He bought a new sound system, Emma said quietly, not shifting from her slumped position. A ridiculously expensive one. Meanwhile, Ive been scraping pennies from my salary for a new washing machine because ours howls like a banshee. And he had the nerve to say, You dont appreciate investing in art. *Art*, Sophie Can you believe it?
The tea in the pot had gone cold, turning into bitter sludge. The baguette slices on the plate had hardened, the cheese grown a waxy crust, and Sophie was at a loss for how to comfort her friend. Emma had turned up after yet another row with her husband and, having cried herself dry, now sat hugging her knees, staring blankly at the wall.
They hadnt seen much of each other these past three yearsEmmas husband never let her go anywhere alone and generally disapproved of her friends. But this time, the charming chap had raised a hand to her, and his usual restrictions hadnt stuck.
To distract her from the gloom, Sophie offered:
Em, dyou want to hear an old love story? I once got to witness real devotion.
Emma gave a disinterested nod.
Go on. Just none of that fairy-tale prince rubbish, though. Ive had enough of that.
Sophie stood, flicked the kettle back on, and the quiet hiss of gas filled the pause.
No princes, love. This actually happened right in front of me, Sophie smiled. And it wasnt even about people. I used to work at a warehouse in an industrial estateyou know the sort, guard dogs everywhere, a pack of scruffy mutts running about. One day, someone dumped two puppies on us: a plump little black bear of a thing called Boots and a ginger girl, Saffy. They grew up inseparable. Boots was all bounce and bravado; Saffy was quiet, clever, with these old-soul eyes like she understood everything. Everyone doted on them.
Sophie paused. Seeing Emmas gaze flicker toward herstill distant, but thereshe went on:
Then disaster struck. One day, Saffy got hit by a vandriver didnt even see her. We thought she wouldnt make it, but street dogs are tough. Only, she never walked properly again, dragging her back legs. And she *knew*, Soph. Broke your heart to watch.
Poor thing Emma sighed.
But yknow what? Sophie grinned. She didnt give up. Became our top lookout! Stranger on site? Shed bark the alarm before anyone else, and Boots and the others would charge where she pointed. Proper little team, they were.
Then Sophies face turned serious.
Later, Saffy went into season. Every stray for miles caught wind of it. A pack of rough, hungry lads. They hounded hershe couldnt run, couldnt fight, just crawled and whined, hiding by our legs. We shooed them off, but they kept coming back.
Emma froze, listening.
What about Boots? Where was *he*?
Boots Sophie sighed. At first, he was useless. Ran in circles, barking, but too spooked to take on the pack. Instincts, scents all muddled his head. Then they vanished. Came back three days later. And Boots was *different*. He walked ahead, hackles up, growling low in his throat. And if any other mutt so much as glanced at Saffy, Boots turned into a tornado. Went for them like hed tear the lot apart. He *got* it. That she needed protecting.
Emma clenched her fists, fresh tears wellingbut not the same kind.
We thought that was the end of it. But a month later, Saffy started showing. And Boots? Didnt leave her side. Brought her the best scraps, licked her clean, slept curled around her. So gentle with her, Soph We all fed her up, worried. Especially the women.
Sophie turned away, voice wavering.
The labour started on a sweltering day. We didnt notice at first. Boots was the one who raised the alarm. Not howlingthis awful, choking yelp, darting between our legs, tugging our trousers toward the old shed where Saffy had hidden. But it was too late She was already going couldnt push them out.
The ticking of the wall clock grew deafening.
We wrapped her in an old jacket buried her behind the garage. Had to lock Boots in the storeroom. He went madscratching the door, howling That sound still haunts me. When we let him out, he tore round the yard, sniffing every corner Searching. By nightfall he was gone. Never came back.
Sophie wiped her eyes. Emma sat motionless, hands clenched.
Bloody hell she whispered. *Thats* love. And me and Mark were just two strangers sharing a postcode. Dont even see each other unless were rowing. Otherwise, just coexisting in parallel worlds.
Maybe its just a rough patch? You were mad for him at the start.
No, Soph. Weve *always* bickered over nothing. I just wanted the wedding so badly, dragged him to the registry office without thinkingdidnt realise Id be dragging everything else too. Now Im paying for it. Right, Id best go. Ta for this.
***
After that night, the friends barely spoke for months. Work, life, the usual. And theyd grown used to sparse meet-ups anyway. Occasionally, a message would pop up: *Hey, hows things? Alright. You? Same.*
Then, on a drizzly autumn evening, Emma texted: *Fancy a cuppa? My treatIll bring cake.* Two hours later, she was on Sophies doorstep. Behind her stood a tall, quiet bloke with an easy, slightly shy smile.
Soph, this is James, Emma introduced him, her eyes brighter than Sophie had ever seen. Were getting married soon.
Stunned, Sophie ushered them in. Over tea, James won her over with his calm, unpretentious warmth. He wasnt trying to impress, but the way he handed Emma her cup, the way he looked at herit said everything.
When James stepped out to the balcony, Sophie gaped at her friend.
Well? Whered you find *him*? What about Mark?
Emma smileda new, happy smile.
After I left yours that night, I cried all the way home. Not about Mark. About Boots and Saffy. Because I finally saw the truth about my so-called marriagethat no one in it had ever loved me. I realised I didnt want to live like that anymore. That I deserved normal. Proper care. Loyalty. If dogs can manage it Anyway, next morning, I packed my stuff and left.
And Mark?
Dunno if he even noticed at first. Probably relieved. He knew we werent right either. Wasnt looking for anyone, planned to stay single a while. Met James outside the courthouseliterally bumped into him in the doorway. Was a total mess, nearly in tears, and he just asked if I was okay. Turned out hed just got his freedom too. We got talking went for coffee. And well. Emma rested a hand on her stomach. Baby on the way.
Blimey, you dont hang about, Sophie snorted.
Tell me about it. But Soph its *good* with him. For the first time, I feel like Im part of something real. Safe. Loved. You can see it, right?
Sophie looked at her friend, nodded, and smiled through the tears pricking her eyes.
