Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Megan pulled open the gate to Wagging Tails and held it open for Jay.

‘It feels strange us both popping in after a full day's work and not volunteering here full time, doesn't it?'

‘It sure does.' Taking the gate, Jay closed it before falling in step with her and taking her hand. ‘Do you fancy grabbing lunch tomorrow after your exam? We can go somewhere nice.'

Megan groaned. She'd almost forgotten. Not that she had any excuse to forget, she'd been studying the accountancy refresher course at Trestow College for the past few months and the number of hours she'd been poring over books and revision guides over the past few weeks had all but put a hold on her and Jay's social life. Instead, Jay had been joining her at Flora's kitchen table and spending the time researching species and habitats for his job at the local nature reserve between quizzing her and helping her with her revision.

‘Hey, you'll smash it. I know you will.' He squeezed her hand.

‘Fingers crossed.' Holding her free hand up, she crossed her fingers.

‘And then you can start setting up your own accountancy business.'

‘Yes.' She nodded. ‘I forgot to tell you, Primrose asked if she could be my first client today!'

‘She did? That's amazing! Congratulations.' Pausing in the middle of the courtyard, Jay wrapped his arms around her and began kissing her.

Wrapping her arms around his waist, she kissed him back. Their relationship had gone from strength to strength since the fire and she was still getting used to the fluttering in her stomach every time she saw him. These moments though, when he kissed her, held her hand, hugged her, all of these little actions which showed how he felt about her, she wasn't used to them. Lyle had never been affectionate, not when out and about and not even around the home. Looking across at Jay, she smiled. This, the relationship she had with Jay, was so entirely different to what she was used to. And she liked it. More than liked it. Leaning back in his embrace, she grinned at him.

‘Thanks. I just need to think of a name now. Megan's Accounting is a bit dull.'

‘Ha ha, now that will be the fun part, thinking of a name.' He pointed towards the edge of the courtyard by the Wagging Tails building as they began walking again. ‘Oh, look, the new kennels are up.'

‘The new kennels take two.' Megan watched as Flora and Percy carried bedding into the new kennel block. ‘Let's just hope they stay up for a little longer than the last one.'

Jay chuckled. ‘Oh, I'm sure they will. And I'm sure Susan and Percy have been breathing down the electrician's neck this time.'

‘I bet. No more fires then.'

‘No, let's hope not.' Jay grimaced before pausing again. ‘Actually, before we go over and take a look, I've got something I've been meaning to tell you, and this seems as good a time as any other.'

‘Ah, now that sounds serious.' Megan frowned and turned to him.

‘It is.' Looking down at the floor, Jay ran his fingers through his hair.

‘You're worrying me now. Just tell me! Please!'

‘Okay, okay.' Looking up at her, he met her eyes before taking her hands in his. ‘I've been meaning to tell you this for a few weeks now, but I've fallen in love with you, Megan.'

Shaking her head, Megan laughed before cupping her hands around his cheeks. ‘You had me worried.'

Letting a deep breath out, Jay relaxed his shoulders before intertwining his fingers with hers and drawing her closer. Taking his hand away, he reached up and gently brushed a loose strand of hair from Megan's eyes before cupping her cheek.

As their lips met, Megan felt the familiar rush of warmth running through her body. He loved her! Leaning slightly back, her lips millimetres from his, she whispered, ‘I love you too, Jay.'

Pulling away, he grinned, his eyes glistening with happiness. ‘Well, that's a relief.'

Megan linked arms with him and they began walking again. ‘Did you actually think I was going to tell you that I didn't?'

‘No, but…' He shrugged. ‘It's nice to hear the words.'

She grinned. Everything was perfect. She couldn't be happier with her life now. It was miles, quite literally and figuratively, away from her old life with Lyle and she'd forever be grateful for Wagging Tails for changing her course.

