by Loretta Hill
‘Nice try,’ she smirked triumphantly and pulled Elsa towards the doors of Canine Comfort, chanting all the way, Please don’t turn me away. Please don’t turn me away.
By now at least she had a bit of system going and some good lawyer spiel to increase her credibility up front. Before the girl at the counter could even greet her, she opened her argument.
‘Hi, my name is Bronwyn Eddings. I’m a lawyer from Bantam, Harvey and Grey and I’m here on behalf of my client. How are you?’
The young girl behind the counter removed the lollipop from her mouth and sat up straighter. ‘Er … good.’
Bronwyn passed her card swiftly across the counter and as the girl picked it up, she continued talking. ‘This is his dog, for which we require a temporary holding. Unfortunately, I do not have Elsa’s vaccination or flea treatment papers on my person but if you give me your email or fax number I can have those directed to you within twenty-four hours. How does that sound?’
‘Er … good.’ The young girl nodded slowly.
Bronwyn curbed the urge to dance on the spot before saying, with a complete lack of emotion, ‘Fantastic. Do you have some consent forms I can complete for you?’
‘Sure.’
The girl pulled these from a pigeon hole. While Bronwyn was filling them out, she walked around the counter so that she could look at Elsa.
‘She’s a mastiff,’ she observed.
‘A very placid one,’ Bronwyn hastily added, relieved to note that lightning did not strike her dead as the white lie tripped easily off her tongue. ‘Most of the time.’ At least for once Elsa was sitting calmly at her feet, panting happily.
‘Hey, girl.’ The teenager got down to Elsa’s level and rubbed a hand over her glossy coat. ‘Aren’t you good-looking.’
‘Yes, she is,’ Bronwyn added for good measure. ‘Very well groomed by her owner. I’m sure she’ll be no trouble to you at all.’
‘How long will you leave her here for?’
‘A few months, maybe more. Where do I sign?’
The girl, whose hand had slowed over the side of Elsa’s belly, frowned. ‘Actually, nowhere. I don’t think you should.’ She stood up.
Bronwyn froze. ‘Huh?’
‘We won’t be taking her today.’
‘What? Why?’ Bronwyn cried. ‘She’s been so well behaved and not in the least bit aggressive.’
‘Yes, poor thing,’ the girl nodded. ‘Being a bullmastiff she must get lumped with that stereotype a lot. But that’s not why I’m passing.’
‘Then why? I don’t understand. Haven’t I considered all of your requirements? Vaccination? Fleas? Grooming? Behaviour? There can’t possibly be something else you object to.’
The girl shrugged. ‘She’s pregnant.’
‘She’s what?’
‘Pregnant. And pretty far along from the look of things.’
‘No, that can’t be right. She doesn’t look that fat.’
‘Her nipples are quite prominent. I wouldn’t think she’s more than a few weeks away from popping, if that.’
‘Seriously?’
‘I’m sorry, but we can’t deliver puppies here, we don’t have the liability insurance for it.’ She glanced meaningfully at the card on the counter.
Bronwyn glared at Elsa, who put her head down between her paws as though to stave off the lecture. ‘What did you do?’
Elsa made a slight whiny noise.
‘Does your father know about this?’
Elsa barked.
‘How could you do this to me? How could you do this to us? This place was the last kennel on my list within driving distance. What am I supposed to do now?’
‘Er …’ the young girl interrupted, ‘could you take her back to your client?’
‘I would,’ Bronwyn retorted, ‘only the bastard’s in jail, isn’t he?’
‘Oh,’ the girl smiled uncertainly. ‘So did you want your card back then?’
‘Damn it!’ She tugged on the lead. ‘Never mind. Come on, Elsa.’ She stomped all the way back to her car. ‘I’ve just wasted five hours of my life on a wild goose chase.’
She lifted her keys to remotely unlock her car when Elsa happened to notice the park across the road again. She barked ferociously and then tore off in this direction, pulling Bronwyn across the bitumen with her. When they were off the road, Bronwyn had the good sense to simply let go of the leash. As Elsa ran to the far end of the park, she dropped her hands to her knees to catch her breath. Her feet were two lumps of pure agony. She reached down and yanked off her high heels, throwing the shoes away from her. Sighing with relief, she hobbled over to the kids’ play equipment and sat down on the swing. Elsa did laps of the surrounds, stopping to sniff the ground at intervals.
