Love is a Four-Legged Word: The romantic comedy about canines, conception and fresh starts

by Michele Gorman

  She caught Scarlett’s eye as she turned. Men, eh? her look said. They think they’re so clever.

  Chapter 37

  Murphy couldn’t come to class till he was healed enough to run around without popping his stitches, so by the time he returned to the community centre Scarlett was really excited to see him.

  Not as excited as Murphy was for the reunion, though. He bounded towards Scarlett with Max close behind.

  She braced herself for the hump. Just because Murphy couldn’t act on his intention didn’t mean he’d instantly stop trying. Sometimes it took a while to unlearn old habits.

  But Murphy skidded to a stop on the lino as he approached.

  ‘Well done, Murphy! He’s learning.’ Scarlett beamed at Max.

  Murphy led with his nose, straight for Scarlett’s crotch. ‘Oh. We’ll work some more on this,’ she said as she tried to deflect his exploration of her jeans.

  ‘I’m really sorry about that,’ Max said. ‘It’s his new thing.’

  ‘It’s not a problem. Just get him in the habit of sitting when he approaches someone new. It’s natural for dogs to sniff other dogs or people. That’s how they identify them. But they’ve got a good sense of smell, so they can do it from a few feet away without invading someone’s space quite so much.’

  That was one of the advantages of having dogs with short legs. Oscar used to really go for it when he greeted people; especially her mum, for some reason. Julia always came to her flat with a magazine clapped over her front.

  They both did a double-take when Charlie and Naomi came in. They weren’t holding hands or anything reckless like that. They wouldn’t dare with the wiry-coated chaperone keeping her beady eye on them. In fact, they walked arm’s-length apart from each other, but they had Hiccup and Barkley sandwiched between them. And Hiccup didn’t look like she wanted to tear strips off him. She was muzzled, though, so even with bad intentions she couldn’t do any damage. It was still better to be safe than sorry.

  Charlie couldn’t keep the smile from his face. ‘Welcome back!’ he said to Max. ‘How’s Murphy?’

  Murphy made a run for his four-footed chum, but stopped short when he heard Hiccup’s warning. She might accept Barkley, but she wanted nothing to do with an over-exuberant Irish setter.

  Muzzle or no muzzle, Murphy backed up at the same time that Naomi moved Hiccup back a few steps. As she turned the dog, Scarlett caught a flash on her hand.

  ‘Did you do it?’ Scarlett asked Charlie without moving her lips. She was getting the hang of ventriloquism.

  ‘I did. Naomi and I are getting married!’

  They did very little training and a lot of wedding planning over the next hour. Hiccup still had some work to do, and they’d meet a few more times when needed, but Murphy and Barkley were changed dogs.

  She watched the dogs play and saw the happiness, and the relief, on everyone’s faces. She loved this part of her job.

  But then, she also hated this part. ‘You know something? I’m really going to miss you guys,’ Scarlett said as they got ready to go.

  There’d been a few dozen dogs over the years that she’d become really fond of. She liked to think that if she ran into them again they’d remember her. They probably wouldn’t, but she liked to think that.

  Barkley and Murphy were definitely dogs she was fond of.

  Max and Charlie traded glances. ‘We were going to ask you something, actually,’ Charlie said. ‘I hope it’s not weird, but we wondered if you might want to meet up sometimes, with the dogs? I mean, somewhere in London, maybe when you’ve got another class here anyway. We could meet you.’

  ‘I don’t really want to say goodbye,’ Max added.

  ‘I’d love to meet up again.’ She thought about Margaret. ‘Sometimes my clients do become my friends. I’d like that a lot.’

  She felt ridiculous that tears were welling up in her eyes. They’d only asked her to meet up, not adopt their dogs.

  She noticed a movement in the doorway just as Murphy ran to greet the newcomer. ‘Can I help you?’ she asked.

