Me: Wasn’t that a lovely surprise yesterday?
Nell: Was it?
Me: Yes. Our friends from Oxfordshire Terry and Marian arriving with another dear friend Linda whom we haven’t seen in years.
Nell: True.
Me: Linda recently lost her husband Graham who was one of Kev’s best friends, so it was quite an emotional reunion.
Nell: It was.
Me; Harriet was so pleased to see them all that she started running around and around the table.
Nell: I had to shout at her to stop.
Me: Yes, you were a little shouty.
Nell: I agree it was mainly a wonderful surprise, especially seeing Linda again, but I’d like to talk about Shelagh.
Me: Shelagh?
Nell: The pretty little dog who arrived with them.
Me: Shelagh was so timid and shy when she first came to live with Terry and Marian and now look at her.
Nell: Exactly. Sitting on the garden furniture drinking champagne.
Me: What are you talking about? She sat with Marian and it wasn’t champagne.
Nell: Did you see David?
Me: He was rather taken with Shelagh, wasn’t he?
Nell: He was completely besotted. He followed her around like a puppy.
Me: She was having none of it, though, and told him to back off.
Nell: I just hope Sally doesn’t hear about this.
Me: You’re right. Sally’s not going to be best pleased.
Nell; He was behaving like a lovesick idiot.
Me: It’s just a crush. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy
Nell: Did you hear him singing to her?
Me: It was more of a disappointed whine.
Nell: Ridiculous behaviour.
Me: He wears his heart on his sleeve.
Nell: David’s the Mayor of Kingsbridge. He can’t have his head turned by a pretty face.
Me: There’s more to Shelagh than that.
Nell: It’s unacceptable.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
