Chapter 24
The climbing weekend went by in a flash and they were soon back in Loughborough and unpacking their stuff from the back of the minibus.
Obviously Trent was still playing the hero and now had his arm in a makeshift sling so that nobody further damaged his broken pinky finger by mistake.
He had made a point of staring at Nora when he’d explained to everyone why he was wearing the sling.
She was too tired to care. All the climbing had taken it out of her but the sense of achievement remained.
There was also a feeling of being closer to Jay somehow, but then trips like this were all about bonding over shared experiences.
Nora and Jay decided to get an uber back from the drop-off point together. Jay seemed quite keen that he wasn’t alone when he entered his house. Nora had a feeling Jay was worried that he might find Renee half eaten by Bruce. Instead they were met by a smiling Renee and the smell of home cooking.
‘Something smells amazing,’ said Jay, putting his stuff down in the hall before freezing as if sensing something was amiss. ‘Where’s Bruce? What’s happened?’
Renee waved her hands in a calm-down motion. ‘Don’t panic. Everything is fine. He’s on his rug. Dinner’s on. Are you stopping?’ she asked Nora as she gave her a hug.
‘Er?’ Nora looked at Jay. She’d only really come as back-up in case Jay’s wildest nightmares had come true.
Jay nodded. ‘You might as well stay, unless you need to get home for Oliver or anything?’
‘A shower is at the top of my list,’ said Nora, trying to subtly sniff her own armpit.
‘Take the weight off and I’ll fix us all an Espresso Martini. I’ve been working on them this weekend and I’ve almost perfected it,’ said Renee proudly. ‘You can be my guinea pigs,’ she added before heading off to the kitchen.
Jay was still putting things down and Nora was taking her shoes off. ‘See, she’s fine,’ whispered Nora. ‘And Bruce hasn’t come to bark at us. That’s all good. Isn’t it?’
‘He’s probably spaced out on Espresso Martinis.’
‘He’s on his rug.’
‘He doesn’t have a rug,’ said Jay, throwing his hands up.
In the living room they found Bruce lying on a sheepskin rug with his legs in the air. Jay inched towards the dog and Nora took a seat on the sofa.
‘Here we are. Try these cheeky little buggers,’ said Renee, putting down a tray and decanting three crocheted coasters and three coupe glasses.
‘I like your coasters,’ said Nora, nodding at Jay.
‘They’re not mine.’
‘I couldn’t find any and I got a bit bored so I made you a set to match the cushions,’ said Renee, sitting down.
‘I don’t have cushions,’ mouthed Jay at Nora with wide eyes.
‘Cheers,’ said Renee, taking a sip of her cocktail and smacking her lips together.
‘Thanks,’ said Jay, looking puzzled. ‘They’re not my glasses.’
‘I couldn’t find anything suitable for cocktails so I ordered in.’ Renee looked at them both. ‘Drink up!’
‘Renee,’ said Jay. ‘What’s wrong with Bruce?’
They all stared at the dog, who looked like he was doing a dying-fly impression, although motionless with his tongue lolling out of his mouth.
‘I’ve been doing some relaxation techniques with him and he’s picked them up a treat. Brucey, Daddy’s back,’ said Renee and he seemed to come to life. He rolled over and lay there with his head on his paws. ‘Give him a fuss then. He’s been looking forward to you getting home.’ Renee stared at Jay.
‘Oh right. Um, OK. Hello, Bruce.’ Jay leaned tentatively forward and patted the dog on the head.
‘He can barely feel that. Have you seen how thick his coat is? Give him a hearty rub, that’s what he likes.’
Jay swallowed hard. ‘A hearty rub. OK.’ Jay’s fingers disappeared into the dog’s coat as he made more of a fuss of him.
‘That’s better. Now do tummy tickles. He bloody loves that, he does,’ said Renee. ‘Brucey, roll over for Daddy.’ Bruce immediately flipped on to his back, making Jay whip his hands out of the way. Renee pointed at the dog’s middle.
