“Ben,” Todd said.
“Why Ben?”
“Because we found him when he knocked the bin over.”
“That's terrible.”
“I know, but he does look like a Ben—don't you boy?”
Ben's tail thumped against the floor.
“See—he likes his new name.”
Chapter 9
As soon as Todd stepped out of bed the next morning, Ben was at his feet, tail wagging. Despite their best efforts to make him stay downstairs, Ben hadn't wanted to be parted from his new owners, so he'd slept at the foot of the bed.
“Time to get up.” Todd shook Suzy gently.
“Go away. It's too early.”
“Try telling that to Ben.”
Suzy forced her eye-lids open, and was greeted by a big pair of eyes, a wet nose, and a tail which was wagging at warp speed.
“Hello boy.” She stretched out a hand which the dog immediately began to lick. “I suppose I'd better get up then.” She turned to Todd. “I wouldn't do this for you.
“Nice to know where I stand.” He smiled. “Let's get some breakfast. Then we can take a walk into the village.”
“Do you think someone in the village will recognise him?” Suzy asked, as she took a bite of toast.
“Where else could he have come from?”
“Where's your owner boy?” She patted Ben.
“Have you ever owned a dog?” Todd asked.
“I always wanted one as a kid, but Mum said they were too expensive to keep.”
Todd glanced down at Ben. “We'd better hope someone does recognise him because we can't keep him. Neither of us has a real home to go to.”
“We could keep him while we're here—if no one claims him. How long do you think we'll be here for?”
“No idea. For quite a while, I'd guess.”
**********
The three of them were walking along the beach. Todd had found a small stick which he threw for Ben. The dog raced away, grabbed the stick between its jaws, and raced back to them. Suzy threw it next.
The sky was clear; the early morning chill was slowly being burned away by the rising sun. The only sounds were the gulls soaring above them, the sea lapping onto the beach, and Ben's paws pounding back and forth. There was no tiring him.
Suzy was taken by surprise when Todd took her hand in his. She wasn't normally a walking hand in hand kind of a girl. Or at least, she hadn't thought so. It felt good.
“Have you always lived in the city?” he asked.
“Me? Yeah. City girl born and bred. I usually get the shakes if I leave the city limits.”
“You seem okay here.”
“I feel great. I'm not usually a morning person. It must be all of this air.”
“Air?” He laughed. “Well I guess there is a lot of air around here.”
“You know what I mean. Fresh air.”
“Ben seems to like it.” Todd threw the stick with his free hand. “Where does he get all of his energy from?”
“Eating your steak.”
“Yeah, I still haven't forgiven him for that.” Todd scowled unconvincingly at the dog. Ben just wagged his tail even faster.
“You know what's weird?” Suzy said, as she threw the stick for the millionth time. “I haven't used my phone for almost a day. That has to be some kind of record.”
Todd patted his pocket. “I must have left mine back in the bedroom.”
“I bet Lacey is doing her nut trying to get hold of me.” Suzy kicked the stick this time. “If I can get a signal in the village, I ought to let her know we're okay.”
“It's none of her business.”
“Lacey's all right. You should let Rawhide and Carol know you're safe.”
“Fuck that!” Todd let go of her hand.
“Why don't you give them a break? You don't have to be a dick all of the time.”
“Drop it, Suzy. You don't know anything about my family.”
“I know you have one. That's more than I do. I know they care about you.”
“Bollocks!”
“It's not bollocks. If you'd take your head out of your arse for five minutes, you'd see your brother and sister both care for you. I can see it. Everyone can see it. Everyone except you.”
“You don't understand.”
“That's a cop out.”
“I don't want to talk about it.”
“Cop out!”
“Fuck you!” Todd grabbed the stick, and began to run down the beach—Ben at his heels.
“Why can't you keep your big mouth shut?” Suzy said to herself. How come something as simple as holding hands had felt so good? Why did she have to screw it up by having a go at him about his family? Because that's what she did. Screwed things up. At the first sign of anything good happening, you could rely on Suzy to screw it up.
**********
Suzy waited with Ben outside the village shop while Todd went inside. Moments later, the shop owner appeared at the window, and stared at the dog.
“He says Ben doesn't belong to anyone in the village,” Todd said, when he emerged.
“Is he sure?”
“Positive. He knows everyone around these parts.”
“Where could he have come from then?” Suzy ran her hand along Ben's back.
“No idea. He might have been abandoned. The guy in the shop says that happens sometimes. People leave their unwanted pets on the beach.”
“How could anyone not want you?” Suzy crouched down next to Ben who began to lick her. “Don't you worry. We want you.” She looked up at Todd. “We'll need some dog food.”
“Anything else?”
“You might want to get yourself some more steak.”
“What about booze?”
Suzy hesitated. The previous day, she'd been devastated when they'd discovered there was no alcohol to be had in the village. “I'm okay. What about you? Do you want to go to Leumoor to get some while I take Ben back home?”
”I don't think I'm bothered,” Todd said. “Maybe tomorrow. I'll get some lemonade.”
