When Jeremy left the following morning, Penny went back to the sofa, resting her head against the cushion where his head had been the evening before. She could still smell the faint aroma of cloves, and her mouth curved into a smile.

The dog placed his two fringed front paws on the edge of the sofa and gazed up at her reproachfully. Penny looked at him and laughed.

"I know, you want your morning walk" she said, gathering him into her arms and burying her face against his silky hair

"You are a big baby, Benjamin. And you won't be able to have that walk because we are going on...