Chapter 19

19

Shoving the car into first, Megan flicked the windscreen wipers on and watched as they smudged last night's excuse for a rain shower from the glass. It hadn't so much as rained as sprinkled. And she'd been awake the whole time. She gritted her teeth as she lowered her foot to the accelerator. If anything, the sprain felt worse today, probably due to the fact she hadn't been able to lift it up all night, but she was coping. Just about anyway, and she certainly couldn't let anyone back at Wagging Tails see how much pain she was in. She couldn't face sitting in her car all day if Flora told her to have the day off. And even worse, she couldn't have one of them insisting on driving her back to the B and B. No, she'd cope. She had to.

Before pulling out of the lay-by, she glanced at the backseat. She might try to sleep there tonight instead of scrunching herself in the front passenger seat, she just didn't like the thought of not being able to drive off quickly if something happened or even to sit up and pretend she was just resting if another car pulled in.

But she couldn't carry on like this. She was doubtful if she'd even got two hours of sleep last night because of her throbbing ankle – and five hours every two nights wasn't sustainable. She had to try something. Tonight, she'd try the backseat, and failing that, by the end of the week she'd likely become so tired that she'd be able to sleep standing up, anyway.

Megan turned into Wagging Tails, relieved to see only Ginny's car parked. Even the Wagging Tails van had gone, meaning that either Flora or both Flora and Ginny were out. And even if Ginny hadn't gone with Flora, she'd be walking Ralph. Great, she'd be able to actually go and get cleaned up.

She smiled. A fresh pair of clothes would be perfect, and she'd shove her dirty stuff in the washing machine too.

Scraping her hair back into a ponytail, Megan grimaced at herself in the mirror before running her fingers across her hair, pulling out wispy strands. That was better. The grease was a little more disguised now. She looked behind her at the shower they used to wash the dogs. If only she'd arrived a little earlier, she may have been brave enough to wash her hair under that without the fear someone would come in and see what she was doing.

She packed her make-up bag back into her tote bag and picked up her dirty clothes, wrapping them in a towel. Never mind, she felt a million times better after a wash and a freshen up, plus she'd be able to pop her dirty stuff into the washing machine.

It wouldn't be forever. One of the potential employers she'd contacted yesterday might call her back and offer her an interview despite her lack of experience. She opened the door to the reception area just as her mobile rang, punctuating the silence in the room.

Holding the phone between her ear and her shoulder as she made her way into the kitchen towards the washing machine, she answered the call. ‘Hello?'

‘How are you coping with your current situation, Megan?'

Her shoulders slumped as she shoved her clothes into the machine. That'd teach her for not looking at the screen properly before accepting the call.

‘Lyle.'

‘Did you hear my question?'

‘I heard. It's fine. Everything's fine.' She pushed a pile of dog blankets into the drum, covering her clothes.

‘Is it, though? Really?' The smarm was back, the overly soothing tone mocking her. ‘That's funny, because it doesn't look as though you've tried to charge anything to the card again.'

‘It is.'

What did he want from her? Wasn't it enough to know that he'd cut her off from all their money, or his money according to him? Why did he feel the need to contact her and gloat?

‘I suppose that could only mean one of two things. You're either shacking up with your fancy man or you're… what? Sleeping in your car?' Lyle scoffed. ‘Of course, I should have known you would go running to him. After all, it's anyone's guess how long you've been seeing him behind my back.'

Megan closed her eyes, trying to keep her voice steady, to qualm her anger. ‘You know I didn't have an affair and, no, I have not moved in with him.'

The line was silent.

Pulling the phone away from her ear, Megan looked at the screen. He was still there, on the other end.

Just as she was about to end the call, a low rumbling of a laugh echoed down the line.

‘You're sleeping in your car then.' He spluttered the words through his laughter. ‘I do apologise, just give me a moment to compose myself…'

After stabbing her finger on the End Call button, Megan threw her phone onto the kitchen table, listening to it skid across the tabletop before she slammed the washing machine door shut. How dare he? How dare he laugh at her situation? She should have told him she'd moved in with Jay, anything would have been better than him realising where she was actually sleeping. How could he possibly think it was funny? He knew she hadn't cheated. He knew she was the one who hadn't done anything wrong. She wasn't the reason they were on the path to divorce. He was. And yet now it was her suffering, not him.

A cough sounded from behind her, and she spun around, her lips pursed. She felt herself instantly relax as she spotted Jay standing in the doorway.

‘Sorry, I wasn't eavesdropping or anything. I've only just arrived.' He picked up her phone and held it out towards her. ‘Are you okay?'