Bronwyn was sure if she looked at her phone there would be at least a dozen missed calls from Simon. No doubt he expected her back at the office by now, dog-free and ready to explain herself. Instead, she was still here with Elsa, with red blistered feet and the unwelcome discovery that yet another person had managed to take advantage of her.
As if refusing to be ignored, her phone buzzed in her handbag.
Great.
She supposed she couldn’t avoid him forever. Fishing the phone out, she closed her eyes and said, ‘Hello?’
‘Bronwyn, what’s your status? I need you on the Hayman case. You should have been back hours ago.’
What, no ‘How are you, Bronwyn? Do you still have all your fingers or did that dog take one?’
Frown lines appeared at the bridge of her nose and the first pin of rebellion stuck in her spine. ‘My status is busy. I still have Peter Goldman’s dog with me.’
‘Why?’
‘Because no kennel will take her. She’s pregnant.’
Simon groaned. ‘For fuck’s sake, take the dog to the pound.’
‘But they’ll put her down if they can’t give her away.’
Pregnant and aggressive. Bronwyn did not like Elsa’s chances.
‘That’s not our problem. That dog is a fuckin’ imposition. Not to mention the damage to our property, which I fully intend to add to Peter Goldman’s bill. Get rid of that dog, Bronwyn, and get back here now. We can’t waste any more of your time on this.’
‘No.’
There was a heady pause in which she felt all her senses go on high alert. The sound of the crickets in the grass grew louder, her upper lip moistened. She licked it, tasting her own sweat as she waited. Claudia was right. There was the perfect answer to all her problems.
‘What did you say?’
‘I said … er … No, sir.’
‘And what exactly do you intend to do instead?’
Bronwyn licked her lips again. ‘I’m going to keep the dog, sir. And I need a little bit of time this afternoon to sort that out.’
Simon laughed. A laugh that was neither humorous nor warm. ‘Perhaps you’d like to take tomorrow off too to buy it a dog bowl and blanket?’
‘Actually, that would be perfect.’
‘Bronwyn!’ he barked. ‘I don’t care if you are an Eddings or not. I will have no hesitation in firing you if you do not get back to your desk immediately.’
Her heart sank. ‘Oh.’
‘The truth is, despite your very impressive pedigree, you lack the qualities I admire the most in your mother and father.’
Bronwyn’s slumped shoulders lifted. ‘Really? I do?’
‘Definitely. While you are competent, I expected so much more grit in the daughter of Bianca Hanks.’
‘Of course you did.’
‘In fact, I don’t think you should have become a lawyer at all!’
Bronwyn laid a hand on her chest. ‘Sir, that is the nicest thing you have ever said to me.’
‘Are you being sarcastic?’
‘No.’ She frowned. ‘Of course not.’
‘Good, because we stand to incur penalties if you don’t get the Hayman documents filed in court by tomorrow. You need to get back to the office now. Do you understa
nd me?’
‘I understand you perfectly, sir.’ Bronwyn’s features hardened as another pin of rebellion was driven home. ‘But I am not taking this dog to the pound.’
‘Then you’re fired.’
‘Thank you, sir, I was hoping you’d say that. I would have quit but I didn’t want to work notice.’
‘What?’
‘I’ll come and pick up my things another day,’ Bronwyn said. ‘Like I said, I have a dog to sort out.’
Elsa barked happily at her as she cut the line with shaky fingers. She put the phone back in her handbag, trying to process what had just happened.
Surprisingly, her panic was subsiding and she was feeling good.
Really good.
She began to swing slowly, backwards and forwards.
Up and down.
The wind whipped her hair, causing strands to come out of her stylishly loose bun and brush against her face. She could hear wild birds tweeting in the trees and the roar of the occasional car from the main road in the distance. It had been a long time since she’d been to a park and sat on a swing.
