Both Adam and Erin were glad the interview was over. Things were not looking better just yet, but they did feel reassured. After a light dinner they were now in Gerard and Fabi’s mother’s sitting room, watching her young nephews play with Fluffy, the largest Doberman Erin had ever seen. Their host, Kate, explained that her husband was going to spend the night at the surgery watching over a cat. Then the children left with their father who popped in to pick them up. Bereft of his main distraction, the dog padded quietly to Erin with the remains of a roasted bone in his mouth and sat at her side.

‘Hey, big guy, you don’t look very fluffy to me,’ she said, scratching behind his ears and admiring the dark short-haired coat, rump shiny as if it had been oiled. Fluffy nuzzled her leg brie...

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