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Sarah disliked, no—hated dogs. She blamed one in particular for the breakup of her last relationship. Couldn’t understand why her ex, Rick, wanted to spend more time with his pooch, Tobey, than her.
Prior to Rick and Tobey moving in just over a year before, Sarah didn’t mind the company of canine companions. She even used to look after her mum’s Schnauzer, Petal, from time-to-time. But Tobey changed all that.
“You are not serious!” Sarah said, her jaw tightening, her gaze fixed on her mum’s pleading puppy-dog eyes. “Petal only passed away a few months ago!”
“But I miss the company,” Jean, Sarah’s mum, said in a whining voice. “The house feels so empty, and I’ve started putting on weight since I stopped going out for daily dog walks.”
“But two thousand dollars for a dog! Mum—you’ve got more money than sense!” Sarah said, tutting. “And if you think I’m looking after it while you’re away, you can think again.”
Sarah was not having a bar of it. The mental scars were still too deep since Rick and his demonic dog had departed only a few months after they’d moved in.
“I’ve already bought it and pick her up on Saturday, so you’ll just have to accept it.”
“Never,” Sarah mumbled as she walked out of the front door of her mother’s cottage.
***
THREE MONTHS HAD PASSED since Jean had brought her new puppy, Daisy. Sarah suspected it would only be a matter of time before her mum wanted a dog sitter—she was not one to shy away from the odd holiday or four. It was no surprise, then, when Jean arrived at Sarah’s house, Daisy in tow.
“Darling...” Jean said, tossing a cheesy grin at her only daughter.
“Whatever it is, the answer is no,’ Sarah said, arms folded.
“It’ll only be for a week,” Jean said, pleading.
“No, no, no, no, NO!” Sarah’s voice rose several octaves as if singing Bohemian Rhapsody.
“But darling, you wouldn’t want your old mum to miss out on a much-needed holiday, would you? And look at her poor face...” Jean picked up the puppy and thrust her towards Sarah.
Sarah knew only too well how adept her mum was at plucking her emotional strings like she was tuning a guitar. “You know I can’t. The thought of Tobey still gives me nightmares—” Sarah cupped her cheeks to emphasise her plight, but secretly she knew her protests would fall on deaf ears. Her mother was persistent, if nothing else.
Jean tossed her daughter the saddest of sad puppy eyes.
“Fine,” Sarah said, sighing, her mouth pursing. “Now get that thing out of my face.”
Jean smiled and put Daisy back on her lap, ruffling her head. “I’ll bring her over on Friday. She’ll be no trouble, honestly, but I do need you to take her to her training class on Saturday morning.”
“Mum!” Sarah’s temper was bubbling like the Kasane Hot Springs. “And I suppose you want me to take her to The Funny Bone as well for a weekly pamper?”
“Ooo...that would be lovely. Would you mind?”
Sarah shook her head in disbelief, anticipating the opus-length list of requests her mother would make to ensure Daisy’s holiday was as relaxing and enjoyable as hers.
***
WHEN JEAN DROPPED DAISY off at Sarah’s house, Sarah wasn’t quite prepared for the amount of baggage that came with her. The list of requests were several pages long, and not only did Daisy have two changes of coat, several different bags of kibble, a brush, three collars and a small doggy-bow for her hair, but Jean spent nearly an hour scoping Sarah’s house—inside and out—to make sure Daisy could not escape, fall, trip, or get locked in, and had access to the most comfortable spots.
“Where did you put her bed?” Sarah yelled from the lounge room.
“It’s next to yours,” Jean said, walking in. “I don’t want her to be alone at night.”
What if I want to be alone at night?
Sarah’s stress levels were already higher than the BHP Billiton tower, so watching her mum fuss around her house changing the layout and position of furniture was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Mum! She’ll be fine,” Sarah snapped. “Will you just go?”
Bewildered, Jean hugged Daisy to her chest. “Don’t worry Daisy-dog, she’s not always this grumpy.” She planted a kiss on Daisy’s head and gently placed her on the sofa.
“Not on my leather couch!” Sarah said, fists clenched, but Jean made no attempt to move Daisy.
“She’s comfy there,” she said, and gave her daughter a hug before scuttling towards the front door. “See you in a week,” her voice carried as she left, “and look after my baby!”
That’d be right. Treat Daisy better than her actual baby.
Standing in front of her couch, Sarah sighed. Daisy was curled up and was emitting low, rumbling snorts.
“That’s a lot of noise for such a little thing,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “At least you can’t get on my bed.” A grin split her face. She would still have a good night’s sleep.
How wrong she was.
***
SARAH FLICKED HER FACE again as the annoying tickle intensified. Turning, she opened her eyes and glanced across at the bedside clock: 2:26 a.m. As she rolled back, a sandpaper-like tongue licked her mouth.
“Whaaa!” Sarah bolted upright coming face-to-face with Daisy, who jumped up and planted another wet kiss on her face. “How the hell did you get up here?”
Sarah flicked on the side light just as a waft of sprout-like odour infiltrated her nostrils. Looking down at Daisy, then across the duvet, she noticed the spattering of brown blobs.
