The Little Book Café

‘Of course I trust you,’ her mother snapped. ‘But you work twenty-four hours a day.’

‘Mum, calm down. Think of your blood pressure. I’ll find a way to work round it. He can have a basket in the back of the office and stay in the car when I’m on a viewing.’

‘In this heat? He’ll suffocate! You’ll have to have all the windows open. And make sure he wears his doggie seatbelt.’

‘I can probably take him in with me to the clients I know well. But if I have to leave him in the car, I’ll make sure I park it in the shade and with the windows open, I promise. And put his seatbelt on.’

‘And what about Adrian?’ He father put in, meaningfully.

There was a tense pause. Adrian’s antipathy to Benji was legendary – but Tash had already decided. It was give and take in a relationship. She’d given in enough times over the last few weeks, Adrian would have to compromise on this. ‘Adrian will understand,’ she said. ‘And, after all, it’s only six weeks.’

‘Well, I suppose you could try a few kennels later in the month,’ Nadia conceded. ‘Things go quieter after the bank holiday. But make sure you ring me so I can approve. I’m not having my baby go anywhere I don’t know.’

‘I promise.’ Tash grinned. ‘Hadn’t you better think about getting organised? You don’t want to leave too late, you know what the traffic’s like at this time of year. Don’t worry, I’ll wash the mugs and lock up. And yes,’ she added, as her mother began to fuss. ‘I’ll pop in every couple of days to get the post and water the garden.’

Chapter 19 (#ulink_5256dc4e-804b-5d0c-8bcb-8acc810dae14)

Adrian’s reaction to her arrival home with a dog and all the bits and pieces her mother had insisted Benji needed was predictable.

‘If you think I’m having that thing mess up my house,’ he blustered, ‘you’ve got another thing coming.’ He blocked her in the hall.

Tash knelt and put a protective hand on Benji’s back. ‘He’s perfectly house-trained, has just been clipped so he won’t shed that much, and I always thought it was our house, Adrian?’

‘The mortgage is in my name.’

‘Well, if that’s how you feel about it, I’ll just go and live at Mum and Dad’s for six weeks.’

‘No. No, don’t do that.’ Adrian subsided. ‘But honestly Natasha, what were you thinking? How can you look after a dog?’

‘I’ll just have to work around him.’ Tash looked down at Benji who was looking confused and scared at the loud voices. ‘It’ll be fine,’ she said confidently, trying to convince herself. ‘And look, Ade, if it’s really impossible, I’ll investigate kennels and dog-sitters.’

Adrian backed away and looked down at the little dog in disgust. ‘I suggest you do that. God, I hate dogs. Dirty, smelly, flea-ridden things.’

‘Don’t listen to a word, Benji. We both know if you had even one flea my mother would hang her head in shame. Come on, let’s put your basket in the utility, shall we?’

‘In the house?’ Adrian roared. ‘Hasn’t it got an outside kennel or something?’

‘If you force my mother’s dog to sleep outside you’ll have her to answer to,’ Tash answered serenely and sensed him shudder. He was always very careful around her mother. ‘I’ll take him out of your way later this afternoon, don’t worry.’ She put the basket in the corner by the radiator and tidied away Benji’s many toys and brushes in a cupboard. To do so she had to put all the washing powder boxes and conditioners on the counter top. ‘Well Adrian will have to live with the place looking untidy for a few weeks,’ she whispered to the dog. ‘Won’t he?’

Benji sniffed his basket suspiciously then waddled into it, turned around three times and settled down with a sigh of recognition. Tash’s heart melted. He’d looked so lost all morning. He was spoiled, stubborn and lazy but it wasn’t his fault he’d been made temporarily homeless. ‘We’ll go and see the Red Arrows later, shall we? That’ll be fun.’

Chapter 20 (#ulink_3b36c9e9-7132-5135-b425-b6fe4598a6f8)

Adrian sulked all afternoon so Tash clipped on Benji’s lead, called out a cursory, ‘Off to walk the dog. See you later,’ and left without waiting for an answer.

She made her way down the steep lane to Berecombe seafront and followed the crowds to the beach. Benji trotted along happily as if glad to be doing something. As she neared Millie’s café, she heard her name being called.

‘Tash, we’re over here. We’ve got a good spot.’ It was Emma.

Tash eased her way along the congested promenade, to where Emma, along with her boyfriend Ollie, was sitting at a bench on the extended terrace in front of Millie’s bookshop. ‘Wow, the town’s rammed isn’t it?’ Tash squeezed herself onto the bench next to Emma. ‘Hi both.’

