Chapter 29

29

Megan pulled the laptop back towards her and began entering the details from the receipts. She looked at the pile of paperwork, invoices, and receipts she had left. She was over halfway through sorting the accounts although it would still take her a long time to finish, longer than it had to get to this point now she had her job at the ice-cream parlour to focus on too.

She glanced up when the kitchen door opened and in came Flora.

‘Morning, lovely.' She grinned as she came in and flicked the kettle on. ‘You were out of the cottage early today.'

‘Yes, I just wanted to get cracking on this before I start my first shift at the ice-cream parlour.' Megan shook her head when Flora held up a mug, offering her a coffee.

‘Of course, that's exciting.' Flora grinned.

Megan turned her mobile over, so the screen was flat against the tabletop. All she'd done since getting here was to check her mobile for messages from Jay. She knew he was busy, what with settling Mia and Leanne in the house as well as preparing for his job interview today. She wasn't expecting him to contact her. Not yet. Well, maybe he could have texted her last night after running out on their celebration meal, or this morning… No, he was busy. She understood that.

‘How was your date with Percy last night?' she asked, trying to turn her thoughts to brighter things.

Sitting down, Flora ignored the click of the kettle behind her and smiled. ‘It was everything I imagined it would be.'

‘So you think you and Percy will go on another date?'

‘Oh yes. Absolutely.' Flora nodded. ‘Honestly? It felt right.'

‘That's great then.' Megan smiled. She could see how happy Flora was.

‘I sound like a teenager, don't I?' Flora chuckled. ‘But really, it felt normal. It felt as though I've been with Percy for years. And I suppose we have been in a funny sort of way. Been together, I mean. We've been the closest of friends for years now, so I suppose this is just the icing on the cake, so to speak.'

‘I'm really pleased for you. For you and Percy. You're perfect together.'

‘Thanks, lovely.' Flora patted Megan's hand. ‘How are things going between you and Jay?'

‘Good. I think.' Megan nodded, unsure if she was trying to quell her own doubts rather than answering Flora's question. ‘His ex-wife split from her partner last night, so she and their daughter have moved in with him until she gets back on her feet.'

‘That's kind of him.'

‘Yes, it is.' She nodded. It was. He was a kind man, a good man. Of course he'd let his ex-wife move back in. He wouldn't question it.

‘Oh, shouldn't you be getting a wriggle on now? You're starting at ten, aren't you?' Flora pointed towards the clock on the wall.

Megan double-checked the time on her phone and stood up. ‘Yes, I'd better.'

She began to tidy the paperwork.

‘You get going, lovely. I'll do that for you. You don't want to be late on your first day.'

‘Thank you.'

‘No problem. Good luck with your first shift.'

‘Thanks.'

As soon as Megan had moved and headed towards the door, Cindy had stood up from her spot under the table. Megan fussed over her before pulling open the reception door and stepping outside.

Percy and Susan were guiding the construction workers who were building the new kennels, and she could just about see Sally and Ginny in the bottom paddock. It felt strange walking away from this place during the working day. It would likely take her a while to get used to working somewhere else. She just hoped the ice-cream parlour would be as friendly and welcoming as Wagging Tails.

‘Fantastic. You've got it.' Primrose smiled as Megan closed the till.

‘Thanks. Sorry, I mixed up the order, though.' Megan watched as the young family made their way out of the door, ice creams in hand.

‘Nonsense. Even I mess up orders and I've been here for years.' Primrose indicated towards the back room where the kitchen was. ‘Do you think you'll manage if I go and start making some more ice cream?'

Megan glanced around the small parlour. A handful of tables and chairs were situated along the left-hand side whilst the right-hand side was left free for queueing customers. Huge menus covered the wall and were also hung behind the counter. A couple of teenagers were hanging about at a table by the window and an older couple were reading a newspaper on the table closest to the counter.

‘Yes, I'll be fine.'

‘Grand. I shan't be long and just shout if you're unsure about anything or need me, okay?'