Life was one long rat race and there was no time for anything but the game.
This was her defining moment.
This was the point where she realised it all had to change.
She’d been such a coward up until this point, more concerned about hiding who she was than revealing it. But the truth was she’d been moving towards this moment for a long time.
She let the sides of the swing go and flung herself out. Jumping into the sand like a symbolic leap of faith. She rummaged in her bag again for her phone. It only took her a second to find Claudia’s number and only another five for her best friend to answer the call.
‘Hey, Bron, I’m just heading to your place now. Had a hellish day.’
‘Me too. I’m coming home as well.’
‘Oh really? Isn’t it early?’
‘Yeah. I sort of have a bit of problem.’
‘Okay. What?’
‘You know that dog you told me not to take at any cost?’
‘Y-es.’ Claudia’s tone was deeply suspicious.
‘I kinda … did.’
Chapter 4
When Claudia arrived at Bronwyn’s super-slick Subiaco apartment building, it was not to be greeted with the luxuries of inner-city living. Instead, the vision that greeted her was of Bronwyn streaking across the car park, being dragged by a dog the size of a small pony. Her friend looked a mess. Her hair was out and windswept, her skirt suit in crumpled disarray and her feet bare and dirty. It was like she’d been bitten by a pixie and gone wild.
‘Bron?’
‘Hey.’ Bron stopped next to Claudia’s ute, completely breathless, her bright smile indicating that her current state caused her none of the unhappiness that you might expect. ‘Glad you finally got here. This is Elsa. Beautiful, isn’t she?’
‘Sure.’ Claudia slowly lowered her hand to the dog’s head, giving it a tentative pat. ‘If you discount the fact that her father’s in jail, she’s pregnant and by association you’re currently ineligible to stay in your own apartment.’
‘And I got fired because of her as well.’ Bron merrily shook her finger.
‘You got fired?!’
‘Did I forget to mention that? I guess in the information offload over the phone, it got missed out.’
‘Yeah, right,’ Claudia retorted. ‘You didn’t tell me on purpose.’
Bronwyn rolled her eyes. ‘Maybe because I knew you would react like this and really there’s nothing to be worried about.’
‘How can you say that?’ Claudia gasped. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘Do?’ Bronwyn’s eyes lit up like Christmas lights. ‘What can I do but enjoy it?’
‘Which part exactly?’
‘All of it. This is one of the best days of my life and it’s shortly to become the best day of yours.’
Claudia frowned. ‘I’m not seeing it.’
‘You will.’ Bronwyn nodded as she struggled with Elsa, who clearly wanted to take off again. ‘Perhaps if we take a walk down to my local park I can tell you all about my cunning plan.’
‘You’ve got a cunning plan?’ Claudia raised her eyebrows. ‘Okay. Who are you and what have you done with my friend?’
‘Stop it,’ Bronwyn laughed. ‘Simon reckons I have no grit either, but maybe it’s just with law. Maybe I can be brave at something else.’
‘There’s bravery and there’s stupidity.’
‘Come on, don’t be like that. I’ll explain on the way.’
‘You’re going to take a walk without shoes?’ Claudia looked down at her feet.
‘Good point.’ Bronwyn handed her the dog lead. ‘I’ll be back in a jiffy.’
As soon as she was gone, Elsa clearly recognised Claudia as the inferior authority and ran circles around her, winding the lead about her body.
‘Hey,’ Claudia cried with a half laugh, half groan. ‘Quit it! You’ve already caused enough trouble as it is.’
She had no idea how Bronwyn was going to keep this dog, especially living in a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor. It was just no place for an animal, especially one of this size. She ran a hand down Elsa’s back, pausing curiously at a scar on her right shoulder. A thought distracted Claudia.
Maybe Bron’s decided to move.
Her eyes widened.
Was that the plan? After all, she had just lost her job. Claudia felt a pang for the place. She’d always loved Bronwyn’s fancy digs but knew it would probably be too expensive to keep without the fancy job as well. Whatever the case, change was coming and it was going to be drastic.