Nora was trying not to laugh. Jay’s fear and discomfort was palpable. ‘What’s with the rug, Renee?’
‘He needed a space that was all his,’ she said.
‘He has a dog bed,’ said Jay, trying to look at Renee but clearly not wanting to take his eyes off the dog as he rubbed his tummy.
‘He doesn’t like it. It’s probably been used as a punishment by his previous owners. Go to your bed,’ snapped Renee, making Nora and Jay jump and for a second Nora thought Jay was going to make for the stairs. ‘The rug is much nicer for him.’
‘I think you’ve done an amazing job with Bruce,’ said Nora, sipping her cocktail and making an O shape with her mouth because it was potent. She still wasn’t used to Renee measures. ‘Are the cushions new?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ said Renee and Jay together – the tone of each of them quite a contrast.
‘The place needed a bit of colour,’ said Renee. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Well …’ Jay was pulling a face.
‘I love them. Teal is the perfect colour for this room and it goes with the painting,’ said Nora, studying the beautiful picture of a café on what looked like a Paris side street.
‘What painting?’ asked Jay, swivelling his head in different directions until he spotted it.
‘Oh that’s nothing. I whipped it up in a morning,’ said Renee.
‘I was briefly Salvador Dalí’s muse,’ she added.
‘Lovely man. The locals frowned upon him taking his anteater out in Montmartre. Groovy times.’ Nora wasn’t sure if that was a euphemism or not and couldn’t hide her giggles but Renee hadn’t noticed because she seemed to be lost in the painting for a moment.
Jay continued to look bewildered as he stroked the dog, who was the most chilled-out Nora had ever seen him.
‘Renee,’ said Jay, ‘have you drugged Bruce?’
Renee cackled. ‘Good heavens. Of course not. What do you take me for? And anyway I wouldn’t waste the good stuff on him,’ she said with a cheeky wink. ‘There’s no witchcraft. It’s just good manners and a little chicken.’
Bruce lifted his head. ‘Brucey, come here, please,’ said Renee.
The dog got up and came to sit in front of her.
‘Thank you. Brucey, lie down, please.’ Renee held out a piece of chicken and moved her hand towards the floor.
Bruce lay down and gently took the chicken as his reward.
‘Good boy,’ she said, giving him a rough rub on his head.
‘Wow,’ said Jay.
‘He definitely has had some training before. I just tapped into the fact that he’ll do anything for a piece of chicken. Now all I have to do is train you,’ she said.
Jay looked alarmed and Renee started to laugh.
‘I need to train you how to command Bruce. Not to lie down!’
‘Oh OK,’ said Jay, looking relieved.
‘Right. Dinner time!’ Renee knocked back the rest of her drink. Bruce quickly righted himself. ‘Not you, Bruce. You stay here. There’s a good boy.’
‘I’ll feed him,’ said Jay, getting to his feet.
‘No you won’t,’ said Renee. ‘He’s learned that he has to wait until we’ve had ours. Then it’s his turn. He’s the beta.’
‘Does that make me the alpha?’ asked Jay, looking chuffed.
‘You’ll get there.’ Renee ushered him to the table, where they found a new tablecloth and a lovely floral centrepiece.
Nora pointed at the flowers and Jay shrugged. Renee definitely had an eye for interiors and she’d brightened Jay’s place up a treat. ‘I really like what she’s done,’ whispered Nora.
‘I think I’ll need a few days to get used to it.’ Jay’s eyes darted about as if searching for any other alterations.
‘I especially like the conservatory she’s added on,’ said Nora, making Jay spin around to face the back of the house.
‘Oh very droll. Although I wouldn’t put it past her. She’d have probably dug the foundations herself.’ They both laughed.
‘What’s the joke?’ asked Renee as she ferried lasagne and salad to the table.
