** For authors notes, disclaimer etc. see chapter 1
Puppy love 2/?
"What time is she due home tomorrow?" Laura asked as James pulled the car into a parking space in front of the large "Pet Village" super store where they planned to get supplies for the puppy currently curled up on her lap.
"About 11 in the morning Chris's prize giving thing is tonight and she's leaving there first thing in the morning to head home." James smiled as the change in the movement in the car caused the puppy to move stretching on Laura's lap as she immediately melted again.
"He is adorable James are you sure she'll like him I really don't mind taking him home with me." She replied pouting as he shook his head lifting the ball of fluffy into his hand amazed at the fact it wasn't much bigger than the palm of his hand.
"I think it's safe to say when she sees him it's going to be love at first sight Laura you've no hope." He laughed as they headed for the front door of the shop and Laura pulled a trolley from the row by the door. "OK we need everything because when Barney died she gave all his stuff to the rehoming centre so there's no dog stuff in the house at all."
"So what do dogs need? I haven't had a pet since I was a kid. Food I suppose is the first thing." Laura continued stopping at the array of different foods in the puppy section and looking at him like she had to make the hardest decision of her life.
"Wait Pat back at the rehoming centre give me the name of the food they use she said it's better to stick with what he's used to." James said suddenly remembering the slip of paper in his trousers pocket handing the puppy back to Laura and taking over the trolley as he lifted a large bag of Iam's Puppy Food off the shelf and put it inside followed by two silver bowls and a measuring scoop. "He'll need a collar and lead and some toys don't you think?"
"Definitely." Laura agreed tickling the pup under his chin as he licked her fingers playfully.
"What do you think? Cute but manly right?" James asked holding up a navy blue tartan collar that said it was adjustable on the label to grow with your dog and a matching lead putting them in the trolley as Laura nodded then moving over to the toy section.
"I think you should get some things that are soft as well as that ball and the rope thing I remember seeing something on the TV once about puppies missing their mum and their brothers and sisters when they first leave and soft toys can help stop them fretting."
"OK well what about this it's soft and it says you can warm it in the microwave so it keeps them cosy and mimics being close to their mum."
"Aw it's lovely but it's bigger than he is." Laura laughed taking the fluffy pillow from James and showing it briefly to the puppy for approval before dropping it into the trolley. "He'll need somewhere to sleep and a blanket or something I don't imagine Jean would have him on the furniture."
"Well if he's anything like Barney he'll have the run of the three-seater while we squash up on the two seater." James laughed lifting a soft blue dog bed from the shelf and dropping it in along with a fleecy blanket before glancing at everything in the trolley trying to work out if there was anything they'd forgotten. "I think that's everything what do you think little guy?"
"Excuse me sir can I help? He is a lovely little chap isn't he?" A cheerful looking shop assistant said approaching them and looking at the contents of the trolley.
"Yeah he's a gift for my partner but we're new to shopping for puppies is there anything we've forgotten?"
"No I think you're set except there's a machine by the door that will engrave a name tag for him and put your number on it in case he goes astray."
"He doesn't have a name yet that's up to his new mummy." James smiled as the young girl smiled broadly at Laura.
"I'm sure you'll come up with something soon I know it's hard when you have just got him but dogs normally suit their names and it come to you before too long."
"Oh he's not mine." Laura laughed glancing at James as the young girl looked completely confused.
"No my partner is away until tomorrow so Laura is helping me out he's a surprise for Jean coming back." He qualified as the girl nodded.
"Ah well she's clearly a lucky lady then, I'd say you're all set Gina at the till will give you one of our puppy packs with a few information leaflets in it and some starter samples of our own range of puppy products, hope all goes well for you and you partner loves him.
"Oh I think it's safe to say she's going to love him." James smiled watching as the puppy curled into Laura's neck and he suddenly couldn't wait for Jean to get home the next day and meet him.