Megan sighed as she took her phone. ‘Thanks. Not really, no. It was my ex and he, well, I'm quickly learning that he has even fewer morals than I thought he did.'

‘Lyle?'

‘That's right.' She slumped into a chair at the table. ‘And I know everyone else knew how awful he was, but I didn't see it. Not until everything that happened with this place, so when he pulls a stunt like this.' She held up her phone. ‘It still comes as a bit of a shock.'

‘Can I ask what he's done?' Sitting in the chair opposite, Jay leaned his elbows on the table, clasping his hands together.

Megan looked down at the tabletop and moved a biscuit crumb in a circle beneath the pad of her middle finger. She couldn't tell him. Not the truth. Not why Lyle was so ecstatic with his actions. Instead, she shrugged. ‘Just being his true self, that's all.'

Jay pulled a face. ‘Sorry to hear that. I hope it all works out.'

She nodded.

‘Not that you get back with him. That's not what I meant. Just that the divorce runs smoothly for you.' Jay frowned. ‘Or as smoothly as a divorce can run.'

‘I knew what you meant. Thanks.' Megan smiled.

‘How's your ankle holding up today?' Jay nodded towards her foot. ‘Did you manage to put it up last night?'

‘It's okay, thanks. A lot better than yesterday.'

It wasn't. If anything, it felt worse than yesterday, but she wasn't about to admit that.

She looked towards the kitchen door as Flora walked in, Cindy rushing ahead of her and beelining for Megan.

‘Oh, hello, Cindy,' she said as the dog rubbed her nose against Megan's arm, asking for a fuss. ‘Lovely to see you too.'

‘As soon as we'd stepped foot in the door, she knew you were here.' Flora chuckled as she closed the door again. ‘Her tail was wagging that hard, I was worried she'd snap it off.'

‘Aw, is that true, Cindy?' Megan patted her knees, waiting until Cindy had placed her front paws on her lap before fussing her behind the ears. ‘Well, you know what? I love you too.'

‘You're not looking to rehome a large needy greyhound with separation anxiety, are you?' Flora raised her eyebrows as she placed a newspaper and a bottle of milk on the table.

‘I would love to.' Megan grinned. ‘Sadly, though, not at this moment in time.'

‘Well, let me know if you change your mind when you're all settled in your own place. I think she'd move in with you in a heartbeat.' Flora grinned and tapped Megan on the shoulder as she walked past her to the fridge with the milk.

Leaning down, Megan kissed the top of Cindy's head. Getting her own place was a pipe dream which was likely going to take about fifty years to accomplish with the luck she was having.

‘I've got some good news,' Flora said as she closed the fridge door. ‘We may have found a home for little Angus.'

‘Really?' Megan thought back to her first day at Wagging Tails when Angus, Splash, and Ocean had been brought in. Little Angus was almost a different dog now. His confidence had grown that much.

‘Yep, I'm popping to do the home visit this morning.' Flora glanced at the clock. ‘In fact, I'll have to leave in a few minutes.'

‘I'll keep my fingers crossed for you then.' Jay held his hand up, crossing his fingers.

‘Yes, please do.' Flora smiled as she gave both Megan and Jay a mug brimming with coffee. ‘Can I leave that little one with you, Megan? Or should I say not so little one?'

‘Yes, of course.' Megan turned towards Cindy again. ‘You can help me with my paperwork today, can't you?'

Megan yawned and deleted the number she'd just entered into the spreadsheet for the seventh time, then checked the receipt once more before inputting it again. She glanced beneath the table at Cindy, sprawled out across the floor, legs in the air and her tongue hanging out as she snored. If only Megan could sleep as easily anywhere.

Rolling her shoulders back and filling her lungs, she forced her eyes to stay open and instead of admitting defeat and lowering her head to the table, she reached for another biscuit. She wasn't sure how long she could keep this up – the lack of sleep mixed with the lack of food wasn't a great combination, and she was struggling.

After finishing the biscuit, she wiped the crumbs from the keyboard and pushed the laptop away. Maybe she would just shut her eyes, have a ten-minute rest. It was probably all she needed to get through the rest of the day and then hopefully she'd be too exhausted to worry about anything and would actually fall asleep tonight. Ten minutes, that's all she needed.

As she folded her arms across the table and lowered her head, the kitchen door opened again and she jerked her head up.

‘I didn't just catch you trying to take forty winks, did I?' Jay said as he walked in, feigning an air of shock, looking behind him dramatically.

‘Ha ha, of course not.' Megan shook her head. ‘I was just… resting my eyes.'

