***

As soon as dinner was done and the dishwasher stacked, Cameron had the good idea to suggest that he and Ros took Gazza for a walk. Of course as soon as he asked there was no going back as Gazza was already pogoing around Cameron’s legs.

‘He really does like you,’ said Barry, watching Gazza look adoringly at Cameron while he did up his harness.

‘We’re best mates, aren’t we, Gaz?’ The little dog barked excitedly. ‘See.’ Cameron grinned at Barry.

‘Actually,’ said Barry, stepping closer to Cameron. ‘I wanted to ask you something. Both of you.’ He glanced at Ros who was keen to escape.

‘Sure, what can we do to help?’ asked Cameron, crouching down in an attempt to calm an eager Gazza.

‘I’d like you to have him after I . . . you know. I had asked Peter, my brother, to take him but he’s not had a dog for years, he still works and his knees are bad. And I think Gazza would be happiest with you.’ There were tears in Barry’s eyes.

‘Barry, I’d be honoured,’ said Cameron.

‘Oh, um, uh,’ said Ros, wrestling with a number of issues – top of the list were her curtains. It was easy for Cameron to volunteer to have the dog when it was all make-believe. The reality would be that she would end up with him. As if sensing Ros’s hesitation Gazza ran to her and put his paws on her knees. His big sad eyes locked on hers.

‘Only if it’s okay with both of you,’ said Barry, looking at Ros, his expression not dissimilar to Gazza’s.

‘Um,’ repeated Ros. ‘I don’t want to be the bad guy here but when Cameron moves out and I’m working, Gazza would be on his own for hours on end. I’m not sure that’s what’s best for him. At least Uncle Peter works part-time so he’d be home more.’

‘I’ve put you both on the spot. Don’t make a decision now,’ said Barry. ‘Have a think about it.’

Cameron squeezed Barry’s shoulder. ‘We’ll work something out. Don’t worry about Gazza. I’ll make sure he’s properly taken care of.’

‘Thanks, lad,’ said Barry, giving Cameron a manly hug and slap on the back as he fought back tears. ‘Look at me being a soft old sod. Go on off with the three of you. I need a sit-down and I think Amanda is making more coffee.’ He rolled his eyes and shooed them out of the front door.

‘What the hell, Cameron?’ said Ros when they reached the pavement, making him stop and Gazza pull hard to get going.

‘What could I say? We agreed Barry’s feelings come first. That was all I was doing. And I stand by what I said. I’d find a way to look after Gazza.’

‘That’s hardly realistic, is it? You know he’d end up with me because you will go back to your life and student digs where most landlords prohibit pets.’

‘I could still do my fair share of walking him. I figured I’d still be welcome at yours. Have I got that wrong?’

‘Of course you’d be welcome. It’s just that the relation-ship contract states—’ A bang above them made Ros stop talking. They both looked up to see her mother looking out of an upstairs window.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

That evening Ros was still dwelling on the earlier conversation with Cameron. Sometimes she hated being logical but it was hard to be anything else – it was simply how she was hard-wired. She saw things in black and white. Granted she was a little fonder of Gazza now than she had been, but she didn’t feel she was his best option and having Cameron effectively volunteer her to be his owner long-term was not helpful.

However, there was now a more pressing matter as Darla had arrived in a fluster. Instead of responding to her ex with a lengthy reply containing mainly swear words, Darla was circling Ros’s sofa arguing the pros and cons of contact with The Wanker.

‘And what is The Wanker’s actual name?’ asked Ros.

‘Patrick.’

‘Really?’ queried Ros.

Darla nodded.

Ros was surprised. ‘I was expecting something more . . . I don’t know, villainous.’

‘If he’d been called Thanos, Loki or Doctor Doom even I might have clocked there was something off about him.’

‘I suppose.’ Ros thoughtfully sipped her coffee, her calmness in complete contrast to Darla’s anxious state.

‘What do I do?’ asked Darla, almost bumping into Ros as she paced.

‘Stop walking for a start – you’re making me dizzy.’

Darla halted abruptly in front of Ros. ‘But seriously, what should I do?’

‘Delete the message and block his number,’ said Ros.

‘You’re right. I know you’re right. But I’d quite like to give him a piece of my mind. After what he’s put me through.’

‘Or you could avoid him putting you through anything further by ignoring the message.’

Darla bit her lip. ‘But what if he means what he said in the text, that he’s sorry and he wants to put things right? Apart from the whole secretly amassed debts he was quite a nice guy. And if he’s got some of the money he owes me that would be useful. I could repay things quicker and get on with my life and properly focus on my new business, although I still don’t know what that would be, but that’s not the point. What do you think?’

‘Once a con man, always a con man,’ said Ros.

‘Blimey you are blunt sometimes. You don’t think there’s even the smallest possibility that he’s realised he needs to make amends and—’

‘I’m sorry, Darla, but that’s very unlikely.’

‘I am curious though. And before all this happened, I had really liked Patrick. We’d had fun together until it all unravelled. I find it hard to believe he is a completely bad person, and surely his message shows that he isn’t.’

‘I thought you wanted to, and I quote, “Batter him senseless and then batter him again to balance things up.”’

Darla flopped into a chair with an oof. ‘I don’t know. I was angry. I guess I thought I’d never hear from him again and now he’s back in touch. Shouldn’t I at least hear him out?’

‘Considering he ignored all the desperate messages you sent him when he left you to sort out the unholy mess he made, I don’t think you owe him anything at all.’

‘True. I know he doesn’t deserve a second chance but—’

‘I think a second chance would be extremely unwise,’ said Ros.

‘Don’t worry, I won’t let him swindle me again. How about I call him now and we both listen to what he has to say? What harm could that do?’ Ros was quiet. ‘Are you risk-assessing all the options and the level of harm Patrick is capable of?’ asked Darla.

Ros didn’t respond, she simply gave her a look. Even-tually she replied, ‘As long as you don’t provide him with any personal details and don’t agree to anything other than him returning what he owes, I think it might be okay.’

‘Great, let’s call him,’ said Darla, whipping out her phone. She paused. ‘For all the times I’ve had this conversation in my head I should know exactly what I want to say to him, or shout at him, but right now my mind has gone blank.’

‘Have you changed your mind?’ Ros was looking hopefully at her.

Darla visibly steeled herself. ‘No, I need to do this.’ She pressed Patrick’s number and waited.