Page 30 of A French Inheritance

Thursday afternoon and Elliot was in the recovery room at the practice checking on the three cats and one rabbit that had been neutered that morning and could hear Julian talking gently to a crying woman in his consulting room.

‘Jill, you’ve got enough to deal with. Leave Meg here with me and I promise to find a good solution. Don’t worry.’

‘Thank you so much, Julian, I’m at the end of my tether, I don’t know what to do for the best. I feel terrible about Dad and Meg…’ Her voice faded as Julian walked to the door with the woman and waved her goodbye.

‘Don’t suppose you’d like company for Luna, would you?

’ Julian said a minute later. Elliot turned to find Julian standing in the doorway holding a spaniel on a lead.

‘Sad story. Meg here is eight, lovely dog. Known her all her life. Harry, her owner, has Alzheimer’s and is about to go into care.

’ Julian sighed. ‘Jill, his daughter, has four children, one with special needs, and a husband who works away. She’s barely keeping things together.

I’ve promised I’ll find a new forever home for Meg.

Any ideas? I was joking about Luna needing company, but… ?’

‘Can’t you keep her?’ Elliot said.

‘In a heartbeat, but with three dogs at home already,’ Julian said, ‘I’d be pushing my luck, but if we can’t find a home, then I will have her.’

Elliot bent down and stroked the dog who was sat quietly at Julian’s feet.

Luna padded in to see what was going on and the two dogs sniffed each other.

Watching them interact, Briony suddenly popped into his mind.

‘I’ll take her home with me. I know somebody who might take her,’ Elliot said. ‘No promises though.’

‘Vaccinations and everything are all up to date. Jill doesn’t want anything for her – just a good home.’

‘She’d have that where I’m thinking of asking.’

‘Why don’t you finish now and get off and find out,’ Julian said. ‘Be a weight off my mind.’

‘Okay. I’ll just pick up a bag of food and a couple of bowls and I’ll be off.’

The two dogs settled happily together in the back of the 4x4 and Elliot drove home. He decided not to forewarn Briony but to simply turn up with Meg and see how they both reacted to each other.

* * *

Briony was sitting out on the terrace after work, a cup of tea and a biscuit in front of her, mulling over Lucy’s words and thinking about Elliot, when he surprised her by calling out ‘Hello,’ walking round the side of the cottage.

‘Good, you’re home. I did think you might still be up at the farm. I’ve brought someone to meet you. Stay there, I’ll be right back with Luna.’

Briony stayed where she was, mystified.

Luna raced around the side of the cottage and bounded up to her for a cuddle. Briony’s heart skipped a beat when Elliot appeared with a spaniel on a lead.

‘I’m hoping you’re still thinking about getting a dog?’ he asked. ‘This is Meg. She’s an eight-year-old springer spaniel and she needs a new forever home.’

Briony got up and went over to the white-and-liver-coloured dog, who regarded her with big brown eyes before tentatively sniffing her hand. ‘What’s her story?’

‘She was brought in this afternoon by the daughter of her owner, a long-time client of the practice.’ Elliot quickly told her the sad story while Briony started to stroke the dog gently.

‘Julian has known Meg all her life and has promised the daughter he will find her a new home. She’s good on the lead, her recall is good and she’s friendly with other dogs.

She’s a little overweight at the moment as she hasn’t had much exercise recently. ’

‘She’s lovely. She and Luna seem to get on too. Do you want to let her off the lead? Let her explore a bit and play a little with Luna. The garden is secure.’

Elliot smiled as he let Meg off the lead.

‘There is a problem though,’ Briony said. ‘I can’t take her tonight. I don’t have any dog food in the house. Although maybe you could spare some of Luna’s? I can replace it tomorrow.’

‘I bought some. It’s in the car, together with her dog basket and cushion that Jill left with Julian, dog bowls and a new toy.’

Briony looked at him and laughed. ‘What would you have done if I’d said I’d changed my mind about having a dog? In fact, I really should change my mind. I’m going to be so busy for the next few months, I really don’t have time for a pet.’

Elliot looked at her and gave her a slow smile. ‘But you won’t change your mind, will you? Because you’ve already made her welcome. Shall we take her for her first walk to the lake?’

‘Have you got time? That would be lovely.’ Briony clipped Meg onto her lead and they set off.

It was a lovely spring evening and Briony gave a happy sigh.

Elliot too seemed happy as they strolled along.

‘We always had a dog when I was growing up and I’ve wanted my own dog for so long, I can’t believe it’s finally happened, thank you. ’

Elliot shrugged. ‘It’s difficult when you’re working. Dogs like company.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t leave a dog on their own – I would have taken it to work with me, like you do with Luna, and like I plan to do with Meg.