Jay indicated the door behind him. ‘Seriously, though, I can come back if you do want a nap.'

‘No, no. Don't be daft.' She waved him in and stood up. ‘Do you fancy a coffee?'

‘Yes, please. A mug of caffeine sounds good to me. I had Mia over last night and she woke about five in the morning full of beans.'

‘Ouch.' Megan filled the kettle with water and flicked it on.

‘Ouch indeed.' Jay chuckled as he picked up the laundry basket and began emptying the washing machine. ‘I don't think her teacher will be thanking me this afternoon when she's falling asleep at her desk, though. Still, it was lovely to have her over for an extra night. I'd trade my sleep in a heartbeat to have her wake me in the morning.'

‘Ah, she might be okay?' Megan shrugged as she spooned coffee granules into the mugs, two heaped ones for herself, one level for Jay. ‘I take it she's a morning person and you're a night owl then?'

‘Ha ha, yes, that's right. Something she definitely gets from her mother. I like my evenings too much to go to bed early.'

Megan began pouring the hot water and watched with satisfaction as the coffee granules dissolved. ‘I don't blame you. I'm the same.'

‘Whose are these, then?' Jay suddenly sounded baffled.

‘What are they?' Megan turned and realised he was holding up her wet top. She jumped as the boiling water splashed across her knuckles. ‘Drat.'

‘You okay?'

‘Yes, just caught myself with the hot water, that's all.' She lunged forward and grabbed her top. ‘I can sort that.'

Standing back, Jay frowned, his face etched with confusion. ‘Are these your clothes?'

Megan nodded, wracking her brain for a simple explanation. ‘I didn't get time to pop into the laundrette yesterday, and I didn't think anyone would mind me washing a few bits here.'

After emptying the rest of the laundry from the machine, Megan pulled out her jeans and underwear and put them in a small pile on the work surface before rolling them and squashing them into her tote bag. She'd pop out and place them in the car later. It wouldn't take long for them to dry in this weather.

‘I shouldn't think anyone would mind if you didn't want to wash them with the dog bedding.' Taking over the coffee making, Jay poured in the milk before handing her a mug.

‘I know.' She wrapped her hands around the mug and breathed in the strong, bitter aroma. ‘I was just embarrassed, I guess.'

‘Nothing to be embarrassed about.'

Sitting back down, Megan looked under the table. Cindy was still fast asleep, oblivious to any drama.

‘I wonder how Flora is getting on with the home visit,' Jay said as he bent down and took his lunch from the fridge.

‘I don't know. Hopefully it'll be good news. She's been there a while.'

‘Yes, that's got be a good sign, hasn't it?' He nodded towards her. ‘Are you not having your lunch?'

Megan shook her head. ‘I've already had mine.'

It wasn't a lie, she'd had all the lunch she was going to have.

The door opened again, and Susan walked in, followed shortly by Percy.

Percy made his way to his chair and sat down, rubbing his hands together. ‘All done. The concrete is laid and the foundations will be ready for the new kennels.'

‘Yes, no thanks to Percy here, who ended up walking in it.' Susan laughed.

Percy chuckled, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and began wiping flecks of grey concrete from his boots. ‘I may have had a momentary lapse of concentration.'

‘Or two you mean.' Shaking her head, Susan threw him a packet of antibacterial wipes. ‘Here, try these. At least they'll be wet.'

‘Thanks.' Percy folded his handkerchief and slipped it back into his pocket before taking a wipe. ‘Much better, thanks.'

While Susan began speaking to Jay, Percy turned to Megan and lowered his voice. ‘Have you managed to speak to Flora yet?'

‘Flora?' Megan frowned.

‘Yes, about what we spoke about in the paddock.' Percy glanced across at Susan, who was still speaking to Jay and lowered his voice even further. ‘About dating.'

‘Oh, yes. Of course.' Megan grimaced. She'd completely forgotten, what with everything going on between her and Lyle, it had slipped her mind. ‘Umm, no, not yet. Sorry, I'll try to have a word with her today.'

‘Thank you.' Percy grinned.

‘What are you two whispering about over here?' Susan asked.

‘Oh, you know. Just this and that.' Percy winked at Megan. ‘Just discussing the perfect process of laying concrete, that's all.'

‘Pouring concrete, you mean?' Susan raised her eyebrow.

‘Yes, yes, pouring concrete.' Percy folded up the used wipe and laid it on the table before reaching across and taking a biscuit. ‘These look good, don't they?'

‘They're the same biscuits we have here all the time.' Smiling, Susan shook her head and sat down.