“No, no, no, no, NO!” she cried out. “What the hell have you done?” Sarah leapt out of bed, nausea rolling in her gut.
It took mere minutes for Sarah to strip the bed and put the sheets in the washer, all the while the desire to vomit threatening. Daisy, now innocently curled up in her bed and falling asleep, seemed oblivious to the chaos she had caused. But Sarah was seething, and in a fit of temper picked the dog and its bed up and carted them to the laundry. She placed the bed on the floor, slammed the door shut and stomped back to her bedroom.
But all hopes for a good night’s sleep were dashed when Daisy spent the rest of that early morning yelping, whining and scratching at the laundry room door. And no matter how hard Sarah tried—earplugs, pillows over the ears, shouting at Daisy to shut up—Daisy persisted.
By 4:15 a.m., Sarah could no longer stand the harassment and got up, bolted to the laundry, yanked open the door and swore under her breath at Daisy who sat wagging her tail.
“You’d better not disturb me,” Sarah said, chastising the dog as she picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, plonking her on a towel at the end of the bed.
Daisy fell asleep.
Sarah tossed and turned.
***
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, after only a few hours’ sleep, Sarah got herself and Daisy ready for her stint at the dog training class. It was held every Saturday on the seafront oval, and from what Jean had told Sarah, consisted of a group of other puppies and older dogs learning basic commands from a qualified trainer.
“She loves it,” Jean had said. “She’s so sociable with the other dogs and picks things up really quickly. She’s such a darling...”
She’d bloody better be.
Sarah parked up at the oval, unclipped Daisy from her doggy-seatbelt and went to attach her lead, only Daisy was having none of it. As soon as the car door opened and she was freed, she bolted towards the field.
“Daisy!” Sarah shouted, her voice garnering unwanted attention from passers-by.
She hot-footed it after Daisy, but Daisy had already reached the group of owners and dogs assembled in a circle in the centre of the oval. As Sarah ran, she could hear yapping and barking, which soon turned to growling and snarling.
“Daisy, you little—” Sarah said as she puffed her way to the group just as Daisy was trying to jump on an unsuspecting Kelpie twice her size. “I’m so sorry!” Sarah said to the Kelpie’s owner, breathless. “She’s apparently well-behaved.” She reached down and clipped Daisy’s lead onto her collar, pulling her away before anyone could notice her cheeks enflaming like a gas hob.
“It’s okay,” the owner replied. “Jean has a job keeping control of her at the best of times.” He tossed Sarah an “I know” look, tittering.
Rolling her eyes, Sarah made her way to a gap in the grouping, figuring it was safer to keep Daisy at arm’s length of the other dogs for now. But as she reached her spot, she spied a familiar face amongst the owners—Rick.
Sarah gasped, the air sucked from her lungs as Rick’s eyes locked with hers. She looked down at his feet and jumped back, her pulse zooming from nought to sixty in a heartbeat as she spotted the source of her nightmares—Tobey. Surprisingly, he was calmly sitting beside Rick, not a whiff of mischief about him. But Sarah knew him well. Daisy was a novice compared to Tobey, the king of calamity.
Sarah’s breath caught in her throat and her body stiffened.
Daisy tried to jump up her leg.
Rick strolled over towards Sarah, Tobey in tow.
“Hi,” Rick said, eyes glinting. “What are you doing here?”
Sarah glanced down at Daisy, who was eyeballing Tobey. “Um...mum’s gone away and left me in charge of this.” She gestured to the pup.
“Yeah, I’ve seen your mum here with Daisy,” Rick said.
Sarah wondered why her mum hadn’t bothered to mention it, but suspected she knew Sarah wouldn’t agree to taking Daisy to training if she knew Rick would be there with Tobey.
“So, err...how are you?” Rick continued, scuffing the grass with his feet.
“I’m good. You?”
“Yeah...alright, I guess.” Rick’s gaze lowered.
Sarah’s pulse quickened a touch, echoing the niggle deep in her gut. Before she could reply, Daisy let out a low snarl and bared her teeth sending Tobey darting behind Rick. Sarah stared in amazement as the miniscule Daisy lurched forward, barking furiously at Tobey. Sarah yanked on her leash to pull her back, but wasn’t quick enough and fell forward, straight onto Rick. Strong arms grabbed her elbows as she face-planted Rick’s chest.
“Woah!” Rick said as Daisy’s lead tangled around his lower leg.
Tobey whimpered.
Daisy growled.
Rick’s eyes widened.
Sarah stopped breathing, Rick’s familiar scent wafting, invoking memories of them skin-on-skin.
Pulling herself back a touch, she looked up into Rick’s eyes, drawn in by the ocean within them. Heat rushed up her cheeks like a menopausal flush as her heart zoomed from third to fifth gear. “I...I’m so sorry.”
Time stopped—the two of them motionless, eyes penetrating.
Sarah shook her head and stepped further back, shrugging away the sensations coursing through her just as Tobey rolled onto his back, Daisy crowned the victor.
