The gorgeous Miss Mawko and the playful Mr Winston
Harvey finally joined them.
"Well, Mark is pissed!" He announced to them, "says he's on the first flight to Brisbane to put me in my place for imprisoning his Mia. I haven't imprisoned the crazy bitch yet, but I bloody well will!"
Emmaline looked worried. "Family eh, Uncle?"
"She lied about the details regarding me and her wanting me to perform, Harvey," Julian said, gently rubbing Emmaline's back soothingly.
"Yes" Emmaline agreed "Mia actually thought Imagine was Julian's hit, and Saltwater was John's, Uncle"
Harvey shook his head and laughed. "I'll try and talk some sense into Mark, Kitten. Perhaps he might listen to me and then pull his wife into line, or leave her altogether. I prefer that option!"
"And what happens if they don't leave Emmaline alone, Harvey?" Julian asked, dead serious.
Harvey gave his shoulder a reassuring rub "They're not above the law! I bet if you told that lovely best friend Tilly of yours, Emmie, she'll be able to tell you exactly what I am now, stop worrying! I'll shake them both up enough to leave you alone!"
Julian eyed the detective "I have my house in Italy and my little place in Monaco, on standby if I need it!"
The detective smiled and said, "If it makes you feel better Son"
Emmaline tapped his arm gently "Shouldn't we get to the airport, Julian? Winston's flight should have landed by now!"
"Winston?" Harvey questioned.
"My Golden Retriever, Harvey" Julian explained.
"My, you two are serious aren't you?" He grinned "moving your dog in when you've stayed with my niece for just how long now?"
"I don't know how long I'm staying here hence why I haven't booked my Winston into a boarding kennel back home in Italy! And Emmaline said she'd be happy to take him in!"
Harvey laughed "you'll end up living here Lennon, I assure you! Anyway, lovebirds...I have an afternoon tea date!"
"You?? Uncle??" Emmaline grinned.
"Afternoon tea?" Julian joined in, he too grinning.
"Yes! And?? I met this lovely lady a couple of weeks ago, she's booked us in at the Stamford Plaza Brisbane Hotel's for the Spirit of Queensland Lobby High Tea!" He said back playfully. "Don't think I'm too old for love Kitten, last I checked, didn't you just turn fifty?"
Emmaline was about to bite back when his phone received a text.
He put his glasses on to read and soon a small, delighted smile could be seen.
"Uncle Harvey??" She said again.
"Would you lovebirds like to join Sylvie and I? She has just informed me that there are four seats available not two at the 3 pm sitting! I'll pay, you two just go and get Winston, and see you at The Stamford Plaza at say a quarter to three? And the attire is Smart Casual"
Emmaline looked at Julian, her arm around his "What do you think?"
"I think it's a great idea! Get out of the house and mingle with people we know, plus I won't say no to a High Tea, I am British by birth after all!"
"Excellent!!" Harvey ginned, kissing and hugging his niece, then shaking Julian's hand. "See you both in a couple of hours!"
*
Luckily, for them, Winston's flight from the Milan Malpensa Airport was running late. That meant he wasn't waiting for them after a long flight.
As soon as the loveable, fluffy dog set eyes on his Jules, he became very excited.
"Settle down you excitable ball of fur!" He said to the happy dog who was dancing on his paws inside the comfy carrier.
The fifty-five-year-old carried his travel carrier outside to Emmaline's Jaguar.
"If you prefer to let him out Julian, I can safely clip him in so he doesn't get hurt, on the drive home" she told him.
"First things first darling, Winston's gotta go!" He told her, putting the carrier down at the back of the Jag, then he unlocked the door, a streak of gold fluff flew out and excitedly bounced around Julian, then he realised he needed to pee.
He looked at Emmaline's shiny back wheel, head cocked to one side.
"No, Winston! In the gutter! Not on an expensive rim of a Jaguar!" Julian growled, knowing exactly what was going on in his dog's head.
The dog barked and actually peed in the gutter. Then went to Julian for his long-awaited cuddles and pats.
"Let's see if you and Mawko get along!" He said to the Golden Retriever.
