimaced. ‘Don’t get me wrong, I love it, just not when I have to drive.’

‘Ah, it’ll be okay. Think of all the people who live in Alaska and the cold countries. They manage just fine.’ Alex wiped his hands down the front of his hoodie.

‘Don’t they have winter tyres or different cars or something?’ Poppy asked.

‘No, not all of them. Most people’s cars are just the same. It’s more to do with the fact driving in the snow is second nature to them during the winter months. They have more practice. Plus, because it snows a lot, they’re driving on compacted snow. We usually have a day or two of snow before it starts to melt, which then freezes overnight, so we end up either trying to drive on ice or new snow with ice underneath.’ Flora shook her head. ‘Not a good combination.’

‘You should go and move to Alaska then, Ginny. You’ll be fine driving.’ Alex grinned.

‘Oi! Thanks very much! Are you trying to get rid of me?’ She held her hands up against her cheeks in mock-shock.

‘Always.’ Grinning, Alex ducked as Ginny threw her tissue at him. ‘Yuck! What’s on that?’

‘Mayonnaise. I’ve just had noodles for lunch.’

Narrowing his eyes, he picked up the offending tissue between the tips of his thumb and forefinger and shook it at her. ‘You’re disgusting. How can you eat mayonnaise with noodles? Mayonnaise is bad enough when it’s eaten with things it’s meant to be eaten with like chips or in sandwiches.’

‘Come on, you two, behave. We’ve got a visitor coming.’ Trying not to laugh, Flora nodded towards the window.

Looking up from where she was ticking Ralph’s name off on the Walk List, Poppy froze. It was Mack. What was he doing at Wagging Tails? And more importantly, how could she get out of here and quick without making it look as though she was avoiding him? Too late. The bell above the door tinkled as he stepped inside.

‘Afternoon, everyone.’

Keeping her eyes fixed on the list in front of her, Poppy tried to focus on the names. Who hadn’t been walked yet?

‘Afternoon, Mack. What can we do for you today?’ came Flora’s warm voice.

‘I’ve just come to drop off some medication for Eden.’ He placed a paper bag on the counter. ‘It’s the rest of the prescription for her painkillers. Sorry we didn’t have them all in when you last came, Ginny.’

‘No problem. And thank you for bringing them.’ Ginny took the bag.

‘Great.’ Mack shifted on his feet and suddenly she could feel his eyes on her. ‘Hi, Poppy.’

Looking up from the list, she met his gaze before decidedly glancing back down. ‘Afternoon.’

‘How are the roads around here?’ Ginny asked, shutting the bag of medication in the cupboard. ‘Has much snow settled yet?’

‘No, not really. It’s—’

‘Excuse me, please.’ Poppy needed to get outside, to get some air.

Hanging up the clipboard with the Walk List next to the hanging leads, she squeezed around the counter and headed for the door.

‘Sorry.’ Mack stepped aside as she brushed past him.

Reaching the front door, Poppy pulled it open just as Mack began to speak again, describing the effect the snow was having on the roads. She slipped through, shutting the door behind her, and thankfully, drowning out the sound of his voice. Pausing as the door closed with a click behind her, she pulled her gloves out of her pocket and put them on. She looked across the courtyard. Even in the short time since it had begun to snow, the large flakes were settling on the ground. What she was supposed to do now, she had no idea. Why hadn’t she escaped into the kennels? She’d have been warm there and could have just hidden, pretending to be busy checking on the dogs or refilling water bowls or something. Now she was stuck outside trying to think of something to do so she didn’t look as though she was just blanking Mack.

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