  The woman looked really familiar. Maybe one of Krishna’s yoga devotees? ‘Yoga was before us, I’m afraid, but Krishna’s cards are on the noticeboard outside if you want to get in touch. Her schedule is there, too.’

  ‘No, sorry, I’m only here for Max.’ She reached down to pet Murphy, whose tail thumped her calf.

  Scarlett peered at the woman again.

  ‘Actually, I think we’ve met,’ said the woman. ‘I’m Rebecca?’ She walked towards Max. ‘Sorry, babe, I think I’m early.’ She had to stand on tiptoes to reach his lips. His arms snaked round her waist.

  Of course! She was the nurse from the vet’s office.

  Max beamed at them over Rebecca’s shoulder.

  ‘No,’ said Scarlett. ‘I’d say you came along at just the right time.’

  They were late for dinner at Dad and Felicia’s the next night. As usual. ‘Do me a favour,’ said Rufus. ‘Don’t blame me for being late. I don’t want to give your parents any more reason to hate me.’

  ‘They don’t hate you,’ she said as they turned off the motorway. ‘Are you really worried about that?’

  ‘Hmm, let’s see. I caused months of anxiety and unhappiness for their daughter, denied them grandchildren and then said your best friend’s name in bed. Yes, I’d say I’m a little worried.’

  ‘Well, don’t be. My parents love you. Even with everything that’s gone on, that hasn’t changed.’

  He glanced at her from the driver’s seat. ‘Though they did tell you to leave me.’

  ‘Well, yes, but your parents would have done the same thing if the situation was reversed. It’s only natural for parents to be protective. And besides, they didn’t tell me to leave you. They told me to figure out what I most wanted and then make my own decision. That’s different. Really, I wouldn’t worry about them. It’s Gemma you shouldn’t be alone with if she’s got a sharp instrument.’

  She felt awful when she caught the look on his face. ‘God, I’m kidding! Rufus, my family loves you. I love you. Stop worrying.’

  But it was the first time he was seeing them since she’d chucked him out of the house. She might be exaggerating about Gemma and knives, but she wasn’t completely sure how her family would react to Rufus.

  They’d loved him when they first met him, and Gemma knew him already so they’d already cleared that hurdle. But Mum didn’t suffer fools, and Rufus had definitely been one lately. Maybe this dinner wasn’t such a good idea.

  By the time she gave Dad’s door a cursory knock, she was as nervous as Rufus.

  Nobody answered. ‘That’s weird. Someone always answers. Maybe they’re in the garden.’ She dug around in her handbag. ‘I’ve got my key here.’

  ‘Your parents have never been in the garden as long as I’ve known them.’

  She didn’t tell him that she’d never seen them out there either. ‘Barbecue? Maybe Dad’s got a grill.’

  She let them into the quiet hall. ‘Hello?’

  ‘We’re all back here,’ Felicia called from the living room.

  She and Rufus traded worried glances.

  Dad was in his chair with Felicia, Gemma and Julia sitting primly on the sofa.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Scarlett asked. But she had a sinking feeling she knew.

  Rufus couldn’t have looked more uncomfortable if he’d had a cactus down his pants.

  ‘We’d like to talk to Rufus, please,’ said Gemma.

  ‘Gemm, no. You know we’ve worked through–’

  ‘Scarlett,’ her dad warned. ‘Let your sister talk.’

  ‘Sit down, Rufus.’

  They both noticed the kitchen chair at the same time. It faced the sofa and Dad’s chair. This was to be an inquisition. Scarlett stood behind the chair as Rufus sat.

  Gemma cleared her throat. ‘Rufus, you are aware that we know all about what’s gone on between you and Scarlett. And I assume you can imagine how we feel about it all.�
��

  ‘I do, and–’

  Julia cut him off with her raised hand. ‘You’ll get your chance. You know how much we love our daughter – me, William and Felicia – so you know that we are not about to let someone take away her happiness. I would die rather than do that, Rufus, do you understand me?’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘Scarlett is a smart, beautiful, loyal and amazing woman and she picked you to spend the rest of her life with,’ Felicia carried on from Julia’s train of thought. ‘And more than that, she wanted to have a family with you.’

