Chapter 7 #2
He shrugged. ‘Thanks. But it’s fine. My first lot of foster parents were in it for the money, not because they liked kids, but I was lucky.
I was adopted by my parents – the ones I consider to be my real parents – when I was eight.
But I found it hard to settle, even though they were really kind and caring.
Part of me kept thinking they’d send me back.
Until I rescued a puppy from a couple of kids who were ill-treating her.
I had just turned nine and I seemed to find some sort of super strength as I punched the bullies, grabbed the puppy, and ran like hell.
I hid her in my bedroom and would sneak food and water up to her.
I’d take her out for a walk at night when I thought my parents were asleep.
It was only a couple of days before they found out, of course, and I was terrified they’d take her away, but they immediately said I could keep her.
She and I healed together and became best friends.
Her name was Hope, because that’s what we gave one another, as did my parents.
She was a springer spaniel and she passed away when I was twenty-three.
My parents and I have always supported animal rescue centres, particularly dogs, and it was a dream of ours to one day set one up.
We finally did that five years ago, but the place we have is too small, so we looked farther afield and found Old Farm. And here we are.’
‘Wow. That’s a lovely story. Not about the bullies. Although I’m glad they got what they deserved. So you’ve already got some rescue dogs then?’
He nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Is it true that anyone can open a dog rescue centre? Granny Viv said it was.’
‘It is. There’s no mandatory licensing for rehoming centres, but you may need a specific licence for selling pets, depending on local requirements, and you need to apply to the local council for that.
Which is what we did at our last place and we did that here too.
Plus, an animal boarding licence is required if you house animals, which obviously we do, and the local council also grants that.
Public liability insurance is a must. You’re not required by law to register with any organisations but there are one or two that are incredibly helpful, such as Help Animals UK.
The support they provide for smaller rescues and sanctuaries is amazing.
Rafferty and Hope’s Rescue Centre for Dogs is what’s called a Community Interest Company which is an option for rescue centres like ours that want to be formally recognised but don’t want the administrative burdens of a charity.
My parents were too old for all that. I’m still working, so I’ll only be here at weekends and during school breaks, but I’m taking early retirement at the end of this academic year. ’
‘So that’s also true? You are a teacher. You’re at some posh public school, I hear.’
He raised his brows. ‘I do teach at a public school, yes.’
‘I’m a teacher. I teach at the local Primary school in Chelmsford. No one has to pay to go there.’
‘What are the chances of us both being teachers? It’s definitely a small world. I became a teacher because both my parents were. As for paying, we all pay in some way or other. Our taxes fund State schools.’ He drank his coffee.
‘I could argue with that, but I won’t, because you’re right. But it’s not as simple as that. Have your parents moved in then?’
‘No. They’ll be moving down in a few weeks, once the building work and decorating is completed.
We’ve only been here once or twice since we bought Old Farm and I’m here this week to see how all the works are progressing.
We’re hoping to officially open around Easter.
Or early summer at the latest. We’ll be employing staff and hopefully, have some volunteers organised before then, because my parents aren’t as young as they were.
A local architect, Jasper Bright, and his building firm, Bright Bonn and Taylor, Architects and Builders are doing the work. And so far, we’re more than happy.’
‘Oh, we know them quite well. Jasper’s brilliant and so is his girlfriend, Lara Taylor. She’s an artist. Believe me, if you want any paintings, sketches, or murals or anything, you won’t go wrong with Lara. She’s fantastic.’
‘Yes. I’ve met her. You’re right. Her work is exceptional.’
Kate finished her coffee and leant forward. ‘You said you’re taking early retirement. How early?’
He grinned at her. ‘If you’re asking my age, I’m fifty-eight. I’m guessing you’re late forties, early fifties.’
Kate tutted. ‘Don’t try and be charming now. I’m fifty-six.’
‘Really?’ He leant forward too. ‘You don’t look it. I’m being honest.’
‘Married? Divorced? Single? I’m just curious.’
A wide smile swept across his mouth but it was soon gone. He leant back against the booth and didn’t answer right away.
‘My wife died when I was thirty-eight, and like your husband, she had met someone else and was about to leave me. She didn’t like the academic life and wanted more excitement.
I live in a beautiful sixteenth century cottage on the school grounds, but she hated the place.
She was on her way to see him when she was hit by a car.
I was devastated and threw myself into work.
It wasn’t until several months later, when I was finally sorting out her belongings that I discovered her affair …
and her plans. After that, I concentrated on work, and on achieving mine and my parents dream of the rescue centre. ’
‘I’m sorry. Life sucks sometimes. Why do people have affairs and keep them secret? That’s a rhetorical question. I know why. I don’t think I could do that though. Partly because I’m not good at keeping secrets, and partly because I’d feel so guilty all the time.’
‘Same here.’ He met her eyes. ‘Has your husband’s affair put you off getting involved with anyone again? Is that what you meant by a man messing things up?’
She took a deep breath. ‘I think it’s made me less inclined to trust anyone in that way again. To be completely open with a man. But if someone had come along that I thought I could … to quote my gran, “share my life with”, I’m not sure it would stop me. But no one has. And I’m not looking.’
‘No one has yet. It’s never too late for love, so my parents tell me.’ He laughed. ‘A fifty-eight-year-old man taking dating advice from his parents, how sad is that?’
‘You haven’t met my gran. Oh, wait. You have. She thinks that you … that Fate will intervene.’
That was close. She nearly blurted out that he was The One for her according to Granny Viv. How embarrassing would that have been?
Saved by the bell.
‘Speaking of Granny Viv, she’s calling me … Oh crikey. Is that the time?’ She answered the phone and said, ‘Sorry. I’m on my way. Give me ten minutes. I stopped for coffee.’
‘See you soon then,’ Granny Viv said.
Kate rang off and smiled wanly. ‘Sorry about this but I’ve got to go. Let me find my purse.’ She rummaged in her handbag.
‘No! These are on me. Would you like a lift?’ He got Maud’s attention and she brought the bill, winking at Kate yet again.
Kate would love a lift, but there was no way she was turning up at Granny Viv’s in his car.
‘Thanks, but I’ll walk. I want to get a couple of things on the way.’
That wasn’t true. Why was she lying? She stood up despite an odd feeling that she’d rather like to stay.
He got up too, took out his wallet and left a generous tip on top of the cost of the coffees.
‘This is goodbye then,’ he said, and he sounded as disappointed as she felt. ‘For now.’
A bubble of hope rose up inside her. ‘Yes. Goodbye for now. I’m going this way.’ She pointed to the front door. He would be leaving via the back door. He merely nodded in response, so she stepped out of the booth and, with a wave to Maud, headed towards the door.
‘Kate?’
She stopped and smiled but when she turned to face him, she made sure the smile was gone. ‘Yes?’
‘Erm. You said you want a rescue dog. We don’t have any here yet, obviously, but we do have some in our centre in Oxford.
They’re on our website if you want to take a look.
Search for Rafferty and Hope’s Rescue Centre for Dogs and a dropdown box will direct you to the photos of the dogs in our Oxford centre.
If you like the look of any of them, give me a call and I can tell you more. Let me give you my number.’
‘That’ll be great. Thank you. And I’ll give you mine, just so that if I do call, you’ll know who it is.’
‘Perfect,’ he said as they exchanged numbers. ‘Bye then.’
‘Bye.’
She turned away again and with the smile back in place walked as fast as she could towards the door. For some absurd reason she had an almost insatiable urge to do the little happy dance that she and Beth did when something really good happened.
It was obviously because she might soon be getting her rescue dog.
What else could it possibly be?