Page 24 of Daydreaming at the Boathouse Cafe

‘Listen, are you seriously planning on keeping Tiny?’ asked Ben. ‘Because if not, I can be straight onto Del to get him to pick the dog up.’

Hannah placed the second round of toast on the table next to Alex and sat down.

‘In all honesty, I’m not sure,’ replied Alex. ‘My lifestyle was just too hectic before to even dream about having a dog. But now?’ He did a palms up. ‘I guess I have the time but my living circumstances aren’t great and like you said, living here in the hotel isn’t the best place for him either. So maybe it’s not fair.’ He looked downhearted for a minute. ‘I’ll ask the vet to find out if there’s a better owner out there for him.’

Hannah immediately felt upset. She felt that Alex really wanted the dog.

‘I’m sure the puppy will settle down soon,’ she said, shooting a glare at her brother for being so grumpy. ‘And besides, like Alex said, Tiny didn’t make a mess.’

Ben raised his eyebrows at her unexpectedly harsh tone.

Hannah shrugged her shoulders in response. ‘I’ve always wanted a dog as well, remember,’ she told him.

Ben smiled. ‘Yeah, I remember all the begging to Mum and Dad every Christmas.’

‘I must have always been naughty because Father Christmas left me off his good list,’ she told Alex, with a wicked grin.

He seemed to choke a little on the coffee mug that had been lifted to his lips, perhaps at her small joke, she thought.

‘Just let Tiny stay for a little while longer,’ she begged her brother. ‘I’m sure he’ll be quieter tonight now he’s got used to Alex.’

‘It’s all my fault,’ said Alex. ‘I should never have let Del talk me into keeping him.’

Ben shook his head. ‘Not your fault, mate. Del has selective deafness so would never have listened to you anyway!’

Hannah reached out to stroke Tiny and sent up a prayer of hope that Alex might keep the dog. She thought it would be good for him. She also hoped that both Alex and Tiny would stay at Maple Tree Lodge for a while longer too. She found that she had got used to having both of them around for the past couple of days and didn’t want to see either of them leave just yet.

13

After breakfast, Ben took Alex to a vet’s surgery nearby.

Alex was still frustrated that he couldn’t drive and once more felt the nuisance caused by the break in his foot. However, despite Tiny passing a successful health test, there wasn’t any other good news to share with the family when they returned.

‘This is unbelievable!’ snapped Alex, storming into the kitchen on his crutches behind Ben. ‘How do I get hold of him?’

‘Who?’ asked Faye, looking concerned. ‘Whatever’s the matter?’

‘Dodgy Del, of course!’ said Ben, rolling his eyes. ‘Who else?’

‘Sorry,’ said Alex, looking at Faye with chagrin. ‘I’m not cross with you.’

He sank down on a chair, still not quite believing what he had just heard at the vet’s.

‘What’s Del done now?’ asked Walter with a heavy sigh.

‘The vet has told us that Tiny is most definitely not a Labrador retriever,’ said Alex, still in disbelief. ‘He is, in fact, a Newfoundland!’

A shocked gasp ran around the table, apart from Dotty who nodded and said, ‘I thought so.’

Alex looked at her, aghast. ‘You did?’ he asked.

‘Saw loads years ago in Canada,’ Dotty told him. ‘They make great rescue dogs.’

‘Aren’t they a large breed?’ asked Hannah, frowning.

‘Oh, yes,’ said Dotty. ‘Absolutely enormous!’

‘The adults can weigh up to 80kg! I mean they’re giants!’ Alex had immediately googled the breed as soon as they’d left the vets. ‘I can’t take on that responsibility,’ he carried on, shaking his head. ‘What will I do with a huge dog? I’m used to living in a flat!’