Happily Ever After at the Dog & Duck by Jill Steeples

Author:Jill Steeples [Steeples, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781786691811
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2018-10-02T04:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

Later that week, leaving the dogs safely secured at the manor, I headed outside into the now much noticeably cooler air. My old and much loved cream puffa jacket had emerged from the wardrobe and it was lovely to feel its comfortable warmth around my shoulders again, like reuniting with a faithful old friend. Noel was wrapped up in his new fur trimmed snuggle suit, a present from his Nana Rose, and was enjoying the ride in his buggy as we made our way to Josie’s house on the new estate on the other side of the village. I hadn’t seen her since the evening at the manor when I’d asked her to be my bridesmaid so we had lots to talk about and lots of plans to put in place if we had any chance of getting everything organised in time for my big day.

‘Come in.’ She beamed when we arrived at her house. ‘We’ve been so excited, haven’t we, Stella?’

My gorgeous little god-daughter, with her curls of auburn hair, suddenly went all shy and hid behind her mum’s legs, peeping out at us warily.

‘She’s funny. Ever since I told her you were coming, she’s been saying, “Door, Mummy, door.” She’s been peering out of the window saying, “Noll, Noll,” so I’m very pleased you’ve arrived at last,’ she said, tickling Noel under his chin.

Josie took Noel from my arms, and Stella followed her mum, eager to say hello to Noel beneath all his layers of padding.

I was just hanging up my coat in the hallway when Eric came down from upstairs and reached for his jacket on the coat hook.

‘I do hope you’re not leaving on our account.’

‘Hello, sweetheart,’ he said, giving me a massive hug. ‘No, I thought I’d leave you girls to have a natter. I’m going for a walk before it gets too dark out there. I like to have a wander past the pub, to get my daily update on how the work’s progressing.’

‘Isn’t it exciting that things are actually starting to happen now? Max says it shouldn’t be too long before we can open up again. That’s going to be a special night.’

‘I can’t bloody wait!’ said Eric, his face lighting up.

‘Honestly, Ellie,’ said Josie after Eric had left. ‘He doesn’t know what to do with himself these days. He’s taken it very hard, the pub not being open. I thought he might enjoy the enforced rest, but I’m not sure he knows how to exist outside the four walls of that place.’

It was hardly surprising. After he’d retired as landlord, Eric had taken off, travelling around Europe to satisfy his wanderlust, but he seemed to have got that particular bug out of his system, and all he wanted to do was to potter around the pub chatting to his customers, old and new, without the responsibility of actually managing the place. The enforced closure of The Dog and Duck had impacted on so many people’s lives.

‘He can’t wait to get back to the pub.

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