Page 34 of My Kind of Happy

Part Two

Chapter Eleven

A little over three weeks had gone by since the wedding and I was back in Barnaby with Scamp, ready for my first day as assistant manager of Nina’s Flowers. It was a quarter to nine on a beautiful Monday morning and the smell of spring was in the air, all fresh and frothy with new life. The sun was shining, swathes of bluebells nodded in time with the breeze on the village green and the morning rush – such as it was – was in full swing.

Although taking a job in a flower shop hadn’t been on the agenda, I was excited to see what the opportunity would bring, and today felt like the perfect day for a fresh start. Even Scamp was full of the joys of spring, tugging me towards the stream which bordered the village green.

As soon as it was safe to do so, I unclipped Scamp from his lead to let him stretch his legs and burn off some energy before going indoors. He did a couple of enthusiastic circuits around me and then ran off to explore. My new boss hadn’t turned a hair when I’d asked to bring him to work with me. It had been supremely generous of her, not to mention trusting. Scamp was a laid-back old boy, but I wasn’t sure how he’d react to spending the day cooped up in a shop, nor indeed what he’d make of a constant stream of strangers through the door. I hoped he wouldn’t let me down.

There was a group of silver-haired ramblers crowded around a bench on the green, pouring steaming drinks from Thermos flasks and they waved as we passed by. Scamp went over to wag his tail cheerily at them and was rewarded with a piece of biscuit. Several other dog walkers were out on the open space, and I stopped and spoke to a couple of them who wanted to know Scamp’s name and what breed he was. Having a dog was a great ice-breaker.

‘Dog or bitch?’ called a friendly lady from a distance. She was clutching the collar of a rotund Labrador whose tail gave a stately wag.

‘Dog,’ I called back, supressing a giggle.

‘Righty ho.’ She let go of her dog’s collar and the pair came closer. ‘Always have to check. Churchill might be advancing in years, but he’s constantly on the lookout for an eligible bitch, if you get my drift. I’m Biddy.’

I introduced myself and Scamp and the dogs gave each other a cursory sniff. Then side by side, they stared at us as if they were now a team awaiting instructions.

‘New to the village, eh?’ Biddy pushed wiry greying blonde hair behind her ear and smiled welcomingly.

I explained about my new job with Nina and she sighed wistfully.

‘Such a fragrant shop. I’m quite envious; mine smells of rabbit droppings and dried fish.’

I raised my eyebrows, not knowing how to respond.

‘I own the pet shop across the green.’ She delved into the pocket of her crocheted tunic and produced a money-off voucher for a mini-doggy-pedi. ‘Take this for when Scamp needs his claws clipping. Cheerio!’

She marched off with Churchill waddling leisurely behind her and we carried on doing a circuit of the green, passing a group of younger women who were standing chatting. Mums, possibly, who’d dropped their offspring off at the little primary school. They made a fuss of Scamp who flirted shamelessly with them until I rattled a couple of treats in my hand which sent him running back.

‘Looks like you’ve made lots of new friends,’ I said, breaking a treat in half for him.

The village had a friendly vibe and already I was detecting a strong sense of community. So far, the place which I’d only discovered because it had featured in a magazine article about undiscovered villages was working its magic on me.

As the church bells chimed the hour, I spotted Nina waving to me from the doorway of the florist’s shop and I picked up my pace.

‘Scamp!’ I called. ‘Time for work.’

I jingled the lead. Normally, this was enough to have him return to my side. But just then, with a raucous quack and a flap of its wings, a duck landed in the stream.

‘Nooo,’ I yelled in dismay, as, before I could grab his collar, Scamp launched himself into the water after it. The duck took flight again leaving the dog splashing backwards and forwards across the stream, sniffing the air.

‘Come back!’ I shouted, patting the pocket of my jacket, where he knew I kept his treats.

Scamp scrambled back up the bank, dripping wet and looking mightily pleased with himself.

‘Great,’ I said, half-laughing as he shook the water out of his fur, covering me with droplets. ‘A wet dog, just what every shop needs.’

I snapped his lead back on and quickly doubled back to the car to towel him off. By the time we finally reached the florist’s, I was fifteen minutes late for work.

‘Thank goodness,’ Nina said beaming. She flung the door open and flipped the sign from closed to open.

‘So sorry,’ I said, ‘not an auspicious start, is it? I’m late and I’m bringing a smelly damp dog with me.’

Nina waved my apology away and pumped my hand up and down in hers enthusiastically. ‘I saw you head back to the car and I thought, oh no, she’s changed her mind!’

‘I wouldn’t do that!’ I said, not quite meeting her eye.