Being Grey (Beings Trilogy) (24 page)

It's gone one o'clock. Jason called over an hour ago, saying that he was on his way to pick up the puppy, but he's not arrived yet.

Robbie is sitting in the corner armchair facing the door scowling. Stefan is on the floor, surrounded by everyone's carrier bags and about thirty rolls of wrapping paper, we really don't need that much. Annabel is in the kitchen making a brew.

I still can’t get over her hair. She's now sporting a very fashionable straight bob, and it looks so shiny and healthy I'm jealous. She also has that look of satisfaction that comes with just finishing the best meal ever. Hmm.

Poppy was ridiculously excited about going to test drive some new cars, as anyone would be. She left the house saying, "I might have to get a pink one!" I'm thinking that was a joke.

"Maybe Jason had to stop off and deliver more drugs to Adam to sell to kids." Robbie breaks the silence.

"He's getting lighter," I say, "I swear he is."

"Maybe. If we're lucky, he'll bring Ian and we can end all of this right now."

My heart does a little somersault. I wish it would stop doing that every time I hear his name. I know what he wants and my brain is in perfect working order, it’s just every other part of me that's pining for him.

Annabel brings the tea in, with biscuits. She's wearing a little makeup again. I must ask her who the new man in her life is.

Oh my God! What if it's Ian? What if he's playing her too to get to us all?

My paranoid brain is interrupted by the doorbell.

Jason is positively beaming! His grin almost reaches from ear to ear. And in his arms, cradled protectively like a baby, is the cutest puppy in the world. Big brown eyes blink uncertainly, until I do that crazy stupid puppy voice that all humans make, "Oh, who's a beautiful puppy? Coochy coochy coo!"

The door way behind me fills up with the others who are immediately bowled over by this tiny little creature.

Jason is laughing and saying hi to everyone. He doesn't even care that they're all here.

"I couldn't keep them away!" Is all the explanation I give?

Stefan takes the puppy, and gives Jason a welcome break from the attention.

"She's gorgeous!" Annabel screams with delight.

Robbie laughs, "It's a furry rat!"

"Poppy will love her, Jason." Stefan gently puts the pup down, and she sits there staring up at all of us with those huge eyes, smiling. Ok, she was panting a bit, but to me, dogs always look like they're smiling when they pant.

"She will?" It’s the first thing he's said.

We all nod.

"What is it?" Robbie asks incredulously.

"A Maltipoo. Its a cross between a Maltese and a Poodle."

Stefan grins, "A Maltipoo puppy for Poppet. It's perfect!"

Not much present wrapping takes place in the first few hours, as we all end up in the garden playing with the little bundle of fun. But puppy soon tires and ends up falling asleep on the rug under the kitchen table. She is too cute.

We wrap the presents and by the time we get around to ribboning the last one, we're all exhausted.

"Where's Annabel?" Robbie asks.

"She went to the loo." I reply.

"But that was fifteen minutes ago!"

We all shout her name at the same time, just as she re-enters the kitchen. "What?" She asks.

She looks great! "Have you been borrowing the girls’ make-up?" Stefan asks, smiling, "you look a knockout!"

She blushes, "Just a little. You don't mind do you,
Alice
?"

"Of course not! You look lovely!"

"It's not too much, is it?"

Now I know I'm puzzled, and I'm pretty sure everyone else is. Who's she making herself gorgeous for?

My answer is the door bell. "Oh! He's here!" Annabel stutters, "It's Glen, ok? Now no-one say a word because I know what you're all thinking!" And then she turns on her heel to let him in.

"Glen?" Stefan asks.

We all giggle a little, but only because they're a match made in heaven. Why didn't I think of him earlier?

Glen walks into the kitchen and even he's smartened himself up. Another hair cut (I wonder if they went together), smart expensive jeans, a great blue stripped shirt. Casual but quite the transformation.

Annabel is beaming and blushing. Normality is need here. "Robbie, put the kettle on for Glen," I say, "and Glen, come and meet Poppy's present!"

"Meet it?" Glen asks, confused.

We all laugh, and Annabel looks grateful. I wink at her. We’re all happy for her.

The phone rings at seven. It's Parker giving us some warning time. "They're just paying the bill at the restaurant so we'll be about 40 minutes."

A mad panic ensues, with us hiding presents and tidying up the wrapping paper. Ten minutes later, we're sat at the kitchen table drumming our fingers.

"Where Poppet's Poo?" Stefan asks.

Naturally, that has us in fits of laughter at the same time as a mild panic. We find the puppy fast asleep behind the sofa. We're all cooing over how sweet she looks when the sound of a key in the front door shushes us all.

We all plonk into the chairs and try to look natural.

Poppy bounds into the house, "
Alice
!" She calls, "You should have seen..." She enters the lounge and takes us all in, "Hello everyone!" Her gaze lasts a millisecond longer on Annabel, "Oh, don’t you look gorgeous!" She cries, "Hi Glen, hi Jason, what’s going on?”

A small scratching sound comes from behind Poppy. Her birthday present has just woke up and is looking as cute as ever doing a huge yawn.

Poppy screams. Literally a window shattering noise. "Oh my God, she's gorgeous. She, he?"

