Page 6 of Sit, Stay, Love
‘Because I’m professional. How did you go with the movie star? Does he live in a mansion?’
‘Not at all. An old beach cottage. Though, it’s right up on the headland, so it’d be worth a fortune.’
‘What about the dog?’
‘A nervous German Shepherd-cross with a love of liver treats.’
‘So, not Cujo.’
‘Definitely not Cujo,’ she said through another yawn. ‘Anyway, I’m exhausted and I need a shower.’
‘You know you could have showered at my place.’
‘I know.’
‘Weirdo.’
‘Takes one to know one.’
He chuckled.
She pulled her seatbelt over her shoulder and clicked it into place. ‘I’ll swing by in the morning to collect everyone.’
‘Cold pizza for breakfast, then?’
She laughed. ‘Look at us, Herriot. Living the dream.’ She hung up, imagining a hot shower and her soft mattress.
She glanced towards Ethan’s house, and the lights glowing on his front verandah, and smiled to herself. ‘Buddy,’ she said to the dog in the back of her van, ‘you sure picked a good place to get lost.’
Chapter Two
Sera rubbed her belly and burped as she stared at the photos of cremation urns on her screen. Greasy reheated pizza for breakfast always sounded like the greatest of ideas, but it never was. When would she learn?
She’d visited Toby early, before either of their workdays had begun, so he could take a look at the German Shepherd-cross – now christened Ernie – and collect Buffy and the brood of kittens. Three slices of extra spicy margherita and two coffees later, she was back in her office, wishing she’d eaten cereal.
She frowned at the brief from Peaceful Slumbers:
We’re launching an exciting new urn collection. Could you please come up with some spirited copy to accompany our extensive range? If you could have your ideas to us by mid-next week, that would be great.
‘?“Spirited”? They’ve got to be pulling my leg,’ she muttered.
‘Sera?’ a voice called out.
‘Back here in my office.’ Sera called back.
Tia, the senior animal attendant at Rose’s Rescue, poked her head around the door. ‘Anything I need to know?’
‘We have four new kittens and this guy.’ She nodded towards Ernie, snoring behind her. ‘Can you take a photo of him and get his information online this morning, please? Put him on our socials and let the pound know we’ve got him, in case anyone is looking. And prep one of the kennels. I let him sleep in here last night.’
Tia crouched beside the brown dog. ‘No microchip?’
‘No.’
The women shook their heads.
‘I’ll take him out,’ Tia said, ‘see if he knows any commands.’
‘Thank you. I’ve got to get this copy done for Peaceful Slumbers, or it’s my funeral.’ She made a drumming action with her fingers. ‘Boom-tish.’
