‘It’s Dominica, isn’t it?’ he asks. She likes his Spanish accent.

Dominica nods and glances at Maddy, who is listening in to this conversation. She sees a flash of sadness cross her face.

‘Well, it was Maddy’s suggestion, but I came to ask you something,’ Matteo says.

‘Ask me? Ask me what?’

‘I’m going back to Barcelona. It’s been difficult finding somewhere to stay and I’ve finally found somewhere, but it doesn’t allow pets. And in any case, I’ll be out all day. I’ve asked Shauna, my ex-partner, but she’s not in a position to have Luna back. So, sadly, I have to re-home her.’

‘Re-home her?’

As if sensing this, Luna crawls right onto her lap.

‘I thought you might …’ Maddy nods at Matteo.

‘I thought … we thought … could you take her, Dominica?’

‘She loves you and … well, you can think about it. If she’s going to get a new home, I know her first choice would be yours,’ Maddy says.

Matteo smiles nervously. ‘It’s a big decision, though, and I wouldn’t ask if—’

‘Yes,’ Dominica says, without hesitation. She’s astonished at her knee-jerk reaction. But actually … why not? If she’s not going into the office and is retraining, then there’s no reason why she couldn’t have a dog? And what better dog than this one? Maddy’s right. There was a mutual love thing straight away. She holds up Luna, then cuddles her in tight. ‘We can’t have you homeless, can we?’

Maddy takes Matteo’s hand and smiles at him.

‘You’re sure,’ he checks.

‘Of course, I’m sure.’

They discuss all the details, but Dominica is smiling the whole time. Luna is going to be hers. She doesn’t have a shred of doubt that it’s the right thing for both of them.

52

Adios

Maddy links arms with Matteo as they walk past the peace statue along the prom towards Hove. It’s late afternoon and he has an evening flight back to Barcelona so they’ve come out for a final walk, but it’s strange without Luna who is happily settled at Dominica’s flat. They dropped her off earlier and the little dog hardly noticed Matteo leaving. Maddy knows they’re only putting off the inevitable goodbye. She’s offered to take him to Gatwick, but he’s booked a train.

Summer has really set in. There’s a gang of twenty-somethings playing frisbee on the lawns, a fire juggler is practising, a couple of girls boxing and further along there’s a yoga class going on and the roller-bladers are out in force. There’s a huge family group on the beach around a wood burner, the smell of curry wafting on the air. Dogs scamper over the tarmac, school children squealing as they strip off and head into the sea. A busker with a guitar plays ‘Moon River’, and Maddy marvels at the people doing things that make them happy, but she feels heavy of heart and not just because Matteo is leaving.

This morning, the landlady of the Airbnb told her that the bookings have started again and so Maddy has to leave. Even though this was the arrangement, it still feels like a wrench. The fresh start she’d hoped for with Jamie feels like it’s off to a very shaky beginning.