Authors Note: Thanks Riska, Lore2 and Liz for your reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed the way I described the two New Year flashbacks, but it's time to go on with the story – so here it is.

Chapter 31: The Dog

„Happy New Year Emily." I'm whispering to myself.

I went to bed at 10:30 pm. He didn't come over. Until then he was at home. I didn't want us to stare at another through the window so I decided that it would be best to sleep into the New Year. Of course I couldn't. The fireworks would've woken me up anyway. I'm tempted to go downstairs – to see if he's still home – but no, then this wouldn't have made any sense at all. I'm in bed because I want to avoid this awkward moment. And I'm staying here. The first New Year's Eve that we spent apart…

Is it really over? Should I start the New Year looking forward? To leave my marriage behind? I sigh. Perhaps that would be the best thing to do – I mean if we couldn't make it until now – if neither Christmas nor the illnesses of Maurice or Straub could unite us, then I don't know what it would take. Is Hope right after all? Should I just go to him to apologize? But for what? He has much more to apologize for, but is that the point? I look at the collage again – I'm getting melancholic, I can feel it – great way to start the New Year. Suddenly the phone is ringing, I wonder who that might be – Richard?

"Hello?"

"Happy New Year, Grandma!" Rory says and I can hear loud music in the background.

"Happy New Year, Rory. Where are you?"

"At a party – I'm sorry to call that late, but I thought today you would certainly be awake at that hour and I just wanted to wish you and grandpa a happy new year."

"That's sweet of you, thanks Rory."

"Hmm – is he there?"

"Who?" I ask innocently – now I know why she's calling.

"Grandpa, I want to wish him a happy new year."

"No I'm afraid he's not here dear. You have to call him on his cell phone."

"Oh – well then I'll better do that."

"Yes, I suppose you should."

"Okay, it's really loud Grandma and I don't want to disturb you, so see you next Friday."

"See you Friday Rory – and thanks for the call."

"Anytime Grandma."

Rory, Rory – you just had to know, hadn't you? But we're not together. I was right not to set my hope up at Christmas, though his present…

After what seems like hours I'm finally able to get some sleep.

I'm coming back from the hair-dresser. Just when I'm about to leave my car, Richard is pulling up behind me. We haven't seen each other this year, but I knew that this moment would come. So I wait a few seconds before getting out of the car. I'm turning towards him. He's coming towards me.

"Happy New Year, Richard."

"Happy New Year, Emily."

Great what else is there to say – normally we kissed – don't think of that Emily!

"How are you?"

"I'm fine thanks for asking Emily – and you?"

"I'm fine, too thank you. – I just got back from the hair-dresser."

Are we both lying? I don't think that neither of us is fine.

"Oh – well your hair looks nice."

"Thank you."

"Well – I have a dinner to attend tonight, business – I better should hurry to get dressed."

"Yes, I don't want to keep you from it. Have a nice evening Richard."

"Thank you."

He's going to the pool-house. That's the way we talk – polite small talk, which ends because he has work to do. I don't even know if that's always true, or if he just can't stand the awkward atmosphere – sighing I'm going to the house.

I'm walking through the house, speaking to Jean – an old friend of mine, which I haven't seen for quite a while. When I come to the window I'm shocked to see that a dog is sitting on the patio. I'm jumping back a little.

"Oh - Oh my God! Oh my God!" I exclaim.

What's this thing doing here? And how to get rid of it, I'm certainly not going out there and the maid is at the store – Richard. Where's the phone – oh right I'm on the phone with Jean, who's just asking what's going on.

"No, uh, Jean, hang on a second, will you?"

I'm calling Richard's cell phone – oh please be here.

"Hello?"

Thank God.

"There's a dog on the patio!" I say upset.

"What? - Emily?"

Who else? Glad you remember my voice.

"Of course it's Emily!"

"I'm sorry. You sound agitated."

"Did you get a dog?"

"Certainly not!"

"Well, there's a dog on the patio."

"Well, where are you?"

Australia – of course here, when I can see it.

"Inside! Richard, do something!"

"I can't see it from here."

Then come over.

"Well, he's here nonetheless, and he's looking at me! Richard, the dog is looking at me!" I say and I'm very close to freaking out.

"Hold on."

"I'm holding, but what are we going to – Richard?"

Great – now he's not even speaking to me anymore. I hope for him he's coming over, you can talk while you walk you know? I'm looking at the dog.

"Shoo! - Shoo!"

But he's not moving. Then Richard comes out onto the patio.

"Now do you believe me?"

"Well, I wasn't doubting you, Emily, I just couldn't see it."

"What is that?" I say pointing through the window at the fire poker in his hand.

"Oh, you made it sound like it was a rabid beast, so I came prepared."

"Don't get too close."

We don't know what's wrong with him – and something is wrong with him, otherwise he wouldn't be here.

"I don't see any froth on his mouth."

"Well, that's something."

"I see a collar but no tags. That isn't very smart."

"You're getting too close."

Why do I care so much about this?

"Well, what should I do? It's freezing out here. We can't let it roam around."

"Well it can't come into the house."

Certainly not. While he's muttering something about tags I have an idea.

"Take it to the pool house."

"What? Why?"

"Well, that's why we have it."

"We have a pool house for stray dogs? Love the innuendo, Emily. Fine. I will take him into the pool house."

You know I didn't mean it like that.

"Thank you, Richard. I came out and he was just sitting there."

"