“Here’s Felicity.” Alice beamed. “We’d better tell her the good news.”
Phantom and I watched the two women drive away, one dabbing at her eyes, the other looking visibly relieved. Apart from a piteous yelp at his mistress and a soulful look in his eyes, Phantom seemed unperturbed to find himself suddenly in my keeping. He seemed to understand instinctively that the new arrangement was the best that could be hoped for under the circumstances. He waited patiently outside while I shopped. Then I hung the shopping bag from one handlebar, tied his leash to the other, and walked the bike home.
“Did you find the place all right?” Gabe called out when he heard me come in.
“Sorry, forgot the bread,” I said, striding into the kitchen with Phantom at my heels. “But I picked up a bargain instead.”
“Oh, Bethany,” Ivy gushed. “Where did you find him?”
“Long story,” I replied. “Someone needed a helping hand.” I gave them a summary of my encounter with Alice. Ivy stroked Phantom’s head and he placed his muzzle in her hand. There was something unearthly in his pale, doleful eyes that made him look as though he belonged with us. “I hope we can keep him?” I finished.
“Of course,” said Gabriel without further discussion. “Everyone needs a home.”
Ivy and I busied ourselves gathering Phantom a makeshift bed and deciding which bowl should be his. Gabriel watched us, the corners of his mouth twitching with the beginnings of a smile. He smiled so rarely that when he did it was like sun bursting through cloud.
It was obvious that Phantom was going to be my dog. He looked at me as his adoptive mother and loped after me wherever I went in the house. When I flopped down on the couch, he curled up at my feet like a hot water bottle and fell asleep, snoring softly. Despite his size, Phantom had an indolent nature, and it didn’t take him long before he was fully integrated into our little family.
After dinner I showered and settled on the sofa with Phantom’s head in my lap. His affection had a therapeutic effect, and I was feeling so relaxed I’d almost forgotten the events of the previous night.
Then there came a knock at the front door.
No Boys Allowed
Phantom gave a territorial growl and bounded out of the room, sniffing furiously under and around the front door.
“What’s he doing here?” Gabriel muttered under his breath.
“Who is it?” Ivy and I whispered simultaneously.
“Our heroic school captain.”
Gabriel’s sarcasm was wasted on me.
“Xavier Woods is outside?” I asked incredulously, sneaking a look at myself in the mirror above the mantelpiece. Although it was early I was already in my cow-print pajamas with my hair pulled up in a banana clip. Ivy noticed and looked amused at my display of vanity. “Please don’t let him in—I look awful,” I begged.
I shifted uncomfortably as my siblings deliberated. After the display I’d put on at Molly’s party, Xavier Woods was the last person I wanted to see. In fact, he was the one person I wanted most to avoid.
“Has he gone?” I asked after a minute.
“No,” said Gabriel. “And he appears to have no intention of going.”
I gestured wildly at Phantom to move away from the door. “Come here, boy!” I whispered, trying to whistle softly through my teeth. “Stop that, Phantom!”
Phantom ignored me and shoved his nose farther under the door.
“What does he want?” I asked Gabriel.
My brother paused for a moment to tune into Xavier’s thoughts and his face darkened.
“Well, I think that’s rather presumptuous.”
“What is?”
“How long have you known this young man?”
“Stop it, Gabe. That’s a breach of privacy!” I snapped.
“Honestly.” Ivy got up, shaking her head. “I think he’s probably heard us by now. Besides, we can’t just ignore him. He recently did Bethany a good turn, remember?”
“At least wait for me to go upstairs,” I hissed, but she was already at the door, tugging
Phantom back and commanding him to settle down. When she walked back into the room, Xavier Woods was right behind her, looking his usual self, apart from his hair, which was slightly wind ruffled. Satisfied that Xavier posed no threat, Phantom resumed his recumbent position on the sofa with a deep sigh. Gabriel acknowledged Xavier’s presence with a mere incline of his head.
“I just wanted to check that Beth was feeling okay,” Xavier said, unaffected by Gabriel’s frosty reception.
I recognized this was my cue to say something but words eluded me.
“Thanks again for getting her home,” Ivy jumped in, the only one of us who had remembered good manners. “Would you like something to drink? I was just about to make some hot chocolate.”
“Thanks but I can’t stay long,” Xavier said.
“Well, sit down at least,” Ivy prompted. “Gabriel, can you give me a hand in the kitchen?”
Gabriel followed her out reluctantly.
Left alone with Xavier I was conscious of how ridiculously sedate we must appear, with no television in sight, my siblings making hot chocolate and me ready for bed at eight o’clock.
“Nice dog,” Xavier said. He reached down, and Phantom cautiously sniffed his hand before nuzzling it enthusiastically. I had half hoped Phantom would growl, so I’d have at least one reason not to think Xavier was completely flawless. But he seemed to be passing every test with flying colors.
“I found him today,” I said.
“Found him?” Xavier raised an eyebrow. “Do you make a habit of adopting stray pets?”
“No,” I said indignantly. “His owner was moving to a retirement home.”
“Oh, he must be Alice Butler’s dog.”
“How’d you know that?”
“Small town.” Xavier shrugged. “You know, I was worried about you last night.” His gaze was fixed intently on my face.
“I’m fine now,” I replied shakily. I tried to meet his eyes but I felt giddy and looked away.
“You should be more careful about who you call your friends.”
There was an intimacy in the way he spoke to me, as if we’d known each other a long time. It was unnerving and exciting at the same time.