‘Steady on mate.’ Michael eased the dog back and helped me regain my balance. Standing, he held out a hand to help me up which I took. We walked further into his office and I noticed a dog bed now sat between the easel and the desk and there was a blanket on the sofa where I assumed the dog was now also allowed.
‘I don’t understand. Yesterday…’
‘I had to be sure I could have him looked after when I have to go away, meetings I can’t take him to, etc. And I had to be sure he was good with the kids. My neighbour used to look after Monty sometimes and she was chuffed to bits when I asked her last night about the possibility of some more dog-sitting.’
I cast my mind back to our first meeting and his neighbour flirting with him in front of me.
‘The…yummy mummy dog-sits?’
He screwed his face up a moment. ‘Tamara? God no! The other side. Retired couple.’
‘Oh, that makes more sense.’
‘Yeah. To be honest, I’d rather not be beholden to Tamara for anything, if you know what I mean.’
I could take a wild guess. Then I remembered my text from earlier.
‘But Mark said this morning…’
‘Yeah, I kind of spoke to Mark on my way out last night and explained the situation. Don’t be mad at him,’ he added, seeing my eyebrows shoot up. ‘I asked him to keep it a secret. If I’d known you were going to be so upset about it all last night, though, I’d have told you. I thought you were just upset about me slating your boyfriend.’
‘Let’s not talk about that. And I promise I’m not mad at Mark. I just…does Janey know?’
‘Of course. She and the kids came with me this morning to meet him. He was brilliant with them. So that was that. With a stop for food, bedding and, by the time the kids had finished, pretty much every toy in the place, we were done.’
‘Sneaky moo.’
‘Excuse me?’ he laughed.
‘Your sister. I was round there earlier! I had a break between clients close to her house so I stopped in for a cuppa and she never mentioned a thing.’
‘Yeah, that’s kind of my fault too. I wanted to surprise you.’
I laughed. ‘Well, you most certainly got your wish.’
We were sat side by side on the little sofa in the corner of the office, weakening rays of winter sunshine filtering through the window, the dog lying in the middle of them, watching us through sleepy eyes.
‘We had a run in the park earlier, so he’s a bit pooped.’
‘He looks it.’
‘There’s one thing though.’
‘What’s that?’
‘The name. I’m sorry. It has to go. I’ve been calling him “boy” all day. I can’t stand bloody football at the best of times, so his current name really isn’t going to work.’
‘He’s your dog now, call him what you want. He’ll soon get used to it.’
‘That’s the thing. I don’t know what to call him. I thought you might have an idea.’
‘Me? I can’t name your dog.’
‘Yes you can. You’re the reason he’s here. You have a vested interest. Come on, please?’
I sat back on the couch, tucked my feet up beside me, then peered around Michael to look at the dog.
‘You know, one name does come to mind.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Have you read Jane Eyre?’
Michael shook his head. ‘No, sorry.’
Handy.
‘One of the main characters, Mr Rochester, has a dog. He’s called Pilot.’
Michael nodded. ‘Pilot. I like that.’
‘You do?’
He shifted to look at me. ‘Yeah I do.’
The smile broke on my face. ‘Oh my Gosh! I can’t believe you have him! I’m so happy you took him after all.’ Without thinking I flung my arms around Michael’s neck and hugged him. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me closer.
‘I should be thanking you.’ His voice was soft near my ear, and I was suddenly aware of the hardness of his chest against mine, the warmth of his hands through my dress and the way his arms held me tight. It felt…Oh my God. It felt good! Which was bad! So, so bad! That damn dog had my emotions all over the place. I was getting all sorts of confused! I pulled back.
‘Right!’ I said, over brightly causing Michael to wrinkle his forehead.
‘You…OK?’
‘Uh huh! So! Let’s crack on, shall we?’
‘All right,’ he said slowly, standing as he did so. ‘You said before that you normally start with clothes and stuff. So I thought, especially after what you said last night, that maybe it was about time we got to work in the bedroom…on the bedroom. You know. And if you…erm…had any ideas about what you think I could do to make it a bit more…personal, then I’d be happy to hear them.’
I smoothed my dress, remembering what had happened the last time I tried to suggest something to that effect.
‘I know I bit your head off last time you tried to help me. I guess I didn’t see it then. But I do now. And you’re right. You were right last night too, about some of it. But not all of it.’
‘No, I know. I’m sorry.’
‘I just needed you to understand.’
‘I do.’
‘I didn’t tell you everything though.’
I looked up and met his gaze.
‘The reason I didn’t exactly give anyone a tour of the house? Honestly? How could I? You saw the state it was in when you got here. It’s all to your credit that you didn’t turn tail and take off.’
‘I’ve seen far worse than this.’
‘Well, I haven’t. And it kind of mortified me that I’d let it get to this state. I don’t even know how it did. After Angeline left, I guess I didn’t really want to face anything and then when I finally looked up again it was to see all this. And by then I didn’t know where to start.’
‘But look at it now. We’re so far along.’
‘I have something else to apologise for.’
‘Crikey! You’re on a roll.’
‘I know. Take advantage because it might not happen again for a while.’ He gave me a sideways look and I couldn’t help but smile.