“Well...that’s a first,” Rick said, chuckling. He released Sarah from his grasp, and she bent to pick up Daisy.
“I know, right,” Sarah said, trying to hide her trembling hands. “I’ve never seen Tobey submit to anything, let alone a puppy a quarter of his size.”
“Jean usually has Daisy with the other pups, well away from the bigger dogs. Guess Tobey’s just a big sook.” Rick flashed a smile sending a quiver through Sarah.
“Perhaps we should keep these two apart,” Sarah said, averting her gaze.
“I guess we should—”
“I...I’ll just go over there,” Sarah said, pointing to a large gap on the other side of the grouping.
Rick nodded, turned to Tobey and commanded him to stand.
“Bye then...” Sarah said, walking away, her breath rasping.
“Yeah...see ya.”
The rest of the lesson proved challenging for Sarah. Daisy was not the little darling her mother had claimed, constantly trying to dominate any pooch who came within a three-meter radius, and knowing Rick was nearby did nothing to quell Sarah’s frayed nerves.
By the end of the session, Sarah was left wondering if 10 a.m. was too early to indulge in a medicinal wine or several.
As she made her way back to the car, she glanced around to see where Rick was, spotting him chatting to another woman, both their dogs sitting patiently by their sides.
Tobey was never like that when we were together.
Sarah’s gut churned—why is that?—and Rick looked over at her, raising his hand in a half-wave.
***
WHEN SARAH ARRIVED home, Daisy was fast asleep on the back seat. She almost looked adorable curled into a fluff-ball, lightly snoring. Sarah picked her up and carried her inside.
“If you think you’re going on the sofa, you can think again,” she said as she placed Daisy in her own bed on the floor.
But Daisy woke, leapt up and bolted for the sofa, jumping and grappling to pull herself up. Sarah could almost envision the scratch marks on the couch.
“You little—”
But her resolve wavered as Daisy circled several times then flopped down and closed her eyes. Sarah sighed and, shaking her head, went to the kitchen to make a much-needed cuppa.
I am going to kill my mother when she gets back!
She was enjoying a moment of tranquillity when her mobile phone pinged with a message.
“I hope you’re looking after my baby.”
Sarah rolled her eyes, contemplating a sarcastic reply, settling on, “She’s fine. How are you?”
“Did you give her the kibble at 7:30 a.m.? How did she do at training?” came her mother’s reply.
“Oh, for the love of—” Sarah said aloud through gritted teeth.
She was about to type, “No, I gave her a big bar of chocolate and she was a pain in the arse at training,” but thought better of it, responding with, “Yes, and she did fine. How’s the holiday?”
The next message popped-up a few moments later. “Good,” is all it said.
The holiday, or that she did fine?
Sarah stared at her phone screen awaiting the next reply, but after several minutes realised that her mother had probably got what she needed and was going back to enjoying herself.
Typical!
***
SARAH AWOKE ON THE sofa, legs dangling over the side, her phone pinging again. She tried to ignore it, figuring it was her mum checking up on Daisy again, but her bladder woke too. Manoeuvring around Daisy, she got up and made her way to the loo. Daisy followed her and sat down in front of her as Sarah did her business. As Sarah went to pull toilet paper from the holder, Daisy leapt up and grabbed the end, then bolted out of the toilet door.
“Daisy!” Sarah yelled, fists clenched.
Returning to the lounge after sorting out the tissue situation, Sarah fished her phone from between the cushions and checked her messages.
“Good to see you today.” It was a message from Rick.
Sarah froze, her heart drumming like the intro to We Will Rock You, fingers poised over her phone keys. What should she say? Should she reply?
A whirlwind of thoughts ravaged her mind. Memories of happy times—their first official date at Casey’s Café when Rick had bowled her over with his cherubic charm and glinting blue eyes, the many times they went walking by the sea and made love behind the outcropping on Stonecrest beach as the sun dipped into the Indian Ocean, and of much harsher ones, mostly revolving around the demon-dog, Tobey. Sarah knew her feelings for Rick hadn’t waned—the fluttering in her gut was proof of that—and she still believed him to be the love of her life, but his love and protectiveness towards Tobey had clouded everything.
“You too,” Sarah typed, but immediately deleted her words. There was no point in treading this path—her and Rick were just not meant to be. She threw the phone down and sprawled out on the sofa. Daisy jumped up and snuggled in next to her, but Sarah couldn’t be bothered to push the dog off, her mind still musing over Rick’s message.
***
EARLY THE FOLLOWING morning, Sarah took Daisy for a walk in the regional park at the back of her street. It had become a favourite spot for daily exercise since few other dog walkers seemed to use it, so Sarah was more-or-less guaranteed a peaceful jaunt. She had even purchased an extender lead so Daisy could roam more freely in the park’s natural bushland.
Their walk was uneventful for a time and the only sounds were of the occasional cockatoo caw, cicada chirps and the rustle of leaves in the fresh sea breeze. Daisy seemed to be enjoying her freedom, going off-track and sniffing, pawing at dirt and occasionally wrapping her lead around shrubs and trees. Sarah was getting used to Daisy’s ways, so took it all on the chin. But on this particular morning, Daisy had discovered something of interest underneath a grass tree and seemed to spend ages checking it out. Sarah stood idly, phone in hand, scrolling through her Facebook feed as Daisy did her thing, but eventually impatience took hold and she tugged lightly on the lead. Daisy ignored it.
