48
E ssie has been back to the fancy gift shop, which has been overwhelmed recently, and bought the biggest, fanciest ribbon she can find.
It is pink and covered in diamanté studs.
She adds some clip-on hair bows to keep Freuchie’s hair out of her eyes.
She adds a leopard print leash. Then on a whim she buys the dog a leopard print jacket.
And then she walks to the End of the World pub.
Shelby is chalking up the board for that night’s specials. It is Mexican night, apparently. Suddenly Essie feels incredibly impressed that somebody is having a go.
‘Uh, Shelby?’ she says.
‘Yeah?’
‘If you don’t want her, there’s loads of other people who do, so don’t worry about it but . . . I thought for the bar . . . ’
And she brings out the carrier behind her.
Shelby comes forward suspiciously. But when she sees what’s inside – Freuchie with her adorable little bow and pink diamanté collar and little leopard print jacket, she can’t help herself.
‘Oh, mah God!’ She looks up. ‘Really? For me?’
Essie nods. ‘I wanted to say thank you for helping us at the airport.’
‘Has she got a name?’
‘All yours,’ says Essie.
‘Wanna come in for a drink and show me how to work this thing?’ she says to Essie, almost off-handedly.
‘Sure,’ says Essie.
Shelby is kissing the dog all over its little black nose. It is the only pretty one of the litter. But Bute is still the best, thinks Essie, stoutly.
‘Well, then, I am calling you Peggy-Sue,’ says Shelby, and Essie smiles.
‘That’s a great name for a dog.’
Shelby nods, to indicate she already knows.
‘So,’ she says, holding the door open, and depositing another kiss on Peggy-Sue’s head. ‘Seems you’re going to be hanging out here for a while.’
‘Seems like it,’ says Essie.
‘You’d better get a pair of knitting needles, then,’ says Shelby, nodding towards a circle of women drinking coffee, who hail Essie. ‘There’s a lot of new dogs out there need winter coats.’
‘It’s halfway through May.’
‘Yeah, don’t forget how chilly August can get.’
‘Plus you need to tell us all about how long you and Dwight have been carrying on,’ says Gertie. ‘Most of the money’s on since April, and Marion reckons you’re pregnant already’.
Essie’s mouth gapes open.
‘Also, Shelby has a police detective in love with her – he’s been flying back to see her.’
Essie turns to look at Shelby, who betrays nothing, but sticks a large cup of tea in her hand.
‘Come in yourself; sit down, you’re very welcome.’