No, Marcus, my ex-husband, was allergic.

At least that’s what he always said. I’m not totally sure it was true.

I think it was one more lie among many. Anyway, now I’ve got Meg and I’m so happy.

Will you tell your boss to tell the lady I’ll give her a good home.

’ She paused and glanced at him. ‘D’you think once Meg’s settled that her old owner would like me to visit with her? Or is it likely to upset him?’

‘Difficult one. I think he’s quite ill,’ Elliot said. ‘I’ll ask Julian and see what he thinks. That’s kind of you to think of it, though.’

As Luna reached the lake, she went straight in as usual for a swim. Briony could feel Meg straining on the leash to join her. ‘Not today,’ she said quietly. ‘Next time we come, maybe. You and Luna are going to have such fun.’

When they got back to the cottage, Elliot fetched the sack of dog food from the car and suggested the correct amount for Meg and after he’d left, Briony fed her. Early evening and she was curled up in her dog basket sleeping the excitement of the day off, whilst Briony ate her own supper.

Briony’s mobile buzzed. ‘Hi, Mum. How’s things?’

‘Gerry is catching the ferry tonight as planned,’ Jeannie said. ‘He should be with you sometime early next week. He’s going to text you the night before.’

‘Great,’ Briony said. ‘How did the house viewings go? Any interest?’

‘I’ve accepted an offer from a young couple.’

‘Gosh, that was quick,’ Briony said. ‘Brilliant. So you’ll definitely be back down for Easter? I’ve bought a car, so let me know your flight details and I’ll be there to meet you.’

Jeannie sighed. ‘That’s turned into a bit of a problem. Everyone seems to be jetting away to the South of France for Easter – most flights are full. But I’ve found a late-night one. So I’m going to book a taxi rather than drag you out at that time of night. Or I might ask Yannick. He has offered.’

‘I really don’t mind meeting you whatever time you land. Let me know what you decide,’ Briony said. ‘Just looking forward to having you back here.’

‘I’m looking forward to being there too. How are things down there?’ Jeannie asked. ‘What sort of car did you buy?’

‘It’s a Renault Kangoo. Quite old and looks more like a van with windows than a car, but it’s been well looked after.

I’ve got lots to tell you when you get here.

It’s better to do it face to face,’ Briony said.

‘There is one other thing I have to tell you now – and I hope you’re okay about it.

I – we – as of tonight, now have a dog. A spaniel called Meg.

Hang on, I’ll send you a photo. She’s gorgeous.

You’re going to love her too.’ Briony quickly took a photo of Meg in her basket and sent it to her mum.

‘Elliot turned up with her tonight needing a new home and I knew instantly I was going to have her.’

‘Ah, she looks at home already,’ Jeannie said. ‘I can’t wait to meet her.’

‘Also, before I forget to tell you, one of the best things is, I’ve heard the owls,’ Briony said. ‘I think they are still nesting in the tree.’

* * *

Jeannie finished the call wondering what Briony hadn’t wanted to tell her over the phone.

She’d sounded upbeat, though, especially when she mentioned having a dog, so she’d take her word for it that everything was good and not worry.

Now she had one more phone call to make.

She opened WhatsApp and pressed his name. Yann answered within two rings.

‘I hope you were serious about meeting my flight whatever time it was because I’ve finally managed to get a seat on the last flight to Nice the Thursday before Good Friday.

Due to land at eleven ten. Briony said she’d meet me at whatever time I land, but I really don’t like the thought of her out driving alone at that time of night, so I said I was going to ask you, but I can always get a taxi rather than drag you out if you’d rather not. I don’t want to be a nuisance.’

‘Jeannie, you will never be a nuisance to me. Like you worry about Briony being out alone at night, I’d worry about you in the same situation. I’ll be there at whatever time you land,’ Yann promised.

‘Thank you,’ Jeannie smiled, knowing he would be.

‘There is something I need to tell you when you’re here. Something we will have to discuss.’

‘Tell me now?’

‘ Non. I wait until you’re here. It is something good, so do not worry.’

‘Okay. See you soon,’ she said, ending the call.

It was a wonderful feeling having someone in her life again who truly cared about her and wanted to protect her.

She had no idea how Briony was going to react to her news.

News that she too thought would be better told face to face rather than over the phone.

She couldn’t deny, though, that she was looking forward to telling Briony about her feelings for Yann and explaining how happy she was to explore this unexpected development in her own life.