“Oh, come on, Daisy,” Sarah said, but Daisy didn’t move. Sarah tugged again, more forcibly this time, but Daisy still did not move. “What are you doing, you stupid mutt?’ Sarah wandered a few feet into the bush to retrieve the dog. “Daisy! What the hell—” She stepped back in horror as she saw Daisy delightfully rolling in the carcass of a dead kangaroo. “Oh my God!” She yanked the lead to pull Daisy upright.
Daisy yelped and dug her paws in, but Sarah was having none of it. She bent to pick up the dog but recoiled when the whiff of rancid, decaying flesh invaded her nostrils.
“That’s disgusting!” she said, turning her head to the side as she grabbed the pooch and hurried back to the path. Once there, she put Daisy down and stepped back, covering her nose with the back of her hand. “I can’t believe you did that.”
Daisy looked up at Sarah, wagging, as Sarah checked her pockets and backpack for tissues or anything to wipe away the grime that was now covering Daisy’s back and sides, as well as her own jacket.
“You little—” she said through gritted teeth. And with that, Sarah led the dog out of the park and towards the centre of town. There was no way she was going to take the stinking mutt home and risk contaminating her sofa and bed. “Looks like you will be going to the groomers after all!” she growled.
Sarah was seething as she quick-marched Daisy towards The Funny Bone dog grooming salon, the occasional cuss leaving her lips as the people she passed on the way wrinkled their noses at the stench coming from them both.
The door tinkled as Sarah and Daisy entered the salon, and seconds later a smiling man appeared behind the counter. “Hello and welcome. How can I help?’ he said then immediately wafted his hand in front of his face. “Actually, I think I can guess.”
Sarah removed her jacket and tucked it under her arm, and thrust Daisy forward. “She rolled in a dead roo,” she said, nausea bubbling in her gut. “Can you clean her up for me before I vomit?”
“Oh...um, all the groomers are busy now. Is there any chance you could come back later?”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “What? Err...when?” She hadn’t anticipated there may be a delay.
The man, whose name badge read ‘Harley’ flicked through a diary on the countertop. “Would 2 p.m. work?”
“You don’t have anything sooner? I mean, I can’t take her home when she smells like this!”
“Um...well, I suppose I could do it over lunch time.”
“That’d be great—thank you. Can I leave her here in the meantime?”
“Oh. No...sorry, you’ll have to bring her back at 12 p.m. We have nowhere safe to put her until then and we’re not a doggy creche.”
Sarah’s face dropped. “So, I have to hang about with her until then?”
Harley shrugged.
Sarah’s eyes darted back-and-forth as she contemplated what she could do for the next few hours with the honking hound in tow. “Well...okay. I guess I’ll come back then.”
Harley smiled. “See you then.”
Sarah took Daisy and slowly walked out of the salon, her shoulders slumped, her stomach still churning.
Could this day get any worse?
***
SIGHING, SARAH SAT on the grass in the park and flicked through emails on her phone. Daisy plopped down beside her and tried to snuggle in, but Sarah was not having a bar of it and shifted away from the confused pooch.
“You are a pain in the arse!” Sarah told her.
Daisy let out a low whine and curled up foetal-like as if she knew she was in the dog house, but moments later she sprang up, growling, her tail straight out behind her.
“Daisy!” Sarah looked up from her phone as the pup lurched forward. “What the—”
Daisy snarled and snapped, and Sarah rose, gripping and tightening the leash.
“Sarah?” Rick’s voice carried across the park as Tobey lumbered up to alert Daisy. The two dogs exchanged snorts and growls as Daisy prepared to pounce, only Tobey crouched in front of her and tried to lick her face with a slobbering, drooling tongue.
“Rick—um ... hi,” Sarah said, bewildered. “What...what are you doing here?”
“Walking Tobey—eww, what is that smell?” Rick scrunched his face.
“That would mostly be Daisy.” Sarah glared down at the dog who was standing stock-still in front of the now submissive Tobey. “We’ve got an appointment at the groomers.”
“Good job—she bloody stinks.” Rick tossed a sympathetic smile at Sarah. “What happened?”
“A dead roo, that’s what.” Sarah’s cheeks tingled as if Deep Heat had been rubbed all over them.
“Urgh! Thank God, Tobey doesn’t do that.”
No, he’s bloody perfect, isn’t he?
“Well this is the last time I dog sit for my mother,” Sarah said, huffing.
“What time’s the appointment?”
“Midday.”
“Oh, you’ve got a while to wait, then.”
Sarah nodded as her stomach let out an audible growl.
“Don’t suppose you’d let me get you a coffee, then?”
“I daren’t go anywhere near Casey’s—the stench would put customers off.”
“Not to worry. I can get the coffees and come back here.”