‘Yes, sure.'

Megan turned back to the door. She could see the cobbled walkway down to the beach from here. It wasn't busy, but the number of customers had been relatively consistent over the past couple of hours, with lunchtime proving to be the busiest time so far. She was surprised as the times she'd walked the dogs from Wagging Tails down to the cove, she hadn't seen many people, but she guessed some customers were local residents, some tourists who had happened upon the cove by chance and others dog walkers who might well be attracted to West Par for the cliff walks rather than the beach.

She smiled as a couple paused in front of the ice-cream parlour and watched as the woman passed two dog leads to the man before pushing open the door.

Megan stepped forward towards the counter. ‘Afternoon. Welcome to West Par Ice Cream Parlour. What can I get you today?'

‘Hi, could I have a chocolate brownie cone and a strawberries and cream in a tub, please?' The woman rummaged in her bag before drawing out her purse.

‘Of course. Coming right up.' Turning, Megan began serving the ice cream. ‘You've got two beautiful dogs there.'

‘Thank you.' The woman grinned with pride. ‘They're both rescues, and we feel very lucky to have them.'

The spaniel was sitting down, his tail wagging at a hundred miles per hour while a smaller dog was lying at the man's feet.

‘Aw, that's lovely.' Megan passed the cone to the woman. ‘They're not from Wagging Tails by any chance, are they?'

‘Yes, that's right.' The woman nodded.

‘I recently started volunteering there.' Megan grinned as she sat the tub on the counter.

‘Really? It's such a lovely place, isn't it? And they do such a fab job. We adopted them both from there. I think they calm each other down.' Glancing over her shoulder out of the window, the woman laughed as the spaniel lunged on the lead, trying to chase a rogue beach ball that someone further up the walkway had let go. ‘A little, perhaps.'

Megan laughed too. ‘Oh, they're gorgeous.'

‘Thank you.' After handing over the money, the woman picked up the tub and paused. ‘And thank you for volunteering at Wagging Tails. We owe that place a lot.'

Megan smiled as the woman stepped outside and passed the man the cone before bending down and fussing over the two dogs. It was crazy to think how many lives Wagging Tails had impacted, humans as well as dogs. She hadn't really thought about that before. She'd always focused on what good they did for the dogs they rescued; she hadn't thought about how much they were helping people too by matching them with their perfect companion. They had such an effect on people's lives as well as that of the dogs.

‘Could we get another couple of milkshakes, please?' One of the teenagers held their hands up, signalling Megan.

‘Yes, of course. One strawberry and one banana, wasn't it?'

Megan waited until they'd given her the thumbs up before turning and beginning to make up the milkshakes. She hadn't used the machine on her own before. Primrose had guided her when she'd made the last lot. Frowning, she filled up the machine with frozen strawberries from the freezer beneath the counter before turning it on.

Glancing towards the window, she froze. Was that Jay? Yes, it was, and it looked as though he was heading this way. A small girl was pointing towards the ice-cream parlour and taking Jay's hand. Megan could see Jay glancing towards her and back at his daughter, presumably unsure whether the two of them should meet. He was a good dad; she could see that. He wouldn't want his daughter to meet Megan, a woman he had only just started seeing – not yet. He needn't worry though, it wasn't as if she was going to announce that they were dating or anything.

She turned her attention back to the milkshake, letting go of the lever just as the strawberry mix began running down the edge of the glass. One done, one to go. She was pleased she'd remembered how to work the machine. She wanted to prove to Primrose that she was a fast learner and that she could do this job. Primrose had taken a chance on her, giving her this job with next to no experience and after such a long gap in her employment, she wanted to repay her by doing well and, also, if she could show her she was competent then she'd give her that overtime she'd spoken about.

Just as she was finishing the banana milkshake, she heard the little chime ring from the entrance, announcing the arrival of a new customer. She picked up the glasses and turned. It was Jay and Mia.

