6
The following afternoon I called into the tea shop to see Hannah. As well as wanting to see my new friend, I was curious to find out whether Toby was single. For a few minutes there was no opportunity to mention him because Hannah launched into a diatribe about being rushed off her feet, taking orders, preparing them, and serving them.
‘I have to do everything myself,’ she concluded, with a grimace. ‘It’s too much.’
The café was empty, so I wasn’t quite sure why she was complaining, but at least she was happy for me to take Poppy inside with me.
‘Mostly customers don’t object to well-behaved dogs,’ she told me. ‘But let’s sit in the corner and have a cup of tea. That way no one will notice her until they’re inside, unless she starts barking.’
‘She won’t,’ I assured Hannah. ‘She’s
