Page 29 of Sit, Stay, Love
‘It’s just…’ her mother continued.
Here we go.
‘… I will never understand why you two aren’t a couple.’
‘We’ve gone through this so many times, Mum. We’re friends. And that’s it. Friends.’
‘He’s so handsome. Even you say that.’
‘Just because he’s handsome doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with him. Or that I want to jump his bones.’ She threw in the last bit just to annoy her mother.
‘Don’t be crass,’ her mother said with a deep sigh and sky-high eyebrows. ‘I’m only saying, you obviously care deeply for each other, you spend nearly all your time together… haven’t you even thought about it?’
‘Please, Mum. Neither of us wants more than that.’
Her parents exchange a glance.
‘What?’
‘I think Toby cares for you more than you’re allowing yourself to see,’ her mother said. ‘But if you’re not interested in himthat way, then we’re happy you have such a loyal friend.’
Sera’s gaze drifted back towards the water and she sighed as she watched the Manly ferry crawling its way towards the wharf. Why couldn’t they accept that her best friend was a good-looking guy? It must make Toby uncomfortable, always having her mother throwing her at him. Not that he’d say anything; he was too polite, and always so sweet. Well, nearly always. He turned a tad bitchy when it came to Ethan James.
Sera frowned and took a large swallow of wine.
‘Anyway, that’s enough of that,’ her father said, coming to her rescue as usual. ‘We didn’t invite you to talk about your love life.’
‘That’s good,’ Sera said. ‘Because that’d be a short conversation.’
Her father chuckled. ‘How’s Rose’s going? Any new benefactors?’
Sera breathed in deeply. ‘I thought I had one, but it’s not going to pan out.’
‘Why not?’ her mother asked. ‘Who was it?’
‘A local actor. I was helping him research a role that involved a dog, but I don’t think we’re going ahead.’
‘That’s a shame,’ her father said. ‘What put a stop to it?’
‘I screwed up. Something happened on our second session, and now he knows I don’t know what I’m doing.’
Her father put his beer down and leaned forward. ‘Rubbish. You’re excellent with the dogs at the shelter. With all animals. You always have been. And I’m sure he sees that. Otherwise, why would he have come to you?’ He gave her an encouraging wink.
‘Was he going to pay you?’ her mother asked.
‘Yes. A lot.’ She shook her head, swallowed the last mouthful of her wine and held out her empty glass. Her father leaped up to refill it.
‘I just don’t know how much longer I can keep everything afloat. Gran’s money is nearly all gone, and my wages won’t keep the place going, and the donations we get barely support one dog, let alone five, seven cats, a sheep and a horse. I might have to reconsider selling. Or at least close the shelter.’ A pain seared through her heart, and she rubbed at her chest.
‘Well, I’m not going to say I’m not pleased,’ her mother said. ‘Your grandmother never expected you to turn her house into a home for strays, no matter how much she loved those cats of hers. She wanted you to sell it and use the money to set up your future. I know you think you’ve made a commitment to those animals, and I know how stubborn you can be, but you’re too young to have a yoke like Rose’s Rescue around your neck.’
Sera took a slow breath. She was so done with the round and round with her mother on her life choices. If she hadn’t been feeling so miserable, she’d have gotten up and stormed out.
‘Rose’s Rescue is not a yoke. It’s what I love and what I want to do with my life. Opening the shelter is the best decision I ever made.’
Her mother’s eyes flickered upwards. Not exactly a roll, but definitely the same energy. ‘That’s one thing I won’t be thanking Dr Toby for,’ she said. ‘I’m sure he influenced that decision.’
‘No, he didn’t. He helped me start the rescue sure, but it wasmyidea.’ Sera set her mouth in a line. ‘You really don’t give me any credit for anything, do you?’