Sarah pondered his proposal. She could really use a drink, perhaps a muffin too because she hadn’t had breakfast. She nodded, “Okay. Thanks. Could I have a flat white and a double-choc muffin please?” She reached into her backpack pocket for her purse. “Oh...I don’t have any money on me.”
“It’s on me,” Rick said, smiling.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“What about Tobey?”
“He’ll be alright. He’s learning to behave himself.” Rick said, winking.
About bloody time.
Rick walked away, Tobey in tow.
Rick returned about ten minutes later, coffees and brown bags in hand. Sarah hadn’t moved from the spot where he left her, careful to avoid contact with any other human beings.
“Flat white and a muffin,” Rick said, handing them over.
Daisy let out a half-hearted yap, but didn’t lunge, just stood, shook herself and waited for Tobey to come and sniff her butt.
“Thanks Rick,” Sarah said. “You’re a life-saver.” Butterflies performed acrobatics in Sarah’s gut as their fingers brushed.
Rick smiled and plopped down next to her, seemingly unaffected by the smell of death and decay that still surrounded Daisy and Sarah, his proximity causing the blood in Sarah’s veins to race like a Thoroughbred in a derby.
Sarah shook her head trying to cast out errant thoughts of her and Rick together.
“You right?” Rick said, eyes boring into hers.
“Uh-huh,” she said, taking a glug of coffee as a distraction. “Ow!” The hot liquid seared her top lip, but before she could do anything more, Rick reached across and caressed her burnt lip in gentle circles with his thumb.
“Bit hot, eh?” Rick’s voice was low and seductive like molten chocolate.
Nodding, Sarah turned away to hide the searing heat flaring up her cheeks. “Rick—please, don’t,” she whispered. “I can’t—” even though every inch of her had become magnetised to him.
Rick pulled back his hand and shifted away. “Um...sorry. Dunno what came over me.”
Sarah stood and brushed down the backs of her jeans. “I’d better go.”
“But it’s only eleven,” Rick said, eyes narrowing.
But Sarah had already picked up her backpack and secured Daisy. “Thanks for the coffee and cake,” she said as she and Daisy hot-footed it away from Rick and Tobey.
***
SARAH RETURNED TO THE salon to pick up the newly washed and styled Daisy. Still harbouring deep feelings for Rick, she yearned for conversations about any old shit long into the night as the wine kept flowing. She ached for the way he made her flesh tingle, her heart race, her nether regions ignite. No other man could compare. It had been eight months since they’d gone their separate ways, and Sarah was so lonely. But Rick’s devotion to Tobey had created a ravine that could not be bridged, and when he chose the dog over her, the betrayal left a gaping scar on Sarah’s heart.
“Will you be bringing Daisy back for her regular appointment? She’s due a clip soon,” Harley said, ringing up the services on the salon computer.
“When is it again?”
“Next Tuesday at four.”
Sarah huffed. She’d have to leave work early. Bloody dog! Sarah nodded and fished in her backpack for some money as Harley passed over an invoice.
“Um...I don’t have any cash on me. Can I pay on Tuesday?”
Harley sighed, rubbed his eyes, then tapped on the computer. “Okay, but please make sure you do.”
“Thanks Harley. You’re a gem.” Sarah stashed the invoice into her backpack—a little present for her mum when she returned from her trip.
Annoyance gripped as Sarah led Daisy out of the salon and back onto the street. “If you think you’re getting another walk today, you can forget it,” she said, pointing at Daisy and tugging at the leash. Daisy, preoccupied with sniffing along the building wall, suddenly squatted, tail aloft, and emptied her bowels.
“Oh crap!” Sarah scrambled, checking the doggy bag holder on the lead—empty! “For ef’s sake!” she growled as an older gentleman walked past and tutted.
Without a second thought, she looked down at the pooch, wagging her finger, and in a firm voice said, “Daisy SIT and STAY,” and much to Sarah’s amazement, Daisy did as she was told. Sarah bolted back inside to find Harley and get some bags, but he was nowhere to be seen. Frantic, she dinged the bell on the counter and after what seemed like a millennium—with her constantly checking the window to make sure Daisy was still there—a young woman whose name badge read ‘Abbey’ appeared.
“Can I help you?” she said. Sarah jumped back from the counter for fear of subjecting Abbey to the stench that still lingered on her.
“Um...is Harley around?” Sarah drummed her fingers on the counter.
“He’s out back having his lunch. Is it urgent?”
“Yes...kind of.”
“Wait here a sec.” She smiled, tossing her strawberry-blond locks, and disappeared.
“Oh...it’s you,” Harley said after he entered the reception area. “Everything okay?”
“Poo bags,” Sarah said.
Harley tittered, then pointed to a stand behind Sarah housing pull-off bags.
Sarah shook her head in dismay and tossed Harley a faux smile, then turned and yanked several bags from the holder. “Thanks! You really are a gem,” she called as she hurried out of the door.
The door tinkled shut behind her and Sarah glanced over to where she’d left Daisy, but there was no sign of her.
