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“Keep still,” she told the manager, crooning enticingly to the dog.
It inched nearer and gently took the proffered treat. Penny reached up to her plate for the rest of the sandwich and broke off a piece, holding it out to the dog. It inched closer, sniffed and cautiously took the proffered bread. Handing the dog the final morsel, Penny stretched out her hand and stroked the animal’s back. It moved to her side, allowing her to pick it up.
“Get it out of my shop!” the manager cried.
Penny moved to the door and stepped outside. “Poor little thing. Are you lost?”
The dog tipped its head and looked up at her with a bright intelligent gaze. She cuddled it and rubbed its head. The fur that had looked wiry was actually soft and was made up of cream and caramel colours. She felt around the dog’s neck for a collar; there was none. Running her hand over its side, she noted how prominent the animal’s ribs were.
“Hey, little guy, how’d you like to come home with me?”
The dog swiped her hand with a small pink tongue.
“I’ll take that as a yes then. You need a name... Hmm, you look like a Pippin to me,” she decided. An idea began to form in her mind.
Entering the office block where David worked, she headed toward the elevator, her pass out and ready to swipe. Luckily for her the receptionist was buried within a group of people and failed to see her dash by with Pippin tucked under her arm. Inside, she took the lift to the eleventh floor. Sharne was nowhere to be seen, the corridor empty of people. She set her new doggy friend down and walked surreptitiously toward David’s office.
Outside the door she drew in a deep breath and called, “Naughty boy, come to me, you bad little doggy!” She ran around in a circle clapping, and the little dog ran about with her, yapping excitedly.
“What the devil is going on?” David’s voice boomed. She looked up to see him standing in his doorway. A dark frown creased his brow.
“I am so sorry, David! I came to make an appointment with Sharne for our lunch meeting when this little scamp escaped!”
“Is he yours?”
“Hmm, not actually, but he might be! You would be a good person to ask. Do you think it’s morally right for me to keep a stray? I mean he was wandering about the café and he doesn’t have a collar on and so I took him. I’ve called him Pippin. Don’t you think it suits him?”
“That’s enough!” he interrupted loudly. She stopped and stared at him in surprise.
“What lunch appointment?” David asked.
She chose to ignore that and began to chat about the dog again. Watching him closely for signs, she noted the tic beginning in his jaw. During her life with him as her daddy, she knew that this behaviour indicted he was on a short fuse. To push further usually meant her receiving a spanking. Giving an inward smile, she rambled on with another excited sentence about the dog, hoping she might be able to break through his cold business façade.
“Penny!” he suddenly bawled.
Oh, good, it worked!
“Yes?” she asked innocently.
“Come into my office, and bring that with you!” He pointed to the newly named Pippin.
Once inside, David closed the door behind them. He went to the fruit bowl on the coffee table and took out the fruit then crossed to the bathroom. Penny heard the water running. He returned with the bowl filled with water and set it down before the dog.
“Now,” he said, turning his icy blue stare on her. “You need to take him to Battersea Dogs’ Home.”
“Oh, no, no, I couldn’t abandon him...” she began.
He held up a hand. “Hear me out. You can state your intention to adopt him if the owner cannot be traced,” he finished.
I want so much to hug you and be held. I want your love, your reassurance. I want my daddy!
Aloud, she said, “I don’t know where the dogs’ home is, and anyway I don’t think I can give him up.” She allowed her eyes to brim with tears, not difficult to do when she looked at him. Her mind filled with memories, reminding her of all that she’d lost.
He sighed and looked at his watch. “All right, I’ll take you there. I have a meeting with a client at four but I can be back here by then.”
Impulsively, she hugged him. He immediately pushed her away.
“I’ll call a cab. Sharne is off today, it’s her birthday.”
