Page 59 of The Girlfriend

Kneeling on the soft earth, she opened the box and the two puppies were delighted to see her.

She scratched each one under the chin. The sound of brakes rasping to a stop made her look up and she stiffened as a kid came close by on his bike.

She watched through the trees as he spun his pedals, looking at the chain for something, then after a few seconds, rode off.

She waited until it was quiet, the puppies licking her hand; then she took the girl out of the box.

It would’ve been cruel to leave it, she told herself; and she could, at least, make it quick.

Putting both her hands around its neck, she twisted sharply.

It went limp. She took the box of hamster food and discarded the contents onto the ground, then placed the unmoving puppy inside the empty box. Then she got out her phone and dialed.

“Hello, I’m calling to report a cruelty .

. . some kittens. It’s a pet shop that I’ve just been in.

They seemed really distressed, thin. And I saw the guy who worked there—he .

. . God, it was awful. He just threw one back into the glass cage.

From a distance, as if it was a ball. Lobbed it.

He thought I was on the other side of the shop, looking around.

No, I didn’t buy any. Yes, it’s Pet’s Kingdom in Worcester Park.

My name? It’s Polly Hammond.” She gave a false number and continued, even more desperately now.

“You will go there, won’t you? That’s what the RSPCA does?

I’m sure they’re from puppy mills. Can’t you close places like this down? ”

She checked her watch. Daniel would be home in two hours.

Just enough time to go to the post office, then get back to ice the cake.

She clipped the leash onto the other puppy, and he was delighted that he was getting a walk outdoors, probably the first since he’d been born.

She watched as his paws bounded through the grass—real grass!

—and her heart warmed at his obvious euphoria.

Then a sudden sharp intake of breath. She hadn’t bought one of those ball-throwing things!

How utterly thoughtless. Dismayed, Cherry apologized to .

. . Rufus. She would call him Rufus and vowed to make it up to him as soon as she got to some shops.

* * *

“This is delicious, ” said Daniel, again, as he took a large bite out of his second slice of cake. Cherry leaned over the back of his chair, kissed him on the cheek. “You’re sure it’s not the beer making it taste good?”

“No way. Will and Jonny say hello, by the way.”

“Hello back.”

“He’s—Will’s—waiting to hear on an interview. Big promotion if he gets it.”

“So, it seems, you guys had a good time?”

“Great.” Daniel was suddenly conscious it was one of his rare days off. “You didn’t mind me going off with the guys, did you?”

“Course not. I’ve been very busy. . . .”

“Oh yes?” He grabbed her, pulled her onto his lap, and planted a chocolate-tasting kiss on her lips. “Doing what? Other than acquiring our new friend here.” He reached down to pick up the puppy, and the dog immediately tried to lick his face.

“Rufus! Naughty!” Cherry took him away. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“No, I told you, he’s great. You do know that with me at the hospital, you’re the one most likely to be cleaning up the accidents on the floor?”

“I’m going to have him expertly trained in no time.” She put her arms around his neck. “And in answer to your question, I’ve been planning a very special day. ”

“Aha . . . and do I get a say on this very special day?”

“Of course. As long as you think it should be in January.” She held her breath a moment as she watched him mull it over.

“Bit cold?”

“Honeymoon in the Caribbean?”

He nodded, good point.

“Very soon? It’s only, what, three months away?”

“Do you really want me talking weddings any longer? I could make it stretch a year, if you prefer.”

He laughed. “No thanks.”

She was pleased to have gotten her way. “I’ve also found a venue. If you like it, we can start sending out invitations.”

“Yes.” He sounded wistful.

“What’s up?”

“Oh, you know, parents getting divorced. The whole thing with Mum . . . I haven’t even told her we’re engaged yet.”

“Maybe we should just run away,” she said lightly, “get married on a beach somewhere.”

“It would save a lot of hassle. Quick, easy, just us two.”

She caught her breath. She hadn’t thought for a moment he’d take it seriously, but it was a brilliant idea, actually. “You know, I think you can organize them in as little as a couple of weeks.”

“Really? It sounds great.”

“Could you get the time off work?”

He laughed. “You’re serious.”

Her face crumpled. “You’re not?”

“Well, I don’t know.... I mean, we want our family and friends there, don’t we?

” Cherry got off his lap. “Oh, God, sorry, I didn’t realize .

. . I thought we were just messing about.

” He followed her to the kitchen and took the plate from her hands and put it in the dishwasher.

Then he laced his fingers into hers. “Is this because you think my mum’s going to ruin it? ”

“She’s not going to be thrilled. No doubt she’ll try and stop it.”

“How’s she going to do that?”

It irritated her, the way he wasn’t taking her concerns seriously, and she pulled away.

“Cherry, stop. Sorry. It’s just . . . you know I love you. We’re what’s important now. This thing that’s going on with my mum . . . well, I’m sure it’ll get sorted out. We’ve got three months.”

“She’ll try and put you off me.”

“Let her try.”

“She’ll make up some story again. Tell you about things I’ve supposedly done.”

“I don’t think she will, you know”—Cherry frowned as Daniel spoke—“but if she does, I’ll put her right.”

She mulled over his words, waiting to be mollified. “You know, I’ve also been working on my business plan today. It’s coming along well. Just in case you were thinking—”

He drew her to him. “Shush. I do not think you are with me because of my money, despite what my mother may say.”

She gazed at him, checking for genuineness, then wrapped her arms around his neck and gently kissed him on the lips.