“I'm sorry.” Suzy said, as they walked back to the house.
“What for?”
“Getting on your case about Rawhide and Carol. It's none of my business.”
“That's okay.” He took her hand again. “Let's not think about anyone else. Deal?”
“Except Ben.”
“Of course.” Todd tossed the stick further than he'd intended and it landed in the sea. “Ben! No!”
The dog charged headlong into the water, grabbed the stick, and then rushed back to them. They both knew what was coming, and tried to get clear, but it was too late. Ben shook his whole body—showering them both.
**********
“What do you think is over in that direction?” Suzy said.
It was early afternoon; the day was now blistering hot. They'd found two wooden seats in the small shed attached to the side of the house, and were sitting under the shade of the front porch.
Todd glanced along the coast. “Nothing as far as I can tell.”
“We should explore.” Suzy took a sip of lemonade.
“It's too hot.”
“We could go this evening when it's cooler.”
“I should have gone to Leumoor to see if I could hire a car.”
“I'd rather walk. And Ben definitely would.”
The dog was flat out under Todd's chair.
Chapter 10
It was early evening and much cooler when they set off. Ben was proudly carrying his stick clenched tightly between his jaws. After a couple of miles, the narrow road became gradually steeper as it wound its way up the headland.
“Whose bright idea was this?” Suzy said.
“If I remember correctly, it was yours.”
“The next time I have a bright idea, slap me would you?”
“Ben seems to be enjoying it.”
They watched as the dog ran off in front of them. A couple of times he disappeared from sight, but then ca
me bounding back down the road to them.
“How could anyone have abandoned him?” Suzy tried to stroke Ben, but he ran back up the road.
“People are shit.” Todd said matter-of-factly.
“All people?”
“Not you, but everyone else.”
“That's very profound, and obviously well-reasoned. Any other pearls of wisdom you'd like to share?”
“No, that's it for now.”
“Where do you actually live?” Suzy asked.
“Here and there. Nowhere in particular.”
“You must have somewhere you call home?”
“No. Not really. I spend most of my time in hotel rooms.”
“That must cost a bloody fortune.”
Todd shrugged.
“Don't you get lonely?”
“Big Todd doesn't go short of company.”
Suzy stared at him. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what, honey?”
“This. The Big Todd crap. The honey crap.”
“The ladies like it.”
“Which ladies are those? The whores you pay to be with you? They just like your money.”
“You seemed to like Big Todd just fine when we were at your flat.”
Suzy stopped walking. “It's all bullshit though, isn't it? That's not the real you, so why do it?”
“Who the fuck are you to talk? With your babes this and babes that? Strange, I haven't heard you say that once since we arrived here. You're every bit as false as me.”
The truth in his words stung. Suzy set off walking again at a faster pace. Todd watched her for a few moments and then followed.
“Suzy wait!”
“Sorry, babes. No can do.”
“Suzy!” He grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him.
“Let go!” She screamed in his face.
“No!”
“Let me go!” She struggled to free her arm.
He pressed his lips to hers, and her struggling stopped. Ben ran around and around them as they kissed. His barking became louder and louder until they could ignore him no more.
“He's jealous.” Todd said, as he crouched down to make a fuss of the excited dog.
By the time they'd reached the top of the cliffs, they were all exhausted—even Ben. But then he'd covered at least twice as much ground by running back and forth.
“Wow!” Suzy was staring out to sea. “It's so big!”
“Big?” Todd laughed. “Newsflash. The sea is big!”
“Don't be such a pig.” She tried to thump him, but he dodged out of the way. “I meant you can see for miles. What's over there?” She pointed out to sea.
“That's the North Sea. Next stop in that direction is Denmark, I think. Have you ever been there?”
“Me? Nah. Only time I've been outside of England is when I went to Ibiza.”
“That's not correct. You're out of England now.”
“Scotland doesn't count.”
“Don't tell the Scots that.”
“You know what I mean. I haven't been overseas except for Ibiza. And that was only a hen party.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Fucked if I can remember.”
Ben had his second wind, and was once more a bundle of energy. He dropped his stick at Suzy's feet for the hundredth time.
“You're wearing me out, boy.” Suzy wound back her arm, and let fly with as much strength as she could muster.
She'd meant to throw the stick so it landed further along the cliff top, but had put so much into it that her aim was off.
“Stop!” Suzy screamed.
“Ben!” Todd yelled, but it was too late. The dog was so busy watching the stick that he didn't notice the cliff edge until it was too late.
Suzy and Todd watched in horror as Ben skidded towards the edge, and then disappeared from sight.
Todd rushed after him. Suzy was a few paces behind him.
“Oh god. I didn't mean to—” She pulled up a few feet short of the edge. She couldn't bear to look. “I'm sorry.” She slumped onto her knees.
“Suzy! Quick!” Todd shouted. “He's okay.”
She stumbled to her feet and rushed over to Todd.
