Follow My Lead Episode 29
Lydia heaved a sigh, then smiled across at Danielle.
“Enough about me. How’s Stu?”
Danielle had finished eating and pushed her plate away.
“He hasn’t been in touch,” she replied. “I haven’t seen him around, either.”
Lydia pursed her lips.
“Maybe he’s just busy.”
“It takes seconds to send a text.” Danielle stood up to clear away the plates.
“I know I could text him but –”
“But you want him to make the first move so you know where you stand?” Lydia hesitated, then ploughed on.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong, but doesn’t that cut both ways?”
Danielle froze.
“Do you think that he might be the one thinking I’m not interested?”
“I never thought of that! So I’m back to square one?”
Lydia gathered up the glasses and followed Danielle into the kitchen.
She searched helplessly for some words of comfort, then fell back on an old faithful.
“Ice-cream,” she declared, reaching for the freezer door. “I think we both need ice-cream.”
“With double chocolate sauce,” Danielle replied, with a mournful tone that made them both laugh.
“Danielle?” Her phone had just rung in her pocket, and she fumbled to get a firm grip of its shiny case.
“Lydia? Hi!”
Lydia was on another of her away days to see Basil.
When she’d departed this morning, it had been with the demeanour of a child setting off to school.
Still, she had been looking forward to meeting up with some of her old colleagues for coffee, too.
“Danielle, could you possibly come and pick me up at the station? I’ve been waiting for ages and there’s not a taxi to be had.”
“No problem.” Danielle shortened the leads of her three canine charges and picked up her pace.
She’d been on her way back to the car park in any case.
“I’ll be at the station as soon as I can. I’ll have a van full of dogs on their way home, but wait till you see the surprise I have for you!”
Lydia was sitting on the bench outside the station, and her smile as Danielle drew up told of a tiring day.
“You’re an angel,” she said with feeling, sliding elegantly into the passenger seat.
“So what’s this surprise?” she went on as they drew out into the traffic.
Danielle grinned and tipped her head.
“Look who’s in the back.”
Lydia squinted through the grille between front and back, and then her gaze snapped back in disbelief.
“Is that Ollie?”
“The one and only.” Gleefully she recounted the call she’d taken that day from Ollie’s owner.
“She said he’d refused to go out with Padding A-Round today. Apparently he’s been playing up for days and this time wouldn’t budge.
“She was apologetic and said she realised it was an awful cheek after she had cancelled before, but could I possibly see my way to taking him out today.
“I think I managed not to sound too desperate when I said I’d be delighted.
“I don’t know if he’ll be back for good, but it feels as if things are looking up.”
A they drove on, Danielle became aware of how quiet Lydia was.
She glanced at her.
“How was your trip? How was Basil?” she asked.
Lydia sighed.
“I had a good day, all in all. Coffee with my old colleagues was nice.
“We were able to commiserate about life outside the media, although most of us are enjoying it, to be honest.
“Then I met Basil for lunch.”