Chapter Seventeen
I was indebted to Lisa. She’d thrown me a lifeline. Put a roof over my head.
Finally, I could surf the internet and look at suitable properties for Cindy and myself, confident I was in a great position. The fact that nothing currently appealed didn’t matter too much. Lisa had said I could stay at hers indefinitely.
January came and went. I continued to scan properties online like they were going out of fashion. So far everything was either too expensive or required a ton of work. Apartments were aplenty, but not feasible when having a dog.
February arrived. The first weekend of the new month was a wet one. Lisa had absented herself by going to Spain for a long weekend. She was attending the wedding of an old school friend who’d traded England for sunnier climes.
I spent Saturday morning giving the maisonette a thorough vacuuming, before making the bathroom and kitchen sparkle. However, the place was tiny. The job was done in less than a couple of hours. How to spend the remainder of the day? Cindy gave me an enquiring look.
Walkies?
‘You’ve already had a walk today.’
So let’s have another one!
I considered for a moment. Earlier, we’d driven to Meopham, and I’d parked at the office carpark. We’d then walked a good couple of miles along the road. Up to the windmill, a local landmark. We’d then strolled around the Common which, because of the rain, we’d had to ourselves.
We’d eventually walked back to Octavia, hugging the narrow pavement that edged the A227. It was a busy road and not the place to let a dog like Cindy off the lead. She could so easily get distracted by a squirrel and be under the wheels of a car in a nanosecond.
Walkies, again?
My dog’s eyes, like two chocolate buttons with a star at each centre, silently implored me.
Please?Pretty please?
‘Okay,’ I agreed. I peered through the kitchen window. ‘Bonus,’ I informed Cindy. ‘It’s stopped raining.’
This was good news because no rain meant no whiff of damp dog. A soggy doggy wasn’t the greatest smell, especially in a place as small as this one.
‘We’ll go for that second walk,’ I informed Cindy. She wagged her tail. ‘But not around Longfield or Meopham.’
Oh, then where?
‘Somewhere nice,’ I assured.
Will there be squirrels?
‘Lots of squirrels,’ I promised.
A moment later, I’d swapped her every-day-collar for one fitted with tiny jingle bells. My dog might be obsessed with grey fluffies, but I didn’t condone her catching them. When Cindy dashed off, collar jingling like Santa’s reindeer, local wildlife were alerted. They swiftly took cover.
Minutes later, we were both inside Octavia. As we headed out of Longfield and towards Meopham, Cindy’s nose was almost pressed against the window. She was eager to work out where we were going. Eventually, she gave a little yip of excitement.
Ooh, we’re going to Trosley Country Park!
‘Um, no,’ I said, signalling right. Octavia’s engine started to whine as she began the steep ascent to our destination.
Oh, Mum, no! Why are you driving to Starlight Croft?
‘Because, at the top of the hill, there’s beautiful woodland to explore.’
Yeah, right. But I’m not daft. You have an ulterior motive. Am I right, or am I right?
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I said innocently.
I crouched over the steering wheel. We were now at the point where the road narrowed to a singletrack country lane.
You’ve come for a nosy, haven’t you? A sneaky peek at Starlight Cottage. And maybe to catch a glimpse of the new owner. Milo Soren.
‘Possibly,’ I admitted, pulling a face.
You never met him, did you?
‘No,’ I sighed. ‘I made sure I was out of the office when he came in to see Leslie. I didn’t trust myself not to fall at his feet and beg him to buy something somewhere else.’ I sighed again. ‘Anyway, it’s done now. He lives here, and we don’t.’
So much for your chat with the universe.
‘Indeed,’ I agreed.
I wonder what Milo Soren is like?
‘Lisa said he was in his forties, goodlooking, but harassed. I think she was possibly batting her eyelashes at him but didn’t get anywhere.’
There’s a pub in the village. After our walk, can we go there? I fancy a sausage sandwich followed by a huge slice of chocolate cake.
‘You can’t eat chocolate cake,’ I pointed out. ‘It’s toxic to dogs. Anyway, let me concentrate. This road is a bit of a challenge and’ – my heart sank – ‘oh, bugger. A transit van is coming towards us. Looks like a courier. Sod it. He’s not giving way either.’
I don’t think he can. You’ll have to reverse for him .
‘Just cosmic,’ I muttered, changing gear.
As Octavia shot back, back, and back some more in a rather kamikaze fashion, I swore under my breath. I’d been bullied into complying with the other driver. Big vehicles always took advantage of smaller ones. A case where size definitely mattered. All I needed now was a vehicle coming up behind me and then I’d be well and truly stuck.
Bet you’re glad you didn’t move here after all, eh?
‘Nope,’ I retorted, although I wasn’t sure my neck agreed. The muscles were now protesting from maintaining a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree angle.
A small layby came into view. Sighing with relief, I squashed Octavia into the hedgerow. I then screamed as a cow’s head popped over the leafy foliage. She regarded us benignly before letting out a mournful moo.
‘WOOF!’ barked Cindy, making me jump again. I clutched my chest as Cindy let rip. ‘WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOF, WOOOOOOF!’
Dog and cow stared at each other as the van driver rattled past. Its wingmirror missed Octavia by a whisker.
‘You’re welcome,’ I huffed. ‘Did you see that? He didn’t bother to say thank you.’
Never mind the van driver, Cindy frowned. Did you hear what that cow said to me?
‘No,’ I said, looking at my dog.
This wasn’t good. Not only was I having entire conversations with my pooch, but apparently a cow was joining in too.
She told us to moo-ve it.
‘Ha!’ I rolled my eyes as we set off again. ‘Keep your paws crossed that we don’t encounter another vehicle. Oh, and one more thing. I love our chats, Cindy, but I draw the line at including cows.’
That’s a shame. I was going to tell you a cow joke – Cindy sniggered – but you’ve probably herd them all.