‘Hi Tash,’ Ollie replied, pushing his dark fringe off his eyes. ‘Red Arrows always bring in the crowds. Car parks full by eleven this morning, apparently.’

Emma rolled her eyes. ‘He likes to know boring things like that.’

Tash smiled and picked up Benji to put on her lap. Emma wasn’t always very nice to her boyfriend. Ollie was a saint to put up with it.

‘Won’t be boring when you’re complaining about having to walk back up the hill. You’ll be glad of a lift,’ he answered placidly.

‘Got you there, Em.’

‘Nah. I’m at my physical peak. Fun runners be afraid. Be very afraid. I’m going to win.’

‘Aren’t you supposed to be raising money for the RNLI?’ Ollie asked. ‘Thought that was the point.’

‘And I can aim for first place while I’m at it.’ Emma poked him in the ribs with an elbow and gave Benji some fuss.

Tash looked at her suspiciously. The girl was flushed and her eyes were over-bright. Maybe it was just relief at finishing work for the weekend. She and Emma took turns at manning the office on Saturday mornings. ‘Why can’t I sit on the bench on the other side of the table?’ she asked. ‘It’s a bit squashed with you two and the dog.’

‘Kit and Amy have gone to get drinks and some food, I hope. I’m starving. Busy morning in the office. I didn’t have time to eat. Phone never stopped and the grockles were in trying to buy their dream home by the sea.’

‘Oh.’ Tash felt herself blush. She wasn’t sure how to react to seeing Kit again. ‘Good that it was busy.’

‘Yeah, it was manic. To top it all, that Biddy came in. I gave her the draft details of the Morrisons’ bungalow. She seemed interested. Gave me some more of her brownies. It’s the only thing I’ve managed to eat all day.’ Emma craned her neck. ‘Oh good, here they are. Hope they’ve got some of Millie’s sausage baguettes. They’re delish.’

Ollie waggled his eyebrows at Tash. ‘In the peak of physical health and eating sausage baguettes.’

Kit stepped over the bench and straddled it. ‘Great buzz in town and I love that café. I’ve got the coffees and Millie’s special cherry and almond cake and Amy’s got the sandwiches.’ He put the pink tin tray with the flowery mugs down on the table. ‘Will that do you, Emma?’ He clocked Tash. ‘Oh, didn’t see you there. Hi Tash.’ He began to stand up. ‘I’ll go back and get you something, shall I? What do you fancy?’

Tash looked up at him mutely. ‘You,’ she wanted to say. Instead she smiled. ‘I’m sure there’ll be more than enough.’

Amy perched next to him. ‘Think there’s enough to feed half of Berecombe here. Millie’s portions are huge.’ She began to dole out sandwiches. ‘Only one sausage baguette left so that’s yours Emma. I’ve got tuna mayo. Hand-carved ham and mustard, Ollie and Kit? You can share my tuna if you like, Tash. I won’t eat all of it.’

Amy would be able to eat the entire picnic, Tash was sure. But like a lot of chubby women, she was too self-conscious to eat too much in public. Tash knew the signs. She’d been like it once. ‘That’s really kind, Amy, thank you. It’s great this, isn’t it? I love the Red Arrows.’

Emma looked at her through narrowed eyes. ‘You’re in an unusually good mood. And why have you got Benji?’

Tash tightened her hold on the dog as he got a sniff of ham and sausage and wriggled. ‘Parents flew out to Portugal this morning and the kennels cocked up. He’s staying with me for the duration.’

‘And how does Adrian feel about that?’ Emma’s eyes went huge. ‘He hates dogs. Won’t it mess up his perfect shag-pile?’

‘Adrian’s fine with it all,’ Tash lied. ‘And we don’t have shag-pile, as well you know,’ she said stiffly. She felt Kit’s eyes on her and her face heated. ‘Let’s dig in, shall we? I’m hungry too.’ She accepted the half a sandwich Amy offered. ‘Bookshop not open today?’

‘Millie’s given me a couple of hours off.’ Amy blushed. ‘Patrick’s covering. He’ll do a lot better than me. Knows much more about books.’

‘I’m sure that’s not true.’

‘I’ll go back in once it’s over. The Red Arrows bring a lot of people into town and I’ve done a display of books about them and stuff,’ Amy added eagerly.