‘Ah, there you two are!' Letting the door to the new kennel block close behind her, Flora came rushing across to them, hugging them both in turn. ‘Come on, come in and take a look at the new kennels!'

‘They look great, even from the outside.' Jay grinned and held the door open for them.

‘They really do.' Megan stepped inside and looked around. A small corridor down one side of the building led to four kennels of a similar size to the ones in the main kennel block. Each kennel had an opening at the end leading to an outside area. Although relatively small, the area would allow the dogs to lie or play in the sun. ‘Ooh, it looks really nice in here.'

‘It sure does, doesn't it, love?' Percy stood up from where he'd been setting the dog bed, before leaning back down and pulling the bed an inch to the right.

Flora checked her watch. ‘Right, we've got about half an hour before Sylvia drops off four new dogs from the pound. Shall we go and get a cuppa?'

‘You've filled the new kennel block already?' Megan asked as she followed Flora outside.

‘Oh, yes. Did you really think she'd leave them standing empty for even a day or two?' Percy closed the door behind them before wrapping his arm around Flora's waist.

Megan laughed and shook her head. ‘No, I don't suppose I did.'

Flora glanced back at the new kennel block. ‘It just feels so wonderful to be able to rescue four more dogs than we could before. This is really going to make a difference.'

‘You bet it will.' Jay pointed ahead and nudged Megan's arm. ‘It looks as though someone's eager to see you.'

Looking towards the window of Wagging Tails, Megan grinned. Cindy was jumping up and down at the window. ‘Aw, I miss her when I'm at work.'

‘I know you do, lovely. She misses you too.' Flora touched her on the forearm. ‘She waits at that door, usually lying across the doormat, waiting for you.'

‘She's such a gorgeous soul.' Megan smiled. ‘And I can't believe what a difference Sally's training is making to her separation anxiety. You wouldn't have been able to leave her alone in the reception area like this a few months ago.'

‘No, you wouldn't.' Flora nodded. ‘She'll be ready to be rehomed in no time.'

Megan nodded and swallowed, a lump forming in her throat. That's all she'd ever wanted for Cindy, a loving home, but she sure would miss her. When she was volunteering here or whenever she was over at the cottage, Cindy was glued to her side. It would feel strange her not being there.

Jay glanced from Megan to Cindy at the window and back again. ‘Flora, we'll catch you up in just a moment, if that's okay?'

‘Of course it is, lovely.'

‘We will?' Megan paused and waited until Flora and Percy had walked a few metres ahead before turning to him. ‘Is everything all right?'

‘Yes, it is.' Jay looked at the ground and rubbed the back of his neck. ‘I was going to wait until tomorrow at dinner, after your exam, to talk to you about this, but this feels like the right time.'

‘Oh.' She frowned. What was it he wanted to talk about now? Him telling her he loved her had been surprise enough, what else did he want to say? She took his hands in hers. ‘I'm listening.'

‘Now I know this probably sounds rash, but I've been thinking about it for a while now and I've been waiting for the right time to talk to you about it.'

‘Go on…' Megan ran the pad of her thumb across the back of his hand.

‘Okay, I will.' He glanced away from her before catching her eye again. ‘I'm just going to come out with it and if you think it's a crazy idea, then that's fine. I won't be offended.'

‘Jay, what is it?'

He took a deep breath in, his gaze unwavering. ‘Will you move in with me?'

Opening and closing her mouth, Megan felt her stomach flip. ‘Move in with you?'

‘Yes, we've been seeing each other a while now, and although I know it's not been that long in the great scheme of things, I think we know each other by now, really know each other.' He shrugged. ‘I think it would be great.'

She grinned. She didn't even need a moment to think about it, moving in with Jay felt like the most natural step to take in the world. ‘I'd love to.'

‘Great, great. Which leads me to the next suggestion I'd like to make.' He looked across at Wagging Tails as Flora and Percy reached the door. ‘Why don't we adopt Cindy? She loves you so much, and as you said, her separation anxiety is improving all the time.'

