CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The bed was a snuggle pile of two humans, three dogs and a cat. The cat was in charge, naturally. The humans indulged her, and the dogs merely did as she told them.
Gretta opened one sleepy eye and sighed contentedly. She couldn’t feel her right leg because there was seventy pounds of golden retriever lying on it. And lying half on and half off Stan, was Ripley, who was snoring loudly. Bertie was sprawled on Jakob’s bare chest, whilst Zaza had appropriated Gretta’s pillow. Luckily, Jakob’s chest was broad enough to accommodate both her head and Bertie’s stocky body.
She wasn’t as comfortable as she could be, but she was too contented to move. This is what Sunday mornings are all about , she thought happily, lazing in bed . They didn’t happen often though, because Jakob didn’t have a nine to five, Monday to Friday job. And neither did she. Gretta had got into the habit of working when he did and being off when he was.
Without opening his eyes, he said, ‘I’ll make us some brunch in a minute, then we should take the dogs for a walk.’
‘Not just yet,’ she pleaded.
He craned his neck, bending his head to kiss her on the nose. ‘Lazy bones.’
‘ Happy bones,’ she replied.
There was something rather wonderful about the whole family snuggling together in her bed – and the animals were definitely part of her family. Mind you, they hadn’t slept in her bedroom last night, and pretty soon she was going to turf them out again because she had some unfinished business with Jakob…
For the moment though, she was happy to snuggle, revelling in the love surrounding her.
In the three months since she and Jakob had become an item, she’d grown to love his dogs as much as he, and in return they’d bonded with her. Which was a good job, since he spent nearly all his free time at her place, and she minded the dogs for him when he was at work. All except for Trixie, who had been adopted by Jakob’s parents and was now living her best life with them in the motor home they’d recently acquired since his mum had retired.
Everything had fallen into place perfectly, as though it was meant to be, but in her quieter and more reflective moments, Gretta had a sneaky suspicion that much of it had been engineered by a certain French bulldog who was currently snuffling in her ear. Not only had Bertie found his forever home, but he’d ensured that Gretta had found hers, and she would be eternally grateful to the little dog.
‘I love you,’ she whispered to him, without thinking.
Jakob tensed, and Gretta froze. Oh hell, she’d been talking to Bertie, and now Jakob thought…
‘I love you, too,’ he whispered back, then turned onto his side, spilling Bertie off his chest and onto the bed.
It was as she was about to confess that she’d hadn’t been speaking to him , that she realised it was true, that she did love Jakob – with all her heart.
‘Out,’ she told the animals, kicking the door shut with an outstretched foot after they begrudgingly obliged.
It was time to show this remarkable man just how much she loved him, and as she reached for him, joy lit her from within.
Gretta had found true love at last.
Are you ready for the next instalment from Muddypuddle Lane?
If so, find out what happens in Sweet Dreams at the Forever Home on Muddypuddle Lane .