“She’s great, but she can be a bit of a handful.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask; does she know she’s a witch?”
“Yes. I hadn’t planned to tell her until she was older, but my grandmother had other ideas.”
“She told her?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you do when you found out?”
“I completely lost it. Grandma and I weren’t on speaking terms for ages afterwards.”
“Have you made up now?”
“Let’s just say there’s an uneasy truce between us, but I’ve warned her that she mustn’t teach Florence any more spells.”
“Has it caused any problems? Florence knowing she’s a witch, I mean?”
“Not up to now, touch wood. But you know what kids are like, and how excitable they can get. Every day she goes to school, I half expect to get a phone call to say she’s made the school guinea pig disappear.”
“Oh dear.” Mad chuckled. “Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh. It must be nerve-racking for you.” She checked her watch. “I have to get going. Drop into the shop and see us when you get the chance.”
“I will, yeah.”
***
When I arrived home, Florence came rushing to the door to greet me.
“Mummy, Mummy! Buddy’s here. Come and see.”
I’d totally forgotten about the stupid Chihuahua, but I didn’t want Florence to see my negative reaction, so I managed to conjure up a smile from somewhere.
“I can’t wait to meet him, darling.”
She took my hand and led me through to the lounge where Jack was on the sofa, with the small dog on his lap.
“Isn’t he cute, Mummy?” Florence gushed.
“Err, yeah, he’s very nice.” For an oversize rat.
“I know you’ve only just walked through the door,” Jack said. “But I had a phone call from Florence’s friend, Anne—well, from her mother, to be precise—she asked if Florence could go over there for tea.”
“Now?”
“Please, Mummy.” Florence pleaded. “Anne has got the super sparkly hairband maker, and she said she would make one for me.”
“Wouldn’t you rather stay here with Buddy?”
“He can come with me.”
“No, he can’t. Anne’s mummy won’t be happy if you show up with a dog.” I turned to Jack. “What’s with the short notice?”
“Anne was supposed to ask Florence at school yesterday, but she forgot all about it, so now Anne is rather upset. Her mum rang on the off chance that Florence would still be able to go over. I knew you were on your way home from work, so I said it’d be okay.”
“Are you sure you want to go, Florence?” I said. “Even if you can’t take Buddy?”
“Yes. I want a sparkly hairband.”
“Okay, then. You’d better say goodbye to Buddy.”
“Bye, Buddy. See you later.” She gave the dog a stroke, and then Jack handed the Chihuahua to me.
No sooner were Jack and Florence out of the house than Buddy began to snarl. “Put me down, can’t you? I’m fed up with people manhandling me.”
“Okay, sorry.” I put him on the floor.
“People think that just because I’m small, they have the right to pick me up willy-nilly. Well, they don’t!”
“Hey, young man, I think you’d better check your attitude. You do realise that we’ve just adopted you, don’t you?”
“Is that right? I don’t recall anyone consulting me on the matter.”
“Would you rather be out on the streets?”
“A pedigree of my standing? I could have my choice of homes. You should consider yourself very lucky to have me.”
“You’d better not give Florence any of this attitude, young man.”
“Is that the little squirt?”
“Yes, no! You can’t call her a little squirt. She’s my daughter.”
“Whatever.”
“Have you been talking to Florence too?”
“I tried, but she blanked me.”
“Florence is only young. She hasn’t developed all her magical powers yet.”
“And as for that other one—” Buddy gave a big sigh.
“You mean Jack?”
“Whatever his name is. What was that slop he gave me to eat earlier?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t here.”
“It isn’t acceptable. I have very exacting requirements when it comes to nutrition.”
“You do?”
“Yes. Why don’t you get a notepad and I’ll tell you what I need?”
Like an idiot, I did as he said. After he’d dictated his list of approved foods, he curled up and was soon fast asleep.
“Isn’t he a little beauty?” Jack whispered when he got back. “He and I are going to be great buddies.” He laughed. “Buddies? Get it?”
“Hilarious. You’ll be pleased to know that Buddy speaks very highly of you too.”
“Really?”
“No.”
Chapter 6
The next morning, I slept in a little later than usual. By the time I’d showered, dressed, and made my way downstairs, Jack was halfway through his customary bowl of muesli.
“Where’s Florence?”
“In the back garden with Buddy.”
Shortly before we’d moved into the old watermill, we’d had a fence erected to enclose the back garden. We wanted to ensure Florence couldn’t get anywhere near the river that ran by the property. The only access now was through a gate, which was always kept padlocked.
Out in the garden, Florence was throwing a ball for the dog to fetch. Buddy looked on impassively and made no attempt whatsoever to retrieve it. Undeterred, Florence kept on throwing and retrieving the ball herself.
“It doesn’t look like Buddy’s very excited about playing ball,” I said.
“He couldn’t be any less interested if he tried.” Jack laughed. “I told her it might take a while to train him.”
“I’ll go outside and have a word with her.” I slipped on some shoes and went out into the garden. “Morning, petal.”
“Mummy!” She came running over and gave me a hug and a big kiss. “I’m trying to play ball with Buddy, but he won’t fetch it.”
“Maybe no one has showed him how to do it.”
“Will you show him, Mummy?”
“I can