It took Bronwyn about ten minutes to return, so Claudia figured she was probably getting changed as well. She used the time to imagine all sorts of harebrained schemes that her best friend might have in mind to fix her life. Bronwyn was such an idealist and often far too trusting. Claudia had never heard her say a bad word about anyone. Even her own parents, and it wasn’t like they didn’t deserve it.
Claudia remembered one summer she had signed them both on to a Big Sister program that hooked up well-adjusted young adults with teenagers who ‘needed new role models’. They had taken two sixteen-year-olds to Adventure World, Perth biggest fun park. One of them told Bronwyn she’d left something in the car and Bronwyn had just given her the keys to go and retrieve it. They’d been left stranded in Bibra Lake all afternoon.
Unsurprisingly, Bronwyn’s shock was not at the girl’s dishonesty but her age. ‘She’s only sixteen,’ she had said. ‘Who knew she could drive?’
Claudia sighed at the memory. She really hoped Bronwyn hadn’t bitten off more than she could chew this time as well.
‘Ready to go?’ her friend asked brightly when she returned, holding out her hand for the leash.
‘Ready as I’ll ever be.’
They took off down the street, Bronwyn’s arm stretched out before her as Elsa tried to increase the pace. ‘Heel, Elsa, heel,’ she chided gently.
‘Okay, I’m sick of waiting. Tell me what you’ve got in your head, because imagining the worst is driving me crazy.’
‘Well, it’s really quite simple.’ Bronwyn grinned. ‘We both hate our lives right now. It’s just making us both miserable. I think one of the ideas we came up with earlier would really work.’
Claudia gasped. ‘You want to fake our own deaths?’
‘No, doofus! I want to swap places. It’s the perfect solution.’
‘Yeah,’ Claudia rolled her eyes. ‘Perfect if I had your DNA. Bronwyn, you’re dreaming.’
Bronwyn ignored her friend’s response. ‘It’s not only possible, it’s actually perfect timing.’ The excitement in her voice stepped up a notch. ‘I’ve lost my job and gained a pregnant dog. I can’t live in this apartment. I need a big country house with lots of open space. You, on the other hand, need to start working in law again.’
‘Are you suggesting I apply for the job you just got fired from?’
/>
‘No,’ Bronwyn shook her head immediately, ‘I’m suggesting you apply for a job at Hanks and Eddings.’
Claudia sucked in a breath. ‘You want me to work for your family?’
‘Well, Mum sent me an email today saying she’d set up an interview for me with Uncle Cyril tomorrow. So I called his secretary and notified her that you’d be attending instead.’
Claudia gasped. ‘You did what?’
‘Ten am. Don’t be late.’
Claudia choked. ‘But you can’t do that. Your mum isn’t recommending me.’
‘Who cares?’ Bronwyn swatted her hand. ‘Uncle Cyril’s secretary doesn’t know that. All she knows is that I’m an Eddings, so I must know what I’m talking about. I told her that I was leaving town and couldn’t make the interview so my mother was recommending you instead.’
‘And your uncle will be fine with that?’
‘Most likely he won’t know about the swap till tomorrow morning,’ Bronwyn assured her.
‘And that’s a good thing because …?’
‘Once you’re in the door, you’ll impress the hell out of him and he’ll forget who came with what recommendation.’
‘I think you’re reaching a bit there, Bron.’
Her friend only laughed. ‘I know you, Claud. You’ve got the grit that everybody wants. Just use it.’
By this time they had reached the park and Bronwyn bent down to unclip Elsa’s leash. The second the dog was free, Elsa tore off towards the tree line.
‘Bronwyn, your mum will be furious when she finds out I took the job that was meant for you.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Bronwyn promised. ‘Once you’re working there, she won’t say a word. If there’s one thing my mother hates more than anything, it’s being made to look like a fool.’
‘I was afraid you were going to say that,’ Claudia groaned.
‘You worry too much.’
‘You worry too little.’
‘Isn’t that what you like about me?’ Bronwyn smiled.
‘I wish I had your blind trust, Bron, but I really don’t think it’s that simple.’ Claudia shook her head. ‘Why would your mother recommend me of all people?’