‘Really?' Dropping his hands, she reached around his neck.

‘Yes, really. You'll be working from home soon enough and we can get a dog walker until then, so she's not at home alone for any length of time.' He shrugged. ‘I think it could work.'

Megan shook her head. ‘I don't know what to say. You've thought of everything. That would be perfect.'

Jay smiled and tucked her hair behind her ears. ‘You moving in will be perfect, adopting Cindy will be the icing on the cake, so to speak.'

‘I love you.' Cupping his cheeks in her hands, she leaned forward and kissed him.

As he kissed her back, he began to chuckle and moved away slightly. ‘I think she likes the idea.'

Following Jay's gaze, Megan watched as Cindy came charging out of the door and sped across the courtyard towards them.

‘Did you hear that, Cindy? You're going to have a new family.'

As Megan and Jay took their seats around the table, Cindy squeezed between them both and laid her head on her paws between their chairs. Megan looked around the kitchen. Everyone was there, sitting, laughing and chatting. Flora passed around mugs of coffee and Percy shook biscuits from a packet to a plate before passing it to Alex who slid it towards the centre of the table.

Pushing her chair back, Susan stood up and made her way across to a cupboard before pulling out a large cake and setting it at the head of the table.

‘Now we have everyone together, I thought we should celebrate the new kennel block having finally been replaced.'

‘Ooh, that's beautiful, Susan.' Ginny looked at the cake. ‘You're such an amazing baker.'

‘Yum, that does look good.' Standing up, Alex leaned over and scraped a little icing off the bottom of the cake before sticking his finger in his mouth. ‘It tastes good too.'

‘Oi!' Swatting Alex's hand away, Susan chuckled. ‘Who wants a slice then?'

As a chorus of ‘me please's and ‘absolutely's rang through the room, Megan looked down at Cindy, who opened her eyes slightly and cocked her head to one side before sinking back into a deep slumber. Catching Jay's eye, she nodded towards the large dog between them.

‘I think the news of her having a new home has worn her out.'

Chuckling, Jay reached across and squeezed her hand. ‘Maybe we could go shopping for some things for her this evening? Even if we just start window shopping before everything is finalised.'

Megan nodded. ‘Yes, we'll have a ton of stuff to get before she moves in.'

‘What's this then?' Percy glanced at Megan and Jay.

Placing her hands on the table in front of her, Megan looked at Jay before turning to Percy and Flora. ‘Jay asked me to move in with him and we were wondering, well, hoping, that we might be able to adopt Cindy. Please?'

Grinning, Flora clasped her hands together. ‘That would be wonderful. Cindy dotes on you and I think she's found her perfect match.'

Jay blinked and raised his eyebrows, his lips twitching at the corners. ‘And what about me?'

‘Ha ha, you know what I mean, lovely. We all know you and Megan are perfect for each other and now Cindy will have her happy-ever-after too. With both of you.'

‘Yes, that's wonderful news. Moving in with each other and adopting Cindy. Congratulations.' Reaching across the table, Percy patted Jay's forearm.

‘Thanks. So we stand a chance of being able to adopt this one here then?' Jay glanced down at Cindy who was still sleeping peacefully at their feet.

‘Stand a chance? I've already mentally signed the adoption papers!' Flora chuckled.

‘Now we have two things to celebrate. Well, three, the newly rebuilt kennels, Cindy's adoption and Megan and Jay moving in with each other.' Alex took a slice of cake from Susan and held it up. ‘Cheers. Here's to Wagging Tails and a long future of helping more dogs, and humans. Happy days ahead of us all.'

‘Thanks.' After taking a plate from Susan, Megan waited until everyone else had a slice in their hand before raising it in the air. ‘Cheers to happy days.'

‘Happy days.' The chorus filtered around the table as Flora, Percy, Ginny, Susan, Sally and Jay joined in with Alex's toast.