Page 12 of Sweet Dreams at the Forever Home on Muddypuddle Lane (The Forever Home on Muddypuddle Lane #2)

She felt like growling with frustration, but what could she do? She just had to trust that Biscuit wouldn’t be swayed by Elijah’s cloying attention.

As morning became afternoon, Nora found herself becoming more and more tense, to the point where she lost focus once or twice. Thankfully it didn’t happen when she was snipping anyone’s hair, but the fact it had happened at all was concerning.

Would Biscuit wonder where she was? Probably not. Nora was being silly, projecting human thoughts and feelings onto the dog. However, Elijah would be expecting her to turn up at any moment, then he’d be exultant when he realised she wasn’t coming.

Although Nora guessed that her not being at the kennels today would make little difference to Dawn’s eventual decision, she nevertheless felt as though she was giving Elijah an advantage. And when Andrea popped in to make an appointment for a cut and colour, it kind of added insult to injury.

‘I hear you and Elijah have set your sights on the same dog,’ Andrea began.

‘Apparently so.’ Nora had known Andrea for years, but she felt suddenly wary. Was the woman here to spy on her? ‘Has he gone to the kennels this afternoon?’ she asked.

‘He has; Christina and Olive are manning the fort. Smitten with that dog, he is.’

Nora ground her teeth together as she consulted the diary. ‘When were you thinking of? I’m fully booked next week, but I can do the week after.’

‘How about the Wednesday?’

Nora pencilled her name in. ‘All booked,’ she said, expecting Andrea to leave now that she’d made an appointment, but the woman continued to linger.

‘Have you heard that Elijah has been told he shouldn’t run anymore? Poor love, he’s really down at the moment. I really feel for him. He lives for his running.’

Yes, Nora had heard, and he had seemed rather upset when he’d mentioned on Monday that he used to run marathons. ‘It’s a shame,’ she said, and was about to sympathise further when a thought occurred to her. ‘Did he put you up to this?’

‘Up to what?’

‘Trying to make me feel sorry for him so I’ll withdraw my application to adopt Biscuit?’

Andrea’s eyes widened. ‘Of course not!’

Nora didn’t believe her, and frankly she was dismayed but not totally surprised to discover that he’d stooped so low.

For a second, she was tempted to blurt out her own circumstances, but she kept her counsel; the last thing she wanted was anyone, least of all Elijah, feeling sorry for her .

Elijah kept glancing towards the gate, expecting to see Nora hurrying towards it, but when half-past two came and went and she still hadn’t appeared, he began to wonder where she was.

Had something happened to delay her? Was she (he prayed this was indeed the case) having second thoughts about adopting Biscuit?

Elijah wasn’t about to complain that she wasn’t here, though – he was enjoying having the dog to himself far too much.

Without Nora to distract him, Biscuit gave Elijah his full attention, and Elijah revelled in it.

But after an hour of entertaining the dog on his own, he felt restless.

He wasn’t built for standing still, and he longed to be able to take Biscuit for a walk, so when he spotted Jakob, he called him over.

‘Do you think I could walk him?’ he asked, and was delighted when Jakob agreed, with the proviso that Elijah didn’t let him off the lead.

Elijah was more than happy with that. In fact, he was over the moon he was being allowed to take Biscuit out and didn’t have to share this first precious walk with Nora.

However, it surprised him to discover he felt a little guilty.

He knew she’d be disappointed and maybe even a tad upset, but it was hardly his fault she wasn’t here, was it?

Then again, if she’d decided not to go ahead with her adoption bid, it didn’t matter a fig, so he told himself to enjoy the walk.

Which he did, but part of him, a part which up to now he hadn’t known existed, missed her company.

Maybe he’d call in to the salon later and check she was okay? He’d hate to be gloating over his good fortune if something was wrong.

‘Excuse the play on words, but you take the biscuit,’ Nora spat, and Elijah took a step back in surprise.

He’d done as he’d intended and had popped in on his way home from The Forever Home to check on her.

She’d certainly looked okay, since she’d been standing behind a lady who was seated in front of a mirror, with a comb in one hand and a pair of scissors in the other, and had been chatting away.

She’d looked animated and lively, less pale and drawn than recently, and it was nice to see her smiling.

Unfortunately, when she glanced at the door to see who’d entered, the smile was instantly replaced by incredulity, quickly followed by ire, and he wondered how she’d found out about him taking Biscuit for a walk. Had she phoned the kennels to check how his visit had gone?

‘That was so underhand,’ she snapped.

Elijah shook his head in disbelief. She was being so unreasonable.

‘Anyway, what do you want?’ she demanded, her eyes flashing fire.

Crossly he said, ‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter.’ No way was he going to admit he’d called in because he was concerned about her – a concern that was clearly misplaced. There was nothing wrong with Nora Bunting that a good dose of manners couldn’t put right.

Angrily, he turned on his heel, but before he left, he called over his shoulder, ‘By the way, Biscuit had a lovely time on his walk. He didn’t miss you at all.’

Then he stomped out, Nora’s furious expression as she stared after him, emblazoned on his mind.