Page 28 of Chasing Dreams at Wagging Tails Dogs' Home

‘I’ll fish out the photos when we get back to the cottage.’ Flora pulled her even closer, her mouth right next to her ear. ‘And, more importantly, just because you didn’t enjoy Christmas in the past, it doesn’t mean you can’t learn to enjoy it now. Look around you.’ She waved her hand, encompassing the sleigh in front of them; West Par’s Christmas lights strung from lamppost to lamppost illuminating a warm glow beneath them, trees decorated with warm yellow lights the perfect addition to the magic; Percy grinning and waving whilst the volunteer elves ran from door to door collecting coins; parents hurrying to the end of their front gardens, children in their arms or jumping up and down spellbound by the ‘Santa’ in front of them.

Poppy sighed. ‘However beautiful it all is, it doesn’t change the fact that my long-term relationship has just ended. I’m basically homeless and my life has been turned upside down.’

‘Maybe your life needed turning upside down.’ Flora tilted her head and shrugged.

‘Great. Thanks.’ She raised an eyebrow. No sympathy from her aunt then.

‘I’m being serious. You were unhappy. Every time your mum rang me, she’d tell me about some drama or other you were having with Ben and when you managed to ring me, you didn’t sound happy either.’

‘Sorry, I should have been in touch more. I hardly called you before all of this and now I’ve just turned up to stay.’ Poppy turned to thank a young boy who had run up to place some money in her bucket before looking back at her aunt.

‘Don’t be daft. That’s not what I meant. It’s wonderful having you here. But it’s true. You weren’t happy. I know it’s easy to look back with rose-tinted glasses, but you need to remember it was a mutual decision between the two of you to call it a day. That’s not to mean you weren’t – and aren’t – entitled to feel upset, of course you are, but you do need to remember that you made that huge, scary leap for a reason and now you have a blank canvas to restart your life, the way you want it. The way you deserve. And you can start by learning to enjoy Christmas.’

‘Flora…’ Ginny called from where she was walking next to Darryl, who was holding part of the string of fairy lights, just behind the sleigh.

‘Oops, looks as though the lights are trying to escape. Think about what I said.’ Flora kissed Poppy on the cheek quickly before rushing off to join Ginny and Darryl, already wielding a roll of tape in her hand.

Poppy glanced around her. She had to admit the atmosphere was magical. All the people here collecting, even the tractor driver had given up his time to come together and raise money for Wagging Tails. And if that wasn’t enough, it was obvious that their presence, Percy’s presence, was bringing joy to the community.

Was Aunt Flora right? Could she really come out of all this upheaval happier? Poppy shook her head. It did seem impossible at the moment. She still had to communicate with Ben while they sorted the sale of their house, and until that was all finalised, could she really move on with her life? She was still paying some of the mortgage as he couldn’t afford to pay all of it. Until the house was sold, she didn’t really have much of a choice but to stay stuck. Stuck on some infinite treadmill, running but going nowhere. Stuck because she couldn’t financially move on. Heck, once last month’s wage from the supply agency had gone, that would be it. And it was whittling down fast, what with her mortgage payment and the train ticket and taxi fare to West Par.

‘Merry Christmas! Can I come and collect with you, please?’

Shaking her thoughts away, Poppy looked down and smiled at the boy who was tugging on her coat sleeve. ‘Umm, well, I don’t know. Are you allowed to?’

‘Yes, I am. My biggest brother said I could, and he’s super old.’ The young boy, who must have been barely six or seven, pulled his navy bobble hat lower over his ears. ‘He’s over there.’

Poppy squinted into the darkness and looked across to where the boy was pointing. In the darkness, she could just about make out the silhouette of someone waving. ‘Okay then. Do you want to hold the bucket?’

‘Yes please.’ The boy gripped the bucket in one hand and slipped his other hand into hers, pulling her across onto the path through someone’s front garden towards a couple who were waving towards the sleigh, an excitable spaniel at their heels. ‘We’re collecting for the little dogs. Can you give us some money, please?’

Poppy stifled a laugh before adding, ‘We’re raising money for Wagging Tails Dogs’ Home.’

‘Of course. One moment.’ The woman disappeared inside the house before coming out with her purse and shaking the coins into the bucket. ‘Here you are. You do an amazing job. We got our Tyler from the home this summer and couldn’t be happier.’

‘Oh really? Well, thank you. It looks as though he couldn’t be happier either.’ Kneeling down, Poppy fussed the little dog behind his ears and his yapping was quickly replaced with the beating of his tail against the wooden hall flooring. ‘He’s beautiful.’

‘We think so.’ The man grinned.

‘We need to go and get more money now, don’t we, Poppy?’ The boy gripped hold of her hand again, pulling her away. ‘Bye!’

‘Thank you and Merry Christmas.’ Poppy waved at the couple. When they were back in the procession, she turned to the boy. ‘What’s your name, by the way?’

‘Spencer.’

‘And how do you know my name, Spencer?’

But Spencer didn’t answer as he was distracted again, pointing excitedly to the large tree in the middle of the village square. ‘Look, look, we’re almost at the Christmas tree! Quick, let’s go and get more people to give us their money,’ he said, before yanking Poppy towards another house.

15

‘Hello, Spencer, lovely. I didn’t know you were helping us tonight.’ Flora wrapped her hands around a takeaway mug.

‘Yes, my brother said I could… I’ve been helping Poppy.’ He rattled the bucket.

‘Well, thank you very much. That’s very kind of you. And I think that calls for a mince pie, don’t you?’ She held her hand out for Spencer to take.

‘Urgh, I don’t like mince pies. I might when I’m old, though. My brother said I would when I grow up, but I don’t think I will…’ Spencer took hold of her hand, still gripping the bucket in his other one. ‘There are fairy cakes on the stall. The lady Elsie from the bakery promised me she would bring some fairy cakes.’

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