“You always have the nicest clothes for him. Where do you get them?”

“Mostly online. I’ve got to keep my handsome boy well-dressed.”

Flora handed him back. “You hold the boy, and I’ll get my coat on.”

“You look really nice today, by the way,” Mack said.

Flora slipped her coat on. “No, I don’t.”

Mack put Dexter and the loaf of bread on the floor and then helped Flora on with her coat. “You look nice if I say you do.”

“Who made you the judge?” Flora said. “You don’t just have to humour me. Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that sharply.”

“One, Dex made me the judge, and I would never humour you or patronize you. You are the nicest woman I’ve ever met, and I’m lucky that I have you as my friend.”

“Thanks,” Flora said. If only she could be more than a friend. Mack was exactly her type. She’d never known what exactly her type was until she met Mack, but now she knew. Mack was her one and only type.

“Have you had any more trouble with the idiots upstairs?”

“Just loud music. It’s only when they see me coming in from the car, and loud noise at night. I put my earphones in and just fall asleep that way.”

“I’ll go and have a word with them,” Mack said firmly.

“Please don’t,” Flora pleaded. “It’ll just make things worse. I’ve got to live here after you go away.”

Mack sighed. “Okay if you insist, but if they terrorize you any more, I’ll talk to them.”

* * *

“This was fun,” Flora said as she threw the last piece of bread into the pond.

It was nice, Mack thought. Being with Flora eased her strain and tension. It was such a relaxing way to spend a Sunday, and Dexter loved having Flora with her. When the bread was gone, Mack said, “Do you want to walk around the pond?”

Parents and children, joggers, people on bikes, and all kinds of dogs sauntered past them, even though it was a frosty day. Dexter was having great fun talking to all the other dogs too.

“Yes, that would be nice,” Flora replied.

“You hold Dex.”

Flora took his lead, and they walked off at a gentle pace. “I haven’t done this since I was young—well, since my grandad died.”

“Will you tell me about your family?” Mack asked.

“There’s not much to tell. My dad left when I was a baby and then my mum died when I was about ten.”

“I’m sorry about your mum. My dad isn’t in the picture either. But luckily, I had a strong family. My mum, my aunt Chrissy, Uncle Thomas, Nikki, and Isla.”

“Isla’s a lovely girl,” Flora said.

Mack smiled. “She is. We adore her, but she’s really such a sensitive soul, so unlike her mum and me.”