‘We’re impressed with what you’ve done this weekend,’ said Nora.
‘Gotta keep busy,’ said Renee.
‘You’ve definitely done that.’ Nora was amazed by what Renee had achieved in such a short space of time. ‘Did you make this too?’ she asked as a waft of rich pasta sauce floated in her direction.
‘Goodness, no. Life’s too short for fannying around with lasagne. I bought it from Marks and Spencer. Red or white?’ she asked, holding up two bottles. Nora could only admire Renee’s priorities.
They were interrupted by the doorbell. Bruce ran to the hallway and barked once. ‘Good dog,’ said Renee. ‘Right, that’ll be my taxi. You too have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, which gives you quite a lot of scope.’
‘Are you not staying to eat?’ asked Jay.
‘Sorry. It’s illicit poker night and I’m hosting. Cheerio.’ And with that she picked up her bag and left.
Nora and Jay looked at each other. ‘She’s exhausting,’ said Jay.
‘I think she might be an animatronic.’
‘That would make more sense,’ said Jay, pouring them both a glass of white wine. ‘Thanks for a lovely weekend,’ he added, raising his glass, which Nora clinked.
‘Ditto. You got me through it.’
‘Nah. You don’t need me.’ Jay began serving the lasagne.
Actually I think I do, thought Nora. The ping from a text interrupted her thoughts.
Jay pulled his phone out and his face lit up.
‘Anything exciting?’ she asked.
‘It’s Tasha Blake. She’s in London tomorrow night and she’s free for dinner if I’m still up for it.’ His face dropped. ‘I can’t leave Bruce again.’
‘I’ll look after Bruce. It’s definitely my turn,’ said Nora.
‘You’re the best,’ said Jay, putting away his phone and looking happier than if he’d won an Oscar.
*
Dixie had been feeling decidedly lonely.
Ned had fixed the table for her but had made some excuse about needing to be somewhere else and had left swiftly.
The atmosphere had been uncomfortable after they’d had words about her living arrangements but she had felt worse once he’d left.
It seemed an awkward silence with someone was preferable to one on your own.
She’d not even seen Arnold for a while and Nora’s phone was going straight to voicemail so either it was switched off or she was out of range.
She had mentioned going away for the weekend so perhaps that was why Dixie couldn’t get hold of her.
For a moment Dixie thought how nice it would be to go away for the weekend, then she looked around and sighed.
She was away, although she was stuck in one place.
Things really weren’t panning out how she’d hoped.
She made a start on swapping the cushion covers but her heart wasn’t in it.
For some reason she thought about the notes that had been left on the van windscreen by the angry landowner.
She’d not had one for a few days. Even that person had stopped bothering about her.
Everyone was deserting her. There was a moment where she had a wobble.
The pull of normality was strong. A Waitrose dinner and a nicely chilled Pinot Noir called to her.
But she simply couldn’t give up, although it was now Sunday so technically she had reached the mini milestone she had set herself of surviving for two whole weeks.
The goalposts had only changed when Ned had appeared.
She tapped her lip with her fingertip as she thought.
She was torn and she wasn’t entirely sure why.
Why had Ned’s words and his reaction affected her so much, she wondered?
She could admit that Elsie was a bit basic but it was no worse than camping, not that she’d ever been camping.
Her parents had a couple of second homes and they frequently visited the villas of other family members so rarely holidayed in the UK.
She suspected the one time she’d been in a yurt didn’t count as that had had its own wine fridge, double bed and shower tent.
But it wasn’t her fault that her parents had been able to take her on nice holidays.
Maybe she felt defensive of Elsie. She wondered if Ned would be back. The thought that he might not made her feel sad. Well, sadder than she was already feeling.
What she needed was to snap herself out of the doldrums and get back on track.
The important thing was to make her campervan habitable for her and if Ned did ever come back then she could look him in the eye and say ‘Yah boo sucks!’ Maybe she’d come up with something a little better than that given time.