Caitlin knew it was true. David might be ruthless in many ways, but he could never turn his back on his mother. He couldn’t pretend she didn’t exist. Neither could Caitlin.
She set the basket on the floor, lifted the lid and picked up the tiny puppy that was still curled in sleep. She cradled it in her hands as she moved forward, ignoring David’s frown, hoping to break the agony of decision-making that was clouding all their futures.
‘Mrs Hartley, I’m sorry that you’d rather not know me,’ she said softly. ‘I guess it’s hard to trust good intentions when they’ve failed before. I know you must have a lot of lonely hours, so I brought you a companion you can talk to when David isn’t here. Please...would you take her?’
David obligingly stepped back to allow Caitlin to present her gift to his mother.
‘If you’ll just hold out your hands,’ Caitlin urged, carefully keeping her gaze on the puppy she was offering. She didn’t want David’s mother to think she was trying to satisfy some morbid curiosity.
‘What is it?’ Her voice was strained, hesitant.
‘A little Australian silky terrier. Six weeks old. She hasn’t got a name yet, but I’m sure you can think of one.’ Caitlin smiled down at the pup. ‘She loves being loved. She demands care and affection and attention. She’ll do just about anything to get it.’
A hand reached out tentatively to stroke the soft silky coat. The pup stirred, eyes alert, and turned to lick one of the stroking fingers.
‘Oh!’ It was a breath of surprise.
‘Please take her. I got her for you. I used to have a pony to talk to whenever I was lonely. But a puppy’s just as good and you can keep her in the house. She won’t take up much room.’
Still there was a hesitation, but both hands were in front of her now and Caitlin bundled the pup into them. It wriggled in the changeover. David’s mother quickly fumbled it to her chest. The pup, in search of more security, hastily scrabbled his way up her dress and nestled contentedly into the curve of her neck and shoulder.
Caitlin laughed with pleasure and lifted dancing green eyes, skating straight over the disfigured face and fastening directly on the startled blue gaze of David’s mother. ‘You see? She’s taken to you already. I hope you don’t mind holding her.’
‘No...I...’ She stopped, confused by Caitlin’s failure to look away. She was taken aback at Caitlin’s lack of reaction. ‘I...it’s...kind of you to do this for me.’
‘I love animals. Did David tell you he bought me a horse?’
‘No.’
‘Then we need to tell you all about it.’
Mrs Hartley looked at her son, still bewildered by Caitlin’s natural manner, her eyes full of questions.
‘There’s such a lot I have to tell you, Mum,’ David said. ‘Caitlin’s pony was injured and had to be put down.’ His hand slid over Caitlin’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. ‘We bought her a Clydesdale to take its place.’
‘His name is Danny Boy.’ Caitlin lifted her hand and stroked it over David’s. ‘He’s a two-year-old stallion and...’
She bubbled on, describing her horse and recounting precisely how dreadful David had been in pursuing the purchase, which he denied, insisting it was only his standard procedure. Caitlin then related their search for the right property, with helpful and amusing asides from David.
His mother stood watching them both, stroking the pup at her throat, not quite knowing what to make of what was happening but not walking away from it. Caitlin was privately assessing
the work done by the cosmetic surgeons. It was very good. Both David and his mother remembered the beauty which had been destroyed, making the contrast appalling to them, but there was no cause for horror. Caitlin had no problem at all with what she saw.
‘Come and sit down, Mum,’ David urged. ‘Caitlin had better tell you what to feed the pup.’
He steered her to an armchair. Caitlin picked up the basket and brought it over to show her the contents. She dropped on to her knees beside the armchair and lifted each item out in turn.
‘I bought a feed-dish and a packet of cereal and a tin of dog-meat, but you’ll find she’ll soon want to eat whatever you’re eating.’ Caitlin smiled. ‘Silky terriers always want to do everything their owners do. If you have chicken dinner, she’ll want chicken dinner, on a plate the same as a human.’
Mrs Hartley’s gaze lifted slowly to her son. ‘David, would you make us some coffee, please?’
‘Yes, of course.’
He left them together. Mrs Hartley lowered the pup to her lap. Caitlin fiercely hoped it did not mean her gift was about to be rejected.
‘You must love my son very much.’ The blue eyes were moist but did not waver from Caitlin’s.
‘I do.’