“Daisy?” Sarah said, gasping. “Daisy?” And even though the sea breeze gave a cooling blast, sweat beads formed on Sarah’s head as her pulse zoomed from nought to sixty in mere seconds.
Behind her, the door tinkled open and Harley rushed out. “What’s happened? I heard shouting.”
“It’s Daisy. She...she’s disappeared.” Sarah’s voice caught, her throat constricting.
“Wait here!” Harley darted inside, returning moments later with another lady who he introduced as Dee, the owner.
“You okay, love?” Dee asked.
“No. No I’m not. It’s Daisy—my mum’s dog—I think she’s done a runner.”
“We’ll help look for her,” Dee said, reaching inside the door and flipping a sign to ‘Closed’. “She can’t have gone far. I’ll go up the High Street. Harley—you go the other way, and perhaps you should retrace your steps. We’ll meet back here in thirty minutes. Okay?”
Sarah nodded and strode across the road towards the park. She quickly made her way to where she’d been sitting, her palms sweating around the lead she now carried.
When she reached the spot, there was still no sign of Daisy. “Mum’s going to kill me,” she said, whispering, as a tear trickled down her cheeks.
Sarah circled the park calling for Daisy, but with each passing second her heart sank lower than the sinking Titanic. “Oh Daisy-dog, where are you?”
As despair engulfed, Sarah trudged back to the salon.
“Any sign of her?” Harley asked, puffing from his sprint back up the road.
Sarah shook her head.
“Hopefully Dee’s had more luck. Dogs seem to be drawn to her.”
“I hope you’re right,” Sarah said, shoulders slumping.
A few moments later, a lone Dee returned and as Sarah searched her face for good news, Dee’s expression said it all.
“You need to retrace where you’ve been today. Dogs have a habit of going back to where they first got separated from you,” Dee said.
“But that was here,” Sarah said, squeaking.
“I don’t know what else to tell you,” Dee replied, shrugging. “Where else have you been?”
“The park—but I’ve already triple-checked it.”
“Anywhere else?” Harley asked.
“The regional park near my house.”
“Try there. We’ll put some signs up around here.”
“Thanks. I’ll give you my mobile number in case you hear anything.”
After scribbling her number on a piece of scrap paper, Sarah said her goodbyes and set off for the park, her mind filled with ‘what ifs’ and a million-and-one ways to explain to her mother how she’d managed to lose her prized pooch.
As she turned into her street, she noticed a figure further along standing with his hands grasping his hair—Rick!
She picked up pace and called out to him.
Rick looked towards her, a frown on his face.
“What are you doing here?” Sarah asked.
“It’s Tobey—he’s gone missing,” Rick replied.
Sarah gasped. “Daisy too! She legged it from outside the salon when I’d gone in to get some bags.”
“Oh...” Rick replied, then his eyes widened. “You don’t think—”
“Oh yes, I do think,” Sarah replied, nodding.
“I was just about to go into the park to see if he might be in there. Coming?”
“You betcha!” Sarah said, determination renewed.
She and Rick made their way along the pea-gravelled track leading to the entrance of the park, each one calling out their respective dogs’ names.
As they walked further into the bush, the path divided in two.
“We should split up and regroup back here,” Sarah said.
Rick’s face dropped. “I guess...”
“We’ll be able to cover more ground.” Sarah marched off towards the left-hand fork. “See you soon—I hope!”
Sarah swore she felt Rick’s gaze boring into the back of her head, and even though she was tempted to turn and run back to him, she was on a mission—one so important that her inner desires would just have to wait.
***
EVEN THOUGH THE REGIONAL park was a familiar stomping ground, it somehow seemed bigger than ever. With every step, Sarah’s eyes darted back-and-forth—surveying the grass trees, the zamias, the flowering ‘eggs and bacon’ on either side of the pathway—as she periodically called out for Daisy, sometimes Tobey too.
The forest floor was darkening, the leaves of the paperbarks and peppermints adopting a blazing golden hue. Reaching the end of the path, Sarah stopped. Daisy had never been this far before. Her heart sank and a huge sigh left her lips. She turned about foot and headed back towards the park entrance.
After trudging for what seemed like hours, she clapped eyes on Rick. He was waving at her. By his feet, Tobey and Daisy were sitting obediently. Sarah picked up pace, relief washing over her like a tidal wave. As she neared Rick and the dogs, her trot became a canter then a full-on gallop as she flung herself into Rick’s now outstretched arms.
“Thank God,” she said, sobbing as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Shhh,” he said, stroking her hair. “It’s okay. They’re safe now.”
Sarah wasn’t quite ready to let go, finding sanctuary in Rick’s familiar hold. Inhaling his spicy aroma, she regaled in this happy ending. But as the two embraced, Daisy and Tobey decided they wanted in on the celebration, both leaping around and against their respective owners, their leads entwining and jumbling around Rick and Sarah’s legs.
Rick wobbled as Tobey’s leash tightened. “I’m stuck!” he said, chortling.
And for the first time in a while, Sarah let out a belly-laugh as she set about untangling them both, then pulled away from Rick and crouched towards Daisy.