  ‘I know,’ Rufus said. ‘She is amazing–’

  Julia cut him off. ‘Stop interrupting.’

  ‘So when we say that you are her happiness,’ Felicia went on, ‘you’ll understand that we are not about to interfere with that.’

  It took Scarlett a split second to understand what they were saying. It took Rufus a bit longer, though. His blanched face was shocked into stillness.

  ‘Scarlett chose you because you’ve got the same qualities that she has,’ said Scarlett’s dad. ‘And I suppose you’re good-looking, too.’ He smiled. ‘So what we’re trying to say is… welcome back, son.’ With that he got up and put his arms around Rufus. Within seconds Scarlett’s husband was enveloped in a Fothergill love scrum.

  She could hear his muffled thanks, and laughter, as they all hugged.

  She caught her mum’s eye over her family’s shoulders. ‘Thank you,’ she mouthed.

  Her mum nodded once and hugged her son-in-law again.

  The End

  Well, Not Quite…

  ‘Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Flynn, happy birthday to you!’ The Fothergills weren’t known for their musicality, but what they lacked in pitch, tone and diction they made up for in volume. Except William. He only ever mouthed the words.

  Derrick could carry a tune, though Scarlett was still getting used to him carrying on with her mother. Even after nearly a year she had a hard time thinking that Mum’s boyfriend was nearly her age. He could have been one of Rufus’s friends, except that none of his friends would have been good enough for Julia. But Derrick was nearly as devoted to her as he was to his two young daughters, who lived with him on weekends and holidays. Scarlett loved having them around to spoil.

  But her nephew. Oh, her nephew.

  Scarlett snivelled at the sight of him in front of his jungle animal birthday cake. He was so beautiful that he took her breath away every time she looked at him. He’d inherited the Fothergill freckles (sorry, Flynn), but had Jacob’s dark hair, with Gemma’s curls and caramel skin.

  He’d probably grow up wondering why his auntie stared at him all the time.

  Because I love you so fiercely, she’d tell him.

  Nothing could have prepared her for the feelings she had for that child. She thought she loved Rufus as intensely as it was possible to love, but what she felt for Flynn was different. From the moment she held him, hours after his birth, she knew she’d lay her life down without question to protect him. It was overwhelming and wonderful.

  ‘Oh no, Scarlett,’ Gemma said. ‘You promised! You’re such an ugly crier. Now all the photos are going to have you looking like you’ve had an allergic reaction. Jacob, get a photo of Mum, Julia and Dad with the baby. Scarlett, sort yourself out, seriously.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I thought I could hold it together. I’ve been warning myself to man up since we got here. Blame the hormones.’

  Gemma cuddled Flynn, who was much more interested in his sippy cup than the cake in his honour. ‘You’re even worse than I was, but that’s probably because it’s a girl.’

  A girl! Scarlett scrunched up her shoulders like she did whenever she thought about their baby. She grinned at Rufus, who was busy sending Flynn into fits of giggles with his fish-faces. But when she caught his eye, something passed between them. That happened a lot now.

  ‘Though I’m sorry you’ll miss the experience of getting wee in your face when you change the baby,’ Gemma continued.

  ‘I’ve had the pleasure with Flynn, don’t forget,’ she said. ‘And, who knows? Maybe the next one will be a boy.’

  ‘Or the one after that,’ said Rufus, moving to Scarlett’s side to gently rub her big tummy as he kissed her temple.

  ‘She likes that,’ Scarlett whispered as their baby kicked Rufus’s hand.

  ‘She’s got a good boot,’ he said. ‘Maybe she’ll play football. We can practice together in the park like I did with my dad. He taught me to play, did I ever tell you that? It’s a family tradition.’

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  About the Author

  Michele writes books with heart and humour, full of best friends, girl power and, of course, love and romance. Call them beach books or summer reads, chick lit or romcom... readers and reviewers call them "feel good", "relatable" and "thought-provoking".

