Page 63 of Chasing Dreams at Wagging Tails Dogs' Home

‘Good idea. I’ll draw up some Christmas cards to sell,' Alex suggested with a weak smile. ‘I know we’ve only got another few days until Christmas, but every little helps, right? We might get some sales… I bet this is why we’ve not got a Christmas tree here this year. I did wonder.’ He sighed dramatically.

Poppy gripped the edge of the table as more ideas came flooding out – Sally raising money through training sessions, Susan arranging a sponsored dog walk. She closed her eyes. Aunt Flora had all of these people surrounding her, people who cared both for her and the dogs they rescued. Why hadn’t she spoken to them earlier? Why had Aunt Flora buried the problem? Always worrying about others and never herself.

Poppy slumped back in her chair, a wave of sadness sweeping over her.

‘Poppy, love, you said you had a plan to pay off the debts?’ Percy asked. ‘I am more than happy to raise the cash.’ He patted her hand.

Poppy looked down at her nails, picking off the fresh nail varnish she’d applied days before and straightened her back. She wasn’t sure how the others would react to what she was going to tell them. But whatever they said she’d made up her mind and nothing they said would change that. ‘I… umm… Don’t be mad at me, but Ben is buying me out of the house and I’m going to use that money to pay off the debts. You know how much Wagging Tails means to me, and how much Flora has helped and supported me my whole life so I’m happy to do this and I’ve made up my mind so please don’t try to talk me out of it because it won’t work.’ There, she’d said it. She slumped back against her chair again.

‘I thought it was on the market? Is he buying you out now?’ Ginny looked across at her.

‘Yes.’ Poppy nodded. ‘He’s moving his girlfriend in.’

Ginny blinked, her eyes widening. ‘Seriously? That’s quick.’

Poppy shrugged. ‘I think he is anyway.’

She’d ring and speak with her friend Melissa. She’d know if he was but it didn’t matter. Ben was the least of her worries now.

‘I don’t know what Flora will say about your plan, love, but I admire you for offering.’ Percy leaned back in his chair and stroked his beard.

Poppy nodded. She knew she’d have a fight on her hands to get Aunt Flora to accept, but it was a fight she wasn’t willing to lose.

* * *

‘Great. Thank you, I’ll make sure someone gets back to you as soon as possible.’ Poppy put the phone down in its cradle and turned to Ginny who was checking off the Walk List. ‘That was Patricia, a woman living over in Trestow, ringing up enquiring about Fluffles. She saw Darryl’s write-up in the newspaper and wants to come and meet her.’

‘Wow, that’s brilliant. Did she sound nice?’ Ginny put the clipboard back on its hook.

‘Yes, she did. We could do with a little good news after all that’s happened.’ Poppy picked up a pen and scribbled Patricia’s details down in the notebook. ‘I said someone would get back to her. Is that okay? I haven’t dealt with an adoption in so long I wasn’t really sure what to say.’

‘Yes, of course. I’ll give her a call back and go through our requirements. And then hopefully we can arrange a meet-up and a home check.’ Ginny grinned.

‘Thank you.’ Poppy passed the notebook across the counter to Ginny just as the bell above the door tinkled. Looking up, she froze. It was Mack. She wasn’t ready for this. Ready to tell him what she thought of him. Not yet.

‘Hi.’ Shutting the door behind him, Mack paused.

‘Right, I’ll go and give Patricia a call now.’ Ginny raised her hand to Mack before grabbing the notebook and phone and disappearing into the kitchen.

‘Thanks.’ Poppy picked up the closest thing to her – a clipboard – and walked towards the door, stepping around Mack as though he wasn’t there.

‘Poppy, have you got a moment?’ Turning, Mack followed her out into the courtyard.

‘I don’t, sorry. I have to…’ She looked down at the clipboard in her hands. It was the stock list. ‘I have to check the stock.’ She changed direction and walked towards the storage shed.

‘Just a moment. That’s all I’m asking.’

Looking ahead, she paused. She could hear the confusion in his voice.

‘Please. I don’t understand what’s happened between us. One moment everything was going really well. Or so I thought. And the next… at the hospital…’

She shook her head and carried on walking, picking up her pace. ‘You really don’t get it, do you? You really don’t understand what you’ve done.’

‘What I’ve done? No, tell me.’ He jogged to catch her up, stopping just in front of her.

Pausing again, she looked at him. He didn’t look as though he’d had much sleep either. She glanced down at the ground before looking him in the eye. ‘I just can’t do this right now.’

‘Hey, I know you’re worried about Flora. Let me support you. Let me be there for you.’ He reached out and touched her forearm.

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