Page 17 of All Wrapped Up

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, I snatched 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.

‘Why don’t you take her inside,’ Ash suggested, ‘and I’ll bring in the rest of her stuff?’

‘Is there much?’

‘Um,’ he grinned, looking sheepish. ‘Perhaps a bit more than you might expect.’

It turned out that he’d treated Pixie to practically every toy on the pet market.

‘I was trying to draw her out of herself,’ he said defensively, as he carried in a huge rattan basket of brand-new looking things and caught the astonished look on my face.

‘I never said a word,’ I said, as I put up my hands and grinned and Pixie, with perfect timing, woofed and wagged her tail.

‘Neither of you had to,’ Ash laughed and I gave Pixie a further fuss. ‘Shall we put her crate in the Land Rover?’ he then suggested. ‘She doesn’t sleep in it and there’s not going to be room to swing a cat if we put it in here with everything else.’

‘That’s a good idea,’ I agreed. ‘If I give you the keys, would you mind doing it? There’s loads of room in the back and her harness can go straight in there, too.’

I was so preoccupied with Pixie that I forgot until later that Callum’s work boots were still behind one of the seats in the Land Rover, but I didn’t think Ash had noticed them anyway. Or, if he had, he hadn’t commented on them.

Once I’d given Pixie her breakfast and while she further acquainted herself with the cottage, I ran through the list of questions I’d prepared the evening before to further ensure a smooth transition of ownership.

‘Now,’ I said seriously, addressing the first thing I’d thought of and added to my list, ‘Pixie’s jabs. Is she up to date? I’m guessing she is, but wanted to check.’

‘She is,’ Ash confirmed, ‘and all of the paperwork and dates are in her folder, along with the practice details.’

‘And what about flea and worm treatment?’ I asked, having ticked off the immunisation question. ‘What do you recommend I use for that?’

‘Again,’ Ash grinned, ‘all in the pack.’

‘Why are you grinning?’ I asked, once I’d added more ticks to my list and noticed his expression. ‘I’m a responsible dog owner and this is serious stuff.’

‘Oh, I know it is,’ he continued to smile. ‘That’s why I’m so happy. I love you for thinking to ask me all these things.’

I felt myself blush, more as a result of what he’d said than what he thought. He looked quite warm, too.

‘So.’ He then cleared his throat and carried on. ‘What else have you got written down?’

Once we’d gone through everything, with the standard answer being that it was all covered in the pack Ash had put together, I offered him some coffee and toast.

‘Thanks, Clemmie, but I won’t stay,’ he declined. ‘I’m going to get off now actually.’

He sounded reluctant and I hoped he didn’t feel obliged to go.

‘Don’t feel that you have to,’ I said quickly. ‘You said you’re not working today, didn’t you?’

‘I’m not,’ he explained, ‘but I’ve got a flat to view and I think it would be best if I left you to settle Pixie in on your own.’

Just like before, she’d already made herself at home, so I wasn’t sure what the time I’d set aside to settle her was going to involve now.

‘Well, in that case,’ I said, still showing Ash out because of his impending appointment, ‘good luck with the viewing.’

‘Thanks,’ he said, wrinkling his nose. ‘I’m not keen on its location because it’s a bit of a drive from here and the rent seems optimistic given the size of the place, but we’ll see.’

‘You can tell me about it later,’ I suggested. ‘That is, if you’re still up for the meeting tonight?’

‘Of course, I am,’ he confirmed adamantly. ‘And like I suggested last night, a bite beforehand, too. I’ll swing by about six, shall I?’

‘That will be perfect.’ I smiled, though I still wasn’t sure I’d be able to eat anything.

Ash looked over my shoulder at Pixie.

‘I’m not going to say goodbye.’ He swallowed. ‘With any luck, she won’t even notice I’ve gone.’

She didn’t either, but I decided I wouldn’t tell him that when he came back later.

Pixie and I companionably whiled away the day together.

I talked to her about what I had been through since losing Callum and told her that I hoped she really did feel an affinity with me as a result.

She seemed to listen intently and I knew some of it must have sunk in, because she had run off to her toy basket once I’d finished explaining and then solemnly presented me with a toy which looked like a mallard duck.

I didn’t think there was any significance to what she had picked out, but it was a kind and heartfelt gesture.

While she napped after lunch, I sorted through her pack from Ash and then went back through my list of festival ideas and had a look at more of the comments that had been added to the meeting announcement post on Facebook.

I could see quite a few businesses were going to be represented and if the owners really were as keen as their comments suggested, then finding hosts for the events was potentially going to be a doddle.

Ash arrived at six on the dot, looking handsome in a burgundy cord shirt and smelling wonderfully masculine.

I felt my face flush as I closed the door behind him.

Since losing Callum, I’d got out of the habit of noticing that sort of thing, so the observation, and the way it had felt so natural to take in Ash’s clothes and aftershave, gave me a bit of a jolt.

It had been on the tip of my tongue to say how the shirt colour suited him, but I decided not to.

It made his eyes look even more intensely blue than usual, but that was another observation I kept to myself.

‘How was the flat?’ I asked instead.

‘A total duffer.’ He grimaced. ‘Even worse than I expected.’

‘Oh dear.’

‘Um, back to the drawing board. But never mind about that, how’s Pixie?’

‘Perfect, of course,’ I was delighted to tell him. ‘It’s not going to be five minutes before it feels like she moved in when I did.’

‘Well, that’s great.’ Ash smiled. ‘I’m certainly going to miss her, but knowing she’s settled and happy here with you, Clemmie, is also a huge weight off my mind.’

‘Good,’ I said, feeling pleased. ‘And now you can travel to see your family at the drop of a hat. Should you need to.’

‘I can,’ he agreed. ‘And talking of traveling, are you ready?’

I still hadn’t changed out of the comfy clothes I wore around the house, but that wasn’t because I was running late for the meeting, rather that I was going to suggest a change to our plan.

‘Not quite. I was actually wondering if you’d prefer to eat here, rather than in town?’

‘You’re not worried about Joanne getting the wrong idea if she sees us having a meal out together, are you?’ Ash frowned.

‘No,’ I said, though I was a little then, because he’d jumped straight to that conclusion.

‘Given that Lizzie and Jemma have set her straight on more than one occasion, that hadn’t crossed my mind.

I was thinking more about Pixie. I don’t want to leave her for so long on her first proper evening here.

I’m worried she might fret that I’m not coming back. ’

Ash’s comment when he’d arrived back from Bakewell, that he put some of her excitement at seeing him again down to her being relieved that he’d returned, had stuck with me, but he wasn’t unduly concerned.

‘She’s used to being left alone at the barn,’ he pointed out, ‘so I don’t think that will be a problem, but I’m happy to fall in with you.’

I was pleased he was willing to agree, but my mind was rather preoccupied then with what he’d said about Joanne.

‘You don’t really think Joanne has still got designs on pushing us together, do you?’