Sunshine and Spaniels. Cressida McLaughlin

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СКАЧАТЬ face, but not Alison. Cat knew she didn’t like dogs – she’d found out to her cost just how much she hated them. But to go this far? To fire her and then try to sabotage her new business, felt very personal. ‘O-one banner?’ she stammered. ‘It’s not a very big protest, is it?’

      ‘But we’ve got everyone’s attention.’ Alison gestured around her, and Cat realized they were in the centre of a large circle of people and dogs, all waiting to see what would happen next. Polly was standing at the edge of the space and someone had got her a towel.

      ‘Go on then,’ Cat said. ‘Now you’ve got everyone’s attention, now you’ve ruined what was a perfectly good-tempered event, say what you wanted to say. Go on.’

      Alison stepped forward but Mr Jasper put a hand on her arm.

      ‘We believe,’ he said, ‘that the recent trend for dog walkers is a growing menace to our society. Dogs are a part of life, I accept that, and so does my friend. We may not like it, but we accept it.’

      ‘No, you don’t,’ someone called, but Mr Jasper ignored them.

      ‘What we can’t accept, in our public spaces, where children and vulnerable people come to enjoy themselves, to get fresh air and a sense of calm, is the walking of multiple dogs in large and unruly packs. It’s a recipe for disaster. If you can’t control your dogs – and I defy anyone with more than four to be fully in control – then they will get loose, they will bite people, they will foul the grass and the paths where toddlers play, and they will ruin the serenity of this place.’

      ‘Nonsense,’ someone muttered.

      ‘I have already witnessed this woman struggling to keep control of a pack of dogs, in this very park! I have seen the damage that can be caused, and we will not stand for it!’

      ‘Dogs are dirty,’ Alison shouted, her prim voice straining to be heard. A few people had started to make low noises of dissent. ‘They’re dirty and they’re messy and they’re pests.’

      ‘Of course they’re not! What on earth are you talking about?’ A tall woman stepped forward, her black hair in corkscrews around her striking face, and Cat recognized her as Juliette Barker, one of her newest clients. She was half Jamaican and not, in Cat’s limited experience, a shrinking violet. ‘This is ridiculous,’ Juliette added.

      ‘You’re imbeciles,’ the man with the boxer said. ‘My Molly’s clean and smart and much better company than you.’ Cat noticed that Molly now had a Magnum wrapper sticking out of her mouth.

      Mr Jasper and Alison exchanged an uneasy glance, and tried to step back into the crowd.

      ‘We will petition this,’ Mr Jasper said. ‘You just watch.’

      ‘Watch the signatures not roll in, you mean?’ boxer man said.

      Captain appeared, holding Paris in his arms, her head nestled into his chest as if she couldn’t bear to watch. ‘You did set yourselves a hard task,’ he said in a friendly tone, ‘coming as a twosome to a dog lovers’ event.’ Alison blushed. Cat knew she hated to be wrong, and Captain’s words set a new fire under her.

      ‘Well, you can’t trust her,’ Alison screamed, pointing at Cat. ‘She is disorganized, and a danger to young children, and completely incompetent.’ She spat the last word and Cat gasped. ‘Don’t trust this woman to walk your dogs. Don’t trust her for anything.’

      Cat opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

      She felt a warm hand on her bare shoulder and suddenly Joe was in front of her, between her and Alison. ‘You’ve taken it too far,’ he said calmly. ‘You know as well as I do that what you’ve said about Cat is a lie. Nobody incompetent could have organized this event. She’s received nothing but praise for her dog walking – you guys aside – and if you want to talk about disorganized, then take a look in the mirror.’

      The park was hushed, everyone straining to hear these quieter remarks. Cat took a step forward but Joe grabbed her hand.

      Alison glared at Joe, and Joe looked steadily back at her. Cat knew that Joe would win any staring match.

      ‘You haven’t heard the end of this,’ Alison screeched. ‘And if you think you’re getting my business after this, Joseph Sinclair, then think again.’ She turned abruptly, her placard bashing Mr Jasper in the knees, and tried to push her way through the crowd. ‘Let me through!’

      ‘Are you OK?’ Joe turned to Cat and released her hand. ‘Sorry I stopped you. I was trying to defuse the situation and after what she’d said, I wouldn’t have blamed you for punching her in the face.’

      ‘No, you did the right thing. I didn’t realize she—’

      ’NO!’ Alison squealed, ‘get away!’ They turned to see Chips standing in front of the two protesters, looking up at Alison, a tennis ball at her feet. Alison moved back into the crowd and Chips trotted forward, putting the ball down in front of her again.

      ‘She loves you,’ someone laughed. ‘Though God knows why.’

      ‘This dog is harassing me!’ Alison moved further back and Chips followed, her tongue lolling out. She lifted her paw and looked up at Alison expectantly. Alison, her cheeks red, turned and pushed through the laughing crowd. Mr Jasper followed her, their placard discarded. Chips lay on the grass and rested her nose on her paws.

      ‘What was that all about?’ Polly was drying off quickly in the sun, her blonde hair forming wispy tendrils around her face. ‘I didn’t know Alison could be so cruel.’

      ‘I took Elsie’s puppy into her nursery,’ Cat shrugged. ‘She obviously holds grudges. But I’m so sorry, Joe, about your—’ She turned but he was no longer next to her. ‘Joe?’

      Polly pointed to where Joe was crouched in front of Chips, laughing and rubbing her ears. ‘Good dog,’ he said. ‘What a clever dog.’

      ‘Oh my God,’ Cat whispered, ‘why is he doing that?’

      Polly shrugged.

      ‘He’s not a dog person.’

      ‘I never said he wasn’t—’

      ‘He won’t let me have them in the house. Joe?’

      Joe’s shoulders tensed and he stood up quickly, flashed them a quick smile and disappeared into the café.

      Cat shook her head, feeling a mixture of confusion and relief. Maybe she was right, and that by coming into contact with so many dogs, he was slowly realizing how lovable they were. But he’d seemed so easy, so comfortable with Chips. ‘I don’t understand your brother, Polly. Either there’s something I’m not getting or that kiss with Jessica turned him into some kind of dog-loving wonder boy, like a modern-day princess kissing a toad.’

      Polly put her hand on Cat’s shoulder. ‘Joe’s not a toad. It’s summer, and he loves summer. The whole Rosalin-and-Alex thing is further in the past, and I think his business is doing OK, despite losing Alison’s custom just now.’

      ‘But Chips is a dog.’

      ‘Yes, I know. Look, Cat, there’s СКАЧАТЬ