Me: How is Charlie?
Nell: Still sleeping. Something is wrong. I know it.
Me: Try not to worry. The vet will sort it out.
Nell: Yes. Poppy is making him scrambled eggs for lunch with lightly buttered toast. He doesn’t have much of an appetite.
Me: Dave has offered to finish anything left over.
Nell: Yes. Clearing Up is one of his skills. Harriet has offered to read to Charlie if his eyes are too tired.
Me: Bless her. Has Sally gone back to London?
Nell: Yes. David is lucky to have such a capable girlfriend.
Me: I think she is lucky to have Dave. Such a handsome and loving boy.
Nell: A ball of wool arrived for Malcolm this morning, by the way.
Me: Very strange. I wonder who the sender is.
Nell: It’s definitely not the Mallard.
Me: Shall I make you a cup of Earl Grey tea? You can rest by the fire with Mutley until Charlie wakes.
Nell: Yes. Thank you.
Me: He probably just needs to rest, you know.
Nell: I kept telling him to slow down but he wouldn’t listen. Always off somewhere.
Me: I know. If you will fall in love with James Bond, Nell.
Nell: I’m afraid his James Bond days might be over. But I can’t see him settling in to a quiet life.
Me: We are getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s wait and hear what the vet says first.
Nell: You are right. Sorry.
Me: No need for sorry, Nell. Never any need from you.