Only a few feet below the cliff's edge, was a narrow ledge on which Ben was perched. As soon as he saw them, he barked, and tried to scramble back up, but he couldn't gain purchase on the rock.
“Stay there, boy!” Todd threw off his jacket, and then turned to Suzy. “If he tries to climb up, he'll fall.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I have to get down to that ledge.”
“You can't. You'll die.”
“I'll be okay. If I can get to him, I'll be able to pass him up to you. It isn't far.”
“What if he struggles? You'll both fall.”
Todd already had one leg over the edge. Ben was barking frantically—still trying to scramble back up.
“Quiet boy,” Suzy said in what she hoped was a soothing voice. She had one eye on the dog, and the other on Todd.
Ben was back on all fours, but was moving back and forth on the ledge as he watched Todd climb down towards him. Suzy gasped when she saw the dog's back legs come within a few inches of the edge. As soon as Todd was standing on the ledge, Ben threw himself at his master.
“Steady boy. It's going to be okay.”
“You'll never do it,” Suzy said. “Why don't you stay down there with him while I get help?” She took out her phone—still no damn signal.
“It'll take too long,” Todd said. “I'm going to pass him up to you. Are you ready?”
“I might drop him.”
“You won't. Are you ready?”
She wasn't, but what choice did she have.
As though some kind of survival instinct had kicked in, Ben didn't struggle when Todd picked him up in order to pass him to Suzy, Todd had to take a step back from the cliff face. His feet were less than a foot from the edge of the ledge.
“On three. One, two, three.”
It took all of Todd's strength to lift the dog high enough so Suzy could grab him by the scruff of the neck, and pull him onto the cliff top. Todd collapsed onto the ledge—exhausted.
“Are you okay?” Suzy looked down at Todd.
“Yeah. Just give me a minute while I catch my breath.”
Ben appeared at the cliff's edge—barking down at Todd.
“For god's sake, don't let him come back down here.”
“I've got him.” Suzy grabbed hold of Ben.
Fifteen minutes later, an exhausted Todd hauled himself back up. Suzy was still holding Ben for dear life.
“Next time, I'll throw his stick,” Todd said.
Chapter 11
Lacey pulled up at the barrier of the car park. The security guard flashed a huge smile, and greeted her like a long lost friend. “Good morning, madam.”
She could still remember the way he'd treated her on her first visit to the Commodore when he'd refused to help her load the pizzas into the lift. Oh yes—she still remembered. He'd changed his tune as soon as she'd moved in with Raw, and now he couldn't do enough for her.
“Morning,” she said, but didn't smile. He had a lot more grovelling to do to win her over.
It was Saturday, and Lacey was feeling sorry for herself. All week long, she'd been looking forward to the weekend. Raw had promised they could spend it at the villa. It would have been their first visit to Cannes since she'd moved in with him almost a month ago. The last time they'd been there, she'd been called back after her mum had suffered a heart attack.
They'd been scheduled to fly Friday night, but then Raw had taken a call from Carol. Usual subject—Todd. Raw was the best thing to have happened to Lacey, and she loved the man to bits. Still, she'd have preferred him without the baggage of his family. And yes, she knew that made her a selfish cow, but it was the truth. Carol came around or phoned every day. No one had a clue where Todd was. Or Suzy for that matter. Lacey understood their concern, but she was su
re the two wild ones would both be okay—wherever they were. If ever there was a match made in Hell, it was Suzy and Todd. As far as Lacey was concerned, the only danger they were in was from one another. It was a toss up which of them would kill the other first. Even though she'd been flatmates with Suzy for some time, she still didn't understand the girl. It was as though she was hell-bent on self-destruction. She drank waaaay too much—just like her mum. Lacey hadn't said that to Suzy's face; she valued her teeth too much. It was the way Suzy treated guys that really drove Lacey insane. Every time she'd found herself a nice, steady guy, Suzy had done everything she could to sabotage the relationship. Steve had been the nicest guy anyone could wish to meet. He'd asked Suzy to move in with him more than once. What had Suzy done? Slept with other men behind his back. Even with Daggers! What had she been thinking? Lacey didn't know much about Todd—only what Raw and Carol had told her. It seemed he was on the same road to self-destruction. His problems seemed to stem from his father, and what amounted to a pathological hatred of Raw.
Yeah—Lacey had sure managed to surround herself with one fucked-up bunch of people.
“Mum? It's only me.” Lacey called from the hallway.
Before going upstairs, she checked to see if Tom, her mum's partner, was in the lounge or kitchen. There was no sign of him.
“How are you?” Lacey stuck her head around the bedroom door. Her mum was sitting up in bed with a book in her hand.
“You can't still be reading Fifty Shades.” Lacey said.
“This is the last in the series. I've nearly finished it.”
“I can leave if I'm interrupting.”
“Don't be soft. Sit down.” Her mum patted the bed.
Lacey leaned over, gave her mum a kiss, and then sat on the edge of the bed.
“What are you doing here anyway?” her mum said, as she put the book on the bedside cabinet. “Thought you were off for a dirty weekend in France.”
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