"Happy birthday Poppy." I say.

"She's from you?!" She so excited her voice is ten octaves higher than usual.

I nod and squeeze Jason’s hand. “From both of us.” I think Poppy’s eyes are going to pop out of her head if they get any bigger.

Puppy is now wide awake, tail wagging, smiling, panting and doing little hops and skips at Poppy's feet. She knows who her mummy is already.

Then she wets herself, the dog that is.

We all start laughing and Poppy scoops her up as I run to get some kitchen towels. "My poor baby!" There's that annoying puppy voice again, "did mummy get you all excited?"

Puppy answers by licking her face.

The other 'dog' presents follow or else the poor thing will be without it's collar, lead, six toys, plush beanbag bed and of course the ballerina costume. We had the bowls out earlier.

The others had bought puppy goodies too. Food, chews and treats, more toys. Then Glen surprises us all by pulling out a big box. He hands it to Poppy with a huge smile on his face. "This is also for the puppy from Annabel and me." He says.

Annabel stands next to him and slides her arm around his waist. "We hope you both like it!"

There's a small moment of stunned silence, did they just 'come out'? It doesn't last long though. After all, a present is a present, and Poppy loves presents!

She unwraps the box and pulls out a fabulous over sized Mulberry bag. It takes her less than twenty seconds to get the dog in it, and then she's parading around the lounge showing off.

I haven't laughed so hard since... five minutes ago?

The day has been full of revelations. Jason getting along with everyone so brilliantly, Annabel and Glen an item, Poppy choosing a British Racing Green colour car, not pink but she won't tell us what actual car it is as she wants to surprise us.

All in all, it’s been an amazing day, and it's already eleven o'clock. I'm sorry to see Jason go. He's got on so well with everyone, especially the boys, and his
Being
is definitely brighter and more pure than it was when he arrived. Maybe we worked some magic on him.

At the door, he says, "I've had a fun day."

"Me too."

He wraps his arms around my waist and looks into my eyes, "Don't tell anyone," he whispers, "but I think they like me!"

"I think you like them too?"

He nods, "They're a good group of guys!"

Hope bubbles inside me. This is what we’re working for. This is what should be happening to this wonderful man. A change for the best. "You should hang out with us more often."

"Perhaps I will." He leans forward and kisses me. It’s slow and gentle, and yes, I'll admit that something did stir inside. Not fireworks, but still a lovely feeling.

I like him a lot.

When I walk back to the lounge, Poppy is cradling the puppy and giving out directions. She's got the others reorganising the lounge furniture. "We have to put the puppy bed in just the right place," She explains, "and the sofa was in the way."

"Thought of a name yet?" Robbie asks as he's pulling the coffee table out of the way.

"No. I can't rush it." She tickles the puppy under the chin and it says thank you by licking her chin, "But we'll sleep on it, won't we darling?"

Chapter Forty Five

We’re in the kitchen, ready to head into town for our manicures and pedicures. I can’t believe the party is tomorrow. I’m so excited I could burst but Poppy seems so engrossed with the puppy I could almost believe she’s forgotten.

“Come on Copper, let’s go for a quick walk before we get our nails done.” Poppy coo’s to the puppy.

“Copper?” I question. She’s a sort of off white gold colour. Not really copper.

“Yes, I thought of it that night as we were cuddling in bed. It’s perfect isn’t it?”

“Lovely, but why Copper?”

“Duh. I’m Poppy, PO, and you’re
Alice
, LICE. Police. Get it? Copper.” Poppy’s laughing hysterically. “Police is a silly name for a dog, and Bobby sounds like Robbie so Copper it is.”

Poppy has the strangest logic but I love it. “You’re nuts but I love you.”

The three of us head off to get our nails done. Copper is loving being in her dog bag and Poppy is loving the attention they are both getting from everyone in the salon. Maybe it’s the ballerina outfit Jason insisted on buying Copper, and Poppy insisted on her wearing today.

“You weren’t silly enough to shave your legs again were you?” Poppy says sarcastically.

Well I didn’t know. We had pedicures a few months back and as it was still cold out I admit I’d let my legs get a little hairy. Horrified at the thought of the girls in the salon seeing, I’d shaved my legs that very morning. And then had the sea salt rub. I don’t know what all the fuss was about. I’d only cried for 10 minutes and the rash had died down two days later.

“Nope.” Very proud I remembered. “Will do it tomorrow in the bath after our hair appointment. That’s at 9am remember.”

“Ugh how could I forget, ungodly hour.” Poppy says. Copper is sat on her lap. “I really don’t know how I’ll stay awake for the party.” As she says this the hugest grin spreads across her face.

Poppy’s fingernails and toenails are a fantastic shade of plum, mine a deep wine colour. We match our dresses perfectly. Yes, we’d brought them with us to make sure.

Naturally, it’s the one day it rains and we run up to the front door trying to avoid puddles although I’m sure our nails are dry by now.

Copper has a wonderful aroma of wet dog where some of the rain has gotten in through the mesh on the bag so we wash her with some scented shampoo that someone had thoughtfully remembered to buy amongst all the presents. A little after five we’re all in the lounge wondering what to do with the rest of the day.

“So what time is Parker collecting us?” Poppy asks.