  She is both a Sunday Times and a USA Today bestselling author, raised in the US and living in London. She is very fond of naps, ice cream and Richard Curtis films but objects to spiders and the word "portion".

  You can find out more about Michele by following her on twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, or by reading her blog or website. Do chat with her on twitter or facebook – she’s always looking for an excuse to procrastinate!

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  Read on for an exclusive excerpt of Michele’s latest novel, Match Me If You Can

  copyright © 2016 Michele Gorman

  Would you trade in your ex for the chance of the perfect upgrade?

  “Fresh, funny and brilliant” HEAT Magazine

  "Well-written and an easy read." Daily Mail, the UK's largest newspaper

  "Michele's writing is so engaging and witty." Sophie Kinsella

  "Feisty bursts of humor light the pages." Lovereading

  "A well-written comedy romp that will have you cheering on the likeable heroines." Sunday Mirror

  Match Me If You Can

  Chapter 1

  Catherine

  ‘What did you say?’ Catherine whispered as Richard calmly sipped the last of his wine. Even as her insides churned, she knew her face gave nothing away. Fifteen years of practice with him gave her the kind of composure that poker players dreamed of.

  Only this didn’t feel like a winning hand.

  ‘I’ve asked Magda to marry me,’ he repeated, this time at least having the decency to look contrite. He glanced around the busy Soho restaurant. ‘Kate, you’re not about to freak out, are you?’

  ‘Don’t call me Kate. And when have I ever freaked out?’

  Catherine wasn’t a freaker-outer, at least not in public. Richard would have known that when he planned his matrimonial ambush. She glared over his shoulder at an empty spot on the wall. Don’t you dare cry, she warned herself. He’ll only get the wrong idea and then everything will be really awkward. Besides, it was none of his business any more how she felt. She took a shaky breath. ‘I’m…’ She stopped when the word came out squeaky. ‘I’m just surprised, that’s all. I didn’t know you were so serious after only a few months.’

  A few months! She’d been with him for years before she’d even left her toothbrush at his place. And now he was getting engaged to a woman he hadn’t even known for as long as his Waitrose delivery man.

  ‘It was a year last weekend, actually. We went to the rooftop bar at SushiSamba to celebrate.’

  ‘Oh, she’s finally legal then?�
��

  Catherine probably had bras that were older than Magda.

  ‘You know,’ said Richard, signaling the waiter for the bill. ‘Cattiness isn’t flattering on you.’

  Maybe not but it was better than letting her real thoughts fly.

  ‘Neither is dating someone who has to ask her dad to borrow the car keys.’

  ‘You know very well that she’s twenty-three. She’s mature for her age.’

  ‘And firm, I bet.’

  A whisper of a smirk played around Richard’s mouth, despite the fact that she was savaging his girlfriend.

  Catherine didn’t wish for her twenties back. Just some of their elasticity. Tall and slim, with thick dark hair that dried straight and swingy, her peaches-and-cream complexion and direct hazel eyes all helped her pull off the classically professional look she’d cultivated for so long. She knew she looked good for thirty-six. As long as she didn’t stand beside her ex-husband’s new fiancée.

  He sighed. ‘Let’s not fight. I wanted you to be the first to know because you’re my best friend. Magda has her heart set on a spring wedding.’

  ‘Which spring?’ It was early November already.

  His closed-lip smile told her it wouldn’t be a long engagement.

  ‘That’s only a few months away.’

  ‘Please be happy for me,’ he said.

  His words shifted Catherine’s anger off the boil. She could probably be happy for him in time, but just now she wanted to sulk. It was the contrast that stung. When they’d got engaged, he hadn’t even officially asked her.

  ‘Just don’t expect me to be your best man, or woman or whatever.’

  He smiled. ‘Magda might find it a bit too twenty-first century to have you handing out the rings on our wedding day.’