She smiled and caught his eye. ‘Hello, I'll be with you both in just a second.' She nodded towards the glasses.

‘It's okay, I'll grab them.' One of the teenagers jumped up from his chair and took the milkshakes from the counter. ‘Thanks.'

‘You're welcome.'

Megan turned back to Jay and Mia.

‘Mia,' Jay said, looking down at his daughter, ‘I'd like you to meet my friend, Megan, who I've been working with at the dogs' home.' Turning back to Megan, he said, ‘Megan, this is my daughter Mia.'

‘Hello, Mia. Lovely to meet you. I like your headband. It's very sparkly.' She pointed to Mia's bright yellow sequinned headband.

‘Thank you. My daddy got it for me for my birthday.' Mia took it off for a moment, looked at it and then slid it back onto her head.

‘Your daddy has good taste then.' Megan smiled and indicated the menu. ‘What can I get you both?'

Mia pulled her dad's arm, waiting until he'd bent down to whisper in his ear.

Straightening his back again, Jay grinned. ‘Yes, you can have a milkshake and a cone. What flavour would you like?'

This time Mia reached up on her tiptoes to look above the counter. ‘Can I have a chocolate milkshake, please?'

‘Of course you can. That's a good choice.' Megan nodded. ‘What ice cream would you like?'

‘Umm, strawberry and chocolate.'

‘Two scoops?' Megan turned to Jay. ‘And how about for Daddy?'

‘Ooh, there's so much choice.' Jay tapped his fingers against his chin.

Laughing, Mia tugged on his top. ‘Choose, Daddy.'

‘Okay, okay. I'll go for a mint choc chip cone, please.'

‘Coming right up.' Megan turned and started the milkshake machine again just as the chime rang again. It was getting busy now.

‘Mummy! Are you having an ice cream too?' Mia called.

With the milkshake machine whirring to action, Megan froze. She hadn't realised Leanne was here too. She'd assumed it was just Jay and Mia. Steadying her breath, she focused on pouring the milkshake. She just hoped Jay wouldn't make this awkward, them all being in the same room. She didn't want to get caught in the middle of anything. She turned slowly around, sure enough a woman, presumably Leanne, had joined Jay and Mia at the counter.

Megan swallowed before forcing a smile. ‘Hi, what would you like?'

‘Nothing for me, thank you.' Leanne stepped behind Mia and began undoing her braided hair. ‘This is falling out. I'll plait it again, shall I?'

‘Okay, Mummy.'

Megan lowered the milkshake and picked up a cone, catching Jay's eye in the process. She could tell by the pink tinge colouring the tips of his ears that he felt uncomfortable. She gave him a quick smile.

‘Thank you,' he said as he picked up the milkshake.

‘No worries.' Megan turned to Mia. ‘Are we having sprinkles and chocolate shavings on your ice cream?'

‘Yes, please.' Mia nodded just as her mum attempted to secure her plait again.

After adding the sprinkles and chocolate, Megan passed the cone to Jay.

Having finished tidying Mia's hair, Leanne placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders and smiled at her daughter. ‘Guess what I brought for the beach?'

‘My bucket and spade?' Mia turned around to look at her mum.

‘No, but I did bring the beach ball! We'll need to blow it up first but then we can play.' Leanne patted the fabric bag slung over her shoulder.

‘Yay!' Taking her cone from her dad, Mia said, ‘Thank you, Daddy. Thank you, Megan.'

‘You're very welcome.' Megan smiled and held out Jay's cone. ‘And here's yours.'

‘Thank you.' Tapping his card against the machine, Jay smiled at her, and then he turned towards the door.

Megan watched as the family left, Jay holding the door open for his daughter and ex-wife. She could hear Mia telling her mum about her, how she helped with the dogs with her daddy.

She could feel her stomach lurch as the three of them walked down towards the beach together. Forcing herself, she turned back to the milkshake machine and began cleaning it down, trying to keep her mind busy.