Sunshine and Spaniels by Cressida McLaughlin Read Free Book Online Page A

though it’s not somewhere I’ve spent a lot of time I’ve seen how big it is. This is such a lovely street to live on, I’m sure you’d have no problem getting a tenant.’
    ‘What, with three young kids and a dog?’
    ‘Lots of people love children and animals,’ Polly said. ‘Cat’s right, it could bring in a good income, allow you to drop your hours at the restaurant, or find another job altogether.’
    Frankie sat back and fiddled with her hair. Cat noticed that she didn’t often look directly at them, her green eyes always on the move. Perhaps that came from having three children, always on the lookout for where they were or whether something was wrong. ‘It would be a lot of work, and I don’t have much time to myself as it is.’
    ‘We’d help you clear it out, if you wanted?’ Cat said.
    ‘Why?’

    ‘Why what?’
    ‘Why would you help me? Why are you both doing this?’
    Cat put her mug on the floor and Olaf padded over, sniffed it and looked up at her. She lifted the dog onto her lap. ‘We want to help. Isn’t that enough?’
    Frankie chewed her lip. ‘Seems suspicious. Seems like no one really goes out of their way like this unless there’s something in it for them. You don’t seem like that sort of person, but I don’t get it. And if I don’t get it, I’m reluctant to do it – as generous as your offer seems.’
    Cat ran her hands down Olaf’s long ears. It was a good question. Why did she feel compelled to help Frankie? She took a deep breath, and tried to explain. ‘I moved here a few months ago, and things were great for a while, and then I lost my job.’
    ‘At the nursery,’ Frankie said.
    ‘Right. Exactly.’ Her gaze flicked to Polly, then back to Frankie. ‘And lots of people were kind to me. Elsie – she’s next door to us – wouldn’t let me drown in self-pity. She helped me come up with the idea of dog walking. Joe and Polly helped me market it. Jessica – the author – let me walk her dogs, made me feel like I could actually do it. Everyone on Primrose Terrace has been so supportive, and I – I feel lucky. I want to pay it forward, I want to help other people. Maybe it’s ridiculous but, well, there it is.’ She gave Frankie a tentative smile.
    Frankie nodded, stood and checked on Henry, who was asleep in his pram in the corner of the room. ‘Let me have a think,’ she said. ‘I’m not saying no, but I don’t want to say yes just like that. And I still want to do something for you.’
    ‘OK,’ Cat said, also standing. ‘Take as long as you need.’
    On Saturday afternoon, Cat and Polly collected Chalky and Disco from Elsie’s house, and then walked down the road to number twelve. Lizzie answered the door, her long hair in pigtails. ‘Mum’s going to work now, she’s racing around looking for her shoes.’

    ‘I know what that’s like,’ Cat said, grinning.
    ‘We’ve come to get Olaf,’ Polly added.
    ‘Oh.’ Lizzie looked downcast. ‘OK.’
    ‘What are you doing?’
    Lizzie shrugged. ‘Can I stroke them?’ She pointed at the mini schnauzers.
    ‘Of course you can.’
    Lizzie dropped to her knees and gave one hand to each dog. Disco padded forward affectionately and Chalky stood still, pretending to be resigned but, Cat knew, really loving the attention.
    ‘Our babysitter’s coming,’ Lizzie said. Cat thought she looked like a smaller version of Polly, all pale skin and freckles, slender limbs in denim shorts.
    ‘Except she’s not,’ Frankie said, racing down the stairs. She was brushing her hair, her mobile pressed to her ear with the other hand. ‘She’s sick, so I’m trying to find someone else. You like Pippa, don’t you?’
    Lizzie screwed up her face. ‘She wears too much perfume, and she spends the whole time snapchatting on her phone. Emma and I could be dancing on the table and she wouldn’t care.’ Lizzie hugged Disco, and the younger dog, while held in a vice-like grip, still managed to lick Lizzie’s chin. She