“You have been a very naughty girl,” she said, wagging her finger. And true-to-form, Daisy ignored Sarah’s stern words and rubbed up against Tobey’s back leg. Sarah shook her head. “For the love of—” she said, faking annoyance and ruffling Daisy’s head before doing the same to Tobey.
“See...he’s not that bad,” Rick said, grinning.
But as the words left Rick’s mouth, the fog rolled in for Sarah, souring the moment. Memories of the fights they’d had over Tobey’s antics sprang out of the boxes they’d been stashed in, causing Sarah to recoil.
“We’d best get back,” Sarah said, her face turning to stone. “It’ll be dark soon.”
As if reading her cues, Rick shrugged, handing over Daisy’s lead and instructing Tobey to walk on.
Silence took hold as Sarah grappled with current feelings conflicting with the bitter memories circling her mind.
“Well, those two seem to be getting on famously,” Rick said, gesturing to the dogs and breaking the quietness hanging between them like a misted window.
“Yeah...funny really,” Sarah replied, “seeing as they’re so...different.”
“Don’t suppose size is important to dogs,” Rick replied.
“I meant temperaments.”
“In what way? Tobey’s a big softy.”
“Well...he’s a bit of an oaf, and quite protective of you.”
“Really? And I suppose Daisy’s a peach?” Rick’s face hardened and Sarah sensed she’d hit a raw nerve.
“Sorry...I didn’t mean it like that.” Sarah decided to change tactic. “So, where did you find them?”
“Oh...they were next to the gully play-fighting.”
“Daisy’s never been as far as the gully!” Sarah snapped. Then corrected her tone of voice. “I mean, she’s easily led astray.”
“Guess so...” Rick’s voice trailed off and Sarah knew that old scars were in danger of bursting open.
She tried to lighten the mood with a feeble titter. “How’s his training going?”
Rick’s mouth twitched. “Good. He’s got to grips with the basics, so I’m hoping he’ll move up to the advanced group next term.”
“That’s great. What are you doing to motivate him?”
“Using treats as a reward. You know Tobey—likes his food.” Rick smiled and tossed a wink at Sarah.
Yes, she did know Tobey. She knew him to be a lolloping monster who’d parked himself between her and Rick at every opportunity, even during the night. If there was one thing she’d learned from the whole damn experience, it was that dogs were akin to children when it came to night time shenanigans, and that a queen-sized bed is not big enough for two adults and a Rotti, especially a drooling, attention-seeking one. Nausea rose in Sarah’s stomach, but in contrast, she couldn’t help but admire Rick’s perseverance in getting Tobey under control. He was only young when Sarah first met him, practically a puppy and prone to explosive outbursts of playfulness, early morning demands, and sulking when chastised. But why hadn’t Rick done this when they were together?
As the thoughts twirled, Sarah realised they were approaching the park entrance.
“Well...I guess I’d best be off. Thanks Rick. Thanks for everything you’ve done for me today.” She stopped, turning towards him. “And I want you to know that I’m really glad you’re making progress with Tobey.”
“Hey, all good. You’d do the same for me if Tobey went missing.”
“Are you sure about that?” Sarah looked down at Tobey, bemused.
A whimper from Daisy broke the awkwardness. “Guess she’s hungry,” Sarah said. “Well, bye then.” She raised her free hand in a half-wave and headed out of the park and along the street towards her home.
“It’s been good to see you,” Rick said as Sarah strode away.
“You too,” she called back, without turning.
After several moments had passed, Rick’s voice carried through the air. “I did it to get you back!”
Sarah stopped in her tracks, tightening the lead on Daisy as she spun around. “What?”
“Tobey. I thought if I got him properly trained, I could get you back.”
Speechless, Sarah’s mouth dropped into a gawp as Rick hurried towards her, Tobey eagerly pulling him along.
By the time Rick reached Sarah, her head was spinning, her heart pounding like a kettle drum. Through puffs and pants, Rick managed to say the words that Sarah had longed to hear for such a long time. “Tobey sleeps in the laundry now.”
What? Did he, really? There was only one thing Sarah could say. “Um...do you want to come in for a coffee?”
Rick grinned, his head bobbing up and down like a nodding dog. “Err...but what about Tobey?”
“He can go in the back yard with Daisy. I’ll give them both dinner if you like.”
Rick seemed taken aback. “Really? You don’t mind?”
“Shut up before I change my mind,” Sarah replied, reaching into her backpack for her housekeys as they walked towards her home.
***
DAISY AND TOBEY WERE playing in the yard as a freshly showered Sarah sat down with Rick, coffees in hand.
“New couch? I like it,” Rick said, sweeping his free hand over the leather.
Sarah was about to say, “Well, after Tobey trashed the previous one and you moved out, I needed to erase the old one from memory,” but thought better of it, instead replying, “Thanks. Felt like I needed a change.”
Rick sipped his coffee. “Not much else has changed,” he said. “Hardly feels like we left.”
“Other than having a good night’s sleep and not having to keep replenishing shoes, rugs, sheets and curtains, not much has, really.” Sarah tried to tone down the sarcasm in her voice, but it was too late.
“Look, Sarah—” Rick drew in a long breath, “I know we didn’t part on the best of terms, but I need you to know that leaving was the hardest thing I ever had to do.” He shuffled in his seat.
“Harder than choosing me over that bloody dog?” The words fell out of her mouth uncensored.
Rick ran his hand through his messy brown hair and sighed. “Sarah I—” he seemed to struggle to find the right words. “There’s something you need to know...about Tobey and me.”
“What, Rick?” Sarah snapped, her irritation colliding with a deep desire to understand.
Rick rubbed the side of his face, eyebrows furrowed. “Tobey was Jasper’s dog.”
“Jasper?” Sarah tilted her head to the side, her glare softening. “Your friend who died a couple of years back?”
Rick nodded. “Jasper got Tobey a few weeks before he...drowned.” A solitary tear trickled down Rick’s cheek, jabbing at Sarah’s heart. She reached across and cupped his hand.
“I...I didn’t know,” was all she could muster.
“Nobody else could take Tobey, so I offered. It felt like the right thing to do—what Jasper would’ve wanted.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I didn’t want to dump it on you. Jasper had only been gone a few months when you and I met.”
Sarah was lost for words. Rick’s revelation had answered many questions as to why he was so adamant about keeping Tobey, but at the same time, it created a niggle deep within her.
He had rarely spoken about Jasper, the topic only ever surfaced when Rick had run into Jasper’s brother Matt, but Sarah hadn’t exactly asked him about the loss of his best friend, either. She wondered whether her constant complaining about Tobey’s antics had caused Rick to close off his feelings for fear of annoying her further.
“Rick, I—” Sarah was awash with shame as parasitic guilt gnawed. “I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”
“For being such a bitch about Tobey. For not being a supportive girlfriend.”
“Sarah—there’s no need. You didn’t know.”
“No, I guess not, but—”
“I couldn’t talk about Jasper when we first met—it was all still so raw, and as I said, I didn’t want to dump all my baggage on you. Besides, Tobey was still just a puppy and I thought I could handle him.”
Sarah found herself nodding in agreement.
Yes, Tobey was still just a puppy then, albeit a large oaf of one, and puppies are known to be destructive, defiant, and quite disobedient. But still...
“Why didn’t you start training him when you first got him?”
“I thought I could do it myself, save myself some money. And when you came along—”
“You’re blaming me now?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.” Rick rubbed his face again, brows furrowing. “I just meant that I got so caught up with being with you that everything else fell by the wayside.”
“I see.” She pursed her lips as the dejected diva inside suddenly decided to break free. “But you still picked him over me!”
“I know, I know. But Sarah, please understand—I just couldn’t give him up. He was Jasper’s dog—all I had left of him—and I never thought I’d have to choose.” Rick’s eyes narrowed as if reliving painful memories.
All-at-once Sarah’s guilt reignited, and her head drooped.
Rick’s voice softened. “I re-started Tobey’s training thinking I could win you back...”
“But I thought it was clear that we couldn’t be a threesome.”
Rick chuckled, lightening the mood hanging heavy between them.
“You know what I mean!” Sarah said, jabbing his knee, their chemistry magnetising.
Rick grabbed her hand and pulled it to his chest. “Sarah, I love you. I always have.”
Crystalline tears trickled from Sarah’s eyes as Rick’s words melted away her resolve. “I...I...don’t know if I can do this,” she said, whispering, oblivious to the tap-tapping of claws against wood as Daisy and Tobey came in from the yard.
Rick placed his mug on the side table, took Sarah’s and did the same, then cupped both her hands with his. “We could take it slow, set some ground rules.” And as the words left his lips, he leaned into Sarah.
Her instinct was to pull back, to protect her fragile heart from being scarred again, but she was already on the precipice and willingly drawn into the abyss. As Rick’s lips met hers, her body trembled, her heart pounded, and a sigh borne from the depths of her soul escaped her.
***
STARS TWINKLED ABOVE as Rick and Tobey walked up the driveway from Sarah’s house, their outlines silhouetted by a nearby streetlamp.
Sarah traced the outline of her lips as she watched them leave.
“I love you, Sarah,” Rick said as he and Tobey reached the path.
“I love you too,” Sarah replied, her breath rasping as caged feelings were finally set free.
Instead of listening to the woeful scorns of her mind, and seeing Tobey in a new light, Sarah didn’t need much time to consider Rick’s suggestion to give their relationship another chance. And realising she’d misjudged Rick’s motives and ignored her own desires, she had finally agreed.
Once Rick and Tobey had disappeared, Sarah closed the front door and headed back into her lounge room. Daisy was snuggled up on the sofa, but rather than scold her and chuck her off, Sarah left the pooch snoring softly and headed off to her own bed.
Dogs are not half bad.
Sarah flicked on the light and walked over to her dresser, but was stopped in her tracks when she laid eyes on her bed. Muddy paw prints of two different sizes covered the doona and the pillows were ripped to shreds, white fluff scattered like clouds across the room.
“No, no, no, no, NO!” Sarah growled. “For the love of dogs!”