Raincoats and Retrievers, A Novella by Cressida McLaughlin

Author:Cressida McLaughlin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008135225
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2015-07-09T12:52:18.492000+00:00

Chapter 5

After Juliette’s interruption, the small celebratory gathering soon relaxed. Cat’s sausage rolls were met with appreciative noises, and Owen’s champagne added some much needed fizz to the evening. Cat was, in part, vindicated, as Owen and Polly were soon next to each other on the sofa, and stayed that way for most of the night. While they were chatting with Joe and Polly’s colleague Leyla about the ice-cream parlour, and whether Owen should expand his menu to get more business when it was quiet, Elsie cornered Cat.

She had been trying to stay elusive, keeping an eye on empty glasses and crumbs on the carpet, acting as a silent hostess rather than risk upsetting anyone else, but she had known that she wouldn’t be able to avoid Elsie for the whole evening.

‘Cat, what were you thinking?’

‘About what?’ Cat asked, putting a fresh bowl of olives on the dining table. ‘Inviting Owen, trying to solve Juliette and Will’s problems, or just in general, at this very moment?’

Elsie exhaled and shook her head. ‘Some people don’t want help sorting things out. They want to be left to get on with it. And you hardly know them. I’m surprised he welcomed your offer of help.’

‘Will was lovely,’ Cat said. ‘I hadn’t really spoken to him since we organized the walks, but he was kind, and receptive, and told me why he’d decided to leave his job. What he’s doing makes so much sense – he lost someone close to him – and he wants to make more of his life, of his time with Juliette. She can’t see it. She thinks he’s being weak, or irresponsible.’

‘But you haven’t heard her side,’ Elsie said, dropping into one of the dining-table chairs. ‘You don’t have enough information to understand it, and you shouldn’t try. It has to be between the two of them.’

‘But that’s what I was trying to help with. I told Will to take Juliette away for a night, that I’d look after Alfie and Effie. I thought they could get away from work, from their routines, and talk it through.’

Elsie looked up at Cat, her lips curving into a knowing smile. ‘It’s an excellent idea, and if Will had been clever enough to suggest that without mentioning you, then he might have got away with it.’

Cat leaned against the table. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Imagine if Mark came to see you tomorrow, and said, “Jessica has suggested I take you away for a romantic weekend.” Would you be delighted, or confused and upset that he’d been discussing your relationship with Jessica?’

Cat tried not to bristle at the thought. ‘That’s a very good point.’ She sighed. ‘Well, no use crying over spilled milk. I messed up, and I’m lucky I haven’t lost them as a client, though Juliette might still change her mind about that.’

‘I can see both sides,’ Elsie said. ‘I can see where she’s coming from, but she’s also asked you to walk the dogs at short notice, and hasn’t been that subtle about the reasons.

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