"As long as he knows that Mawko is the boss, he should be fine. She doesn't hate other dogs, he just needs to know the pecking order at home!" She told him.
"Winston's not fixed, is Mawko?" He asked.
"No, but what a litter, the breed name is Goberian, apparently!" She told him opening the back door of the car.
Winston jumped up and made himself comfy. Julian carefully clipped his lead which was clipped onto his collar into the seatbelt.
He seemed the happiest dog in the world as Emmaline cruised along back to her home, her forefathers had affectionately named 'Warrawee'.
He stuck his head out of the open window as she drove over the landmark Story Bridge, now just thirteen minutes from home.
The adults smiled at him through the rearview mirror.
"Isn't he just the most gorgeous dog?" She praised, being an absolute dog lover.
Julian smiled at his boy, "many a night, Winston has kept me company and warm!"
"Wasn't your father's middle name Winston?" She asked.
He smiled and continued to watch his boy through the rearview mirror. "it was, till he changed it to Ono because he didn't like Winston, his mum Julia, chose it because of Winston Churchill!"
*
Mawko heard the bark of an unfamiliar dog as her Emmaline's Jaguar pulled into the driveway and into the garage.
"Just get Winston on a lead, I'll go in and make sure Mawko's on hers, we'll let them get acquainted in the front yard, perhaps go for a little walk, get her off her territory, neutral grounds!" She told him as he rummaged through Winston's bag to find his lead.
"Brace yourself boy, let's see if Miss Mawko warms to you!" He said to the happy dog, his tongue was out and his tail was wagging furiously.
Moments later Emmaline brought the bitch out, and their first meeting began in anticipation.
Their owners kept a firm hold on their leads and set off down the road, walking side by side, the dogs on the outside, Julian and Emmaline walking together on the inside.
They reached the end of the street and Mawko made the first move by stopping. Julian noticed and stopped Winston.
She approached the Retriever slowly, sniffing carefully around his backside, all the while Julian kept a gentle hold on the dog's head, praising him as he did.
"Good boy!" He said, "Alright, Miss Mawko, your turn!"
Slowly the doctor brought her bitch in front of Julian's dog.
The meeting went well, she sniffed gently and then proceeded to approach him, gently licking his ear.
"Perhaps we weren't the only ones yearning for love!" Julian said as they let their dogs bond.
Winston, being playful by nature, initiated play, by bowing, Mawko followed and for a few happy moments, the two dogs played.
"Let's see how they react on Mawko's territory," Emmaline said, as they headed back home.
They had an hour to get ready and be at the Stamford Plaza, a luxury hotel on the Brisbane River.
"You have a shower and get ready, I'll watch them" he offered.
She was quick to shower and decided to wear a Turquoise Floral Printed Maxi Dress.
"Julian?" She called, standing in front of her dressing table, which housed her perfumes, beauty products, makeup and most of her jewellery, her really expensive pieces were locked away carefully in her walk-in wardrobe.
"Yes, dear?" He said as he came into the master bedroom, the dogs following.
"Should I tone down on my jewellery?" She asked, "just wear my costume jewellery?" She had told him everything, keeping nothing from him about her attack.
He came over to her, she still had the fear in her eyes, but he knew she didn't want to be frightened of wearing what was rightfully hers.
"May I pick out what you should wear?" He offered gently.
She smiled at him, offering what she had, for him to choose.
He picked out a lovely pair of white gold and diamond studs and her favourite dress watch, the one she wore at Christmas time.
They both still wore their hippo amulets.
"How did I do? He asked, gently kissing the back of her hand.
"You're a natural!" She answered proudly as she put her jewellery on and he headed into the ensuite to take his shower.
On a personal note:
I'd just like to take the time to thank all that read this story, and take the time to vote and comment, your comments make my day and I love reading your thoughts on what's unfolding! Please don't be hesitant to leave me a line or two! I read every comment believe me! Yes, the romance is certainly blossoming between the Doctor and Mr Lennon, but brace yourselves...It's all going to start getting very real (you ain't read nothin' yet!) Hope you're all ready!