no idea. I’d, stupidly, thought that despite all my reservations, I had actually found what my relatives had managed to – the love and support of a partner with whom I could see myself spending the rest of my life.
I was, however, entirely disavowed of this ridiculous belief around eighteen months ago, and as much as I wished that could have happened in the privacy of my apartment or his, the universe had apparently decided that wouldn’t be half so much fun as having it happen in the middle of a Christmas works party for the entire company. Thankfully, both for me and the new dress I’d just spent a fortune on, it was immediately clear to the beautiful, tall and elegant woman who stalked in on towering black patent Louboutins, that her existence was as much a surprise to me as mine had apparently been to hers. Possibly the look of absolute shock and horror I could feel on my face had helped her with that conclusion.
This had, thankfully, resulted in both her screaming, and her aim with a gravy-laden plateful of Christmas dinner, being directed solely at him. As he stood there, covered in food, a roast potato sliding slowly down his expensive lapel, she gave him – and me – the final proverbial kick as she pulled off a large diamond ring from her left hand and slammed it down on the table.
* * *
‘That was a big sigh,’ Gabe commented, turning his head a little towards me as my mind bounced back to the present at his voice.
Oh Lord, I had done that out loud.
‘Anything you want to talk about?’
Most definitely not.
‘Huh? Oh no, it was just a … umm … you know, a contented sigh. Don’t have to get up for work tomorrow, la la la, sort of thing.’ I forced a smile and tried not to focus on how idiotic I probably sounded right at that moment.
Gabe nodded. ‘OK.’ Clearly, he didn’t believe a word but, thankfully, we were now very close to the house so he didn’t have time to pursue it, even if he’d wanted to.
‘Well, night then. I hope Bryan is feeling a bit more perky tomorrow.’
‘Thanks. I’m sure he will be.’
The little dog was now sleepily peering out of the front of Gabe’s jacket, having woken when his master had stopped walking, the cease of the gentle rocking movement stirring him from slumber.
‘Night, night, Bryan,’ I said, giving him a gentle stroke on the top of his silky head. He moved a little, his eyes closing as I did it.
‘You might be here all night now.’ Gabe laughed.
I smiled back, thinking that there were far worse places to be, and not only because of one of the cutest dogs I’d ever met. Quickly, I shoved the additional reasons from my mind and held up Petey the Prawn.
‘Someone will be wanting this for bedtime, I’m guessing.’
‘You’re right. Thanks,’ Gabe said, taking it from me.
‘Right. Well, goodnight then.’
‘Night, Holly. Thanks for the walk back.’
I shrugged. ‘Wouldn’t want you being mugged by a rampant starfish.’
He laughed, the sound clear and deep in the still of the night, sending tingles where there definitely shouldn’t be any right now. ‘Yeah, I’ve heard about those. Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about them anymore now you’re here.’
‘Only for the summer, remember. Then you’re on your own again.’
He nodded, but his head was tipped down towards his dog, so I couldn’t see his expression.
‘Yep. Of course. Goodnight, Holly.’
‘Night, Gabe.’
I climbed the steps up from the beach to my side of the deck, the sound of the waves at my back already soothing me towards sleep. As I got to the top, I turned towards where my neighbour was just disappearing around the side of the house.
‘Gabe?’
He poked his head back around. ‘You all right?’
‘Yes. I was just going to say if you ever need me to watch Bryan when you’re working … or you know, anything, I’d be happy to.’
I could see the smile in the moonlight, but little else of his expression. ‘Thanks, Holly. That’s really kind of you. I do feel kind of bad sometimes asking Carrie and Ned, even though I know Bryan’s a good little mate and no trouble. They have quite a lot going on already.’
‘They clearly love having him, so I don’t think you need to feel bad about it, but I just thought I’d ask. I’m hoping to do a bit more walking while I’m down here and other than that I’ll only be sorting out the house, and I’d be glad of the company.’
I shifted my weight, suddenly feeling awkward.
Gabe took a few steps back towards me. ‘What is it?’
‘Nothing. It’s … silly.’
‘Why don’t I be the judge of that?’ His voice was soft and calming and once again my thoughts drifted back to how comforting that sound could, and likely had been, for many patients in the past.
‘It’s just that … I kind of always wanted a dog. As a child, I mean. But we were never allowed one. My dad just told us it was something else we’d get attached to and then lose in time and that we were just setting ourselves up for heartbreak.’
Less shadowed now, I could see the frown on Gabe’s face. ‘I suppose that is true in a way but if you operated like that all the time, you’d never open yourself to anything or anyone.’
‘I think that was the point.’ Feeling an odd jab of loyalty, I gave a shrug. ‘He had his reasons.’
Gabe didn’t answer.
‘Anyway, I just wanted to say that dog-sitting would be a pleasure. Obviously. I can’t have a dog with the way my life is now either. I mean back in London. So you’d be doing me the favour really.’
‘I think that’s probably pushing it a little bit but it’s a really kind offer, Holly. Thank you. And I may well take you up on it if you’re sure you don’t mind. It’d be nice for Bry to have someone around all the time like that.’
‘Great. OK, then. Night.’
‘Sleep well.’ And with that he was gone.
Waking up at 5 a.m. was proving to be a hard habit to break, even though I had no Tube to catch or specific place to be. That didn’t mean I didn’t have things to do though so, as inviting as this bed was, its downy softness cradling me in comfort, I forced myself not to linger. Kicking back the covers, I pushed myself up, slipped my feet into some hotel slippers I’d snaffled out from a five-star place in Hong Kong in a moment of reckless abandon and headed to the