‘I dismissed your notion before that all this, this thing you do, could have an effect on more than just my house. But you were right. I’m calmer with work now I can find everything and I’m much more productive. I’m in the running for a really big project, which may well not have happened if I hadn’t been organised enough to pitch. And, of course, this one.’ He bent down and rubbed Pilot’s tummy, at which point the dog rolled completely onto his back with all four feet in the air.
‘Oh, now that’s just charming in front of guests, boy. Really classy.’ His new owner laughed and stood. ‘Come on, Pilot.’
The dog looked at him, cocking his head to the side.
‘Yep. That’s you now. Better get used to it. Come on.’
Scrabbling about for a moment, the dog righted himself and followed us up the stairs to the master bedroom.
Chapter Fifteen
Unlike many of my clients, Michael didn’t actually have acres of clothing. Once he’d scooted around the house and gathered up various items that had never made it back to the wardrobe, there was certainly more than I’d seen on my first visit, but it still wasn’t as intimidating a pile as many I’d seen. Going through everything, choosing what to keep, didn’t take that long either. Michael was actually getting pretty good at this now. He’d even started tossing out the shapeless T-shirts he was invariably dressed in, as well as the worn out shirts. When he hesitated on one particular shirt, it was clear that there was something bothering him.
‘What is it?’ I asked, as I sat on the floor, folding T-shirts for the keep pile, Pilot’s head resting on my thigh.
‘Nothing.’ He hung the shirt up but his hand hovered before moving on to the next.
‘Come on. There’s obviously something. You’ve been flying through the rest of the stuff.’
‘Nothing.
It’s stupid. Really.’
‘I’m sure it’s not,’ I replied. ‘Tell me.’ I tugged on his jeans leg for emphasis and he glanced down at me.
‘Should you be sitting on the floor?’
‘Pardon?’
‘I just…you always look so nice when you come here and then you go scrambling up into cupboards or plop yourself down on the floor. Shouldn’t you be in jeans or joggers or something?’
‘I’ve never met a cupboard I couldn’t tackle however I’m dressed and I prefer this for work. Now, stop changing the subject.’
He tipped his head. ‘Huh. You caught that, then?’
‘I did. And I’m still waiting. What’s the story behind the shirt?’
Michael flipped the sleeve of the shirt. ‘It’s the one I wore on my wedding day.’
Oh.
‘But I shouldn’t throw out a perfectly good shirt just because of that, should I? I mean, I could wear it any time.
‘You could, you’re right. The question is, will you and more to the point, do you want to?’
‘I do like it.’
‘Well, maybe you can give it a new association. Put it on when you’re doing something nice, going somewhere special. But if you’re always, in the back of your mind, going to associate it with something that no longer makes you happy, then it’s like we talked about with the curtains – it’s that first feeling you get when you see something. It has to be a good one, not ambiguous and certainly not bad.’
I tipped up onto my knees and Michael automatically put his hand down to help me up. Pilot whined.
‘She can’t act as your pillow all day, you lazy mutt.’
Pilot let out a resigned sigh and slid into a seated position by the door.
‘I can see he’s regretting moving out of the kennels. Poor, hard done by dog.’
I grinned, shaking my head.
‘I can’t tell you how happy I am you decided to take him.’
Looking down at me, Michael laughed. ‘You don’t need to. You’re practically bouncing up and down. Are you always this happy when a dog gets rehomed?’
‘No. I mean, yes! Yes, of course I’m thrilled! It’s just that some dogs really get to you. The moment I saw him, I fell for him.’
‘So basically you got me to take him just so you could come round and cuddle him?’
‘No,’ I laughed, batting his arm, ‘he was perfect for you. And you know it. Otherwise you wouldn’t have taken him, no matter what I thought.’
He gave me a look.
‘It’s all right. I’m not offended!’
‘Really. A woman who doesn’t go into a huff if I don’t agree with her?’
‘I can’t promise that every time, but on this occasion…’
Michael nodded. ‘Then I will take that.’ He turned, took the shirt off the rail and put it on the donate pile.
‘Sure?’ I asked.
‘Absolutely.’ He bent and gave his new companion a tickle. ‘New start for everyone.’
‘OK, then let’s get this stuff put away.’
Michael checked his watch. ‘Don’t you have to be getting ready?’
‘Oh no, I’ve got ages…’ He put his wrist in front of my face. ‘What?’ I said, grabbing his arm. ‘How did that happen?’
‘Time flies when you’re having fun.’
‘Oh gosh! Are you sure you don’t mind me getting changed here? I can do it at the station, it’s no problem.’
‘I think that might cause a stir.’
‘In the loos. Obviously.’ I pulled a face at him.
He took my hand and led me out into the hall before bowing before a door, waving an arm. ‘The guest bathroom awaits, m’lady.’
‘You’ve gone from grumpy to bonkers.’
‘Normally I’m a little of both.’
‘Well, that’s better than a lot of the former.’
‘Point taken. Now go and do what you do or you’ll be late for Colin.’
Opening my mouth to correct him, I caught the twinkle. I narrowed my eyes at him and he quirked an eyebrow at me, before I closed the door, trying to stop the smile that desperately wanted to play on my lips.
