Me: It’s impossible to imagine Dave without Harriet and Harriet without Dave.
Nell: It is.
Me: They’ve always been together. They don’t know anything else.
Nell: Of course they don’t.
Me: We were only going to take Dave home with us. I fell in love with him at first sight. Darling Big Brave Beautiful Boy.
Nell: And you never fell out of love.
Me: I didn’t. Then Kev met Harriet. A tiny little thing half the size of her brothers and sisters and a quarter of the size of Dave.
Nell: And Harriet chose him.
Me: She did. The breeder was very worried about her and so thankful that we decided to take both of them.
Nell: I remember you telling me. Shame you didn’t tell me before you brought them home.
Me: Why?
Nell: I might have liked to visit my sister Maisie and meet my other nephews and nieces.
Me: We weren’t allowed to take you there.
Nell: I was born there.
Me: I know, but the puppies were too young for other dogs to visit them and it was a stud farm. You should be more relaxed around horses, if you think about it.
Nell: What do you mean?
Me: You grew up surrounded by them.
Nell: So did David and Harriet.
Me: I suppose you weren’t there for long and it was a while ago.
Nell: I should have been consulted.
Me: But you said you dogs choose us?
Nell: We do.
Me: So Dave and Harriet were always going to be together.
Nell: Only because you and Kev listened. Not all people do.
Me: True.
Nell: Never underestimate the Importance of Listening to Your Heart. We couldn’t have chosen you otherwise.
Me: Was that a compliment?
Nell: No, it was a fact.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