Smoothing down my dress, I gave a last check in the bathroom mirror. I couldn’t get over the feeling that it would be odd to take a shower in Michael’s house, despite the fact that he’d sweetly left everything I might need laid out, just in case, so I’d had a quick wash instead and then set about redoing my make-up and unpinned my hair. Brushing it out, I hooked one side behind my ear and told myself that would have to do. The shoes I’d worn over were a good match to the dress which had saved me lugging another pair around after Calum’s short notice arrangements.
I left the bathroom and headed to the stairs, stopping as the sound of music caught my attention. If my many hours of listening to Classic FM had taught me anything, it was Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, one of my favourite pieces. Sliding my hand along the banister, I slowly descended the stairs, knowing by now which creaked and which didn’t. The sound got louder as I moved towards the living room. Quietly I stepped through the half-open doorway.
Michael’s hands moved assuredly over the keys, his long fingers covering the chords easily and naturally. There was no music in front of him and his head was bent in concentration, his brow slightly furrowed. The light from the lamp to his side cast a shadow over his face, accentuating the high cheekbones and strong jawline, now ragged with overgrown stubble. To the side of the piano stool, Pilot laid contentedly, head on his paws, eyelids drooping as his master soothed him to sleep.
I felt my breathing grow shallow, afraid to make the slightest noise and shatter the scene in front of me. The fact that Michael was playing after so long of not doing so made me feel joyous. It was moments like this that made me love my job even more. I was helping. But I felt instinctively, in this instance, there was something more. Something I couldn’t name or even entirely recognise. But I knew it was different. And I wasn’t sure what that meant. Or if it even meant anything at all.
‘Oh no! Please don’t stop,’ I said, as Michael looked up, his hands stilling over the keys as he saw me in the doorway.
He shook his head, his half-smile almost bashful. ‘Bit rusty.’
‘No! No, really! It was wonderful. Honestly. That’s one of my favourite pieces.’
‘You play?’ he asked, closing the lid on the instrument as he stood.
‘Oh goodness, no. Sadly not.’ No point telling him that more than anything I’d wanted lessons as a child but that wish, like a whole bunch of others, never came true. ‘But I love to listen to it, especially “live” as it were.’ I immediately felt silly for doing the bunny ears and shoved my hands behind my back.
‘Well, Pilot’s not howling the place down so that’s something.’
‘I think he found it relaxing.’ I pointed to where the dog had now flopped onto his side and was gently snoring.
As we left the room the dog pulled himself up and padded sleepily behind us, just in case he missed something. As we got to the bottom of the stairs, I realised Michael was looking at me a little funny.
‘Oh no. What? What is it?’ I ran my hand over my hair and checked for runs in my stockings.
‘Nothing! Nothing’s wrong. You just look…wow…really nice. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with your hair down before.’
‘No, it’s not really practical for work but I can’t bear to cut it.’
‘You definitely shouldn’t.’
I smiled. ‘Thanks.’ I slipped my arms into my coat as Michael held it out for me. ‘Calum thinks it’d be less hassle if I cut it,’ I said, lifting my hair from the collar so that it wasn’t tucked in. ‘But I refused.’ I looked up through my lashes at Michael. ‘So you see, I don’t always just jump when he says so.’
‘Like I said before, he’s an idiot.’ He handed me the wrap I’d been using as a scarf. ‘Admittedly he’s a lucky idiot but an idiot all the same.’
‘Oh shush you,’ I said, not wa
nting to argue again tonight and accepting that, mixed in there among the boyfriend insults, was a compliment. ‘I have to go.’
‘We’re walking you to the station.’
‘No, it’s freezing out there. Stay here in the warm.’
‘Yes, because I can see that you’re dressed for arctic conditions in that dress.’
‘I have a coat on!’
‘You should have three more layers at least and a bobble hat,’ Michael replied, pulling on his boots.
‘Hat hair wasn’t exactly the look I was going for.’
‘It’s a much underrated look, I’ve always thought. And you’ve no choice on the company. Come Pilot.’ Michael clipped the lead on the dog, shrugged into his own coat and opened the door for me.
As we walked along to the station, I secretly began to think that Michael might have been right about the extra layers. A harsh north wind had been building all day and the clear sky had turned into a clear night, which probably meant that somewhere through all the light pollution, millions of stars were glinting, hung in an inky sky. It also meant that I was freezing my butt off.
‘Wishing you had those extra layers now, aren’t you?’ Michael read my thoughts.
‘What makes you think that?’
‘I can hear your teeth chattering.’
I bit down and locked my jaws together.
Michael put an arm out and squished me against him, protecting me from the wind and immediately making me feel more cosy.
‘Better?’
‘Yes. Thank you.’
‘No problem.’
We arrived at the entrance where a small of group of carol singers had braved the weather and were cheerily belting out a chorus. Michael let his arm drop away and I immediately missed the warmth he’d provided. My teeth began chattering again almost instantly.
‘Go on. Get down into the Tube and warm up. And try not to freeze the other end. Get a taxi if you need to.’
‘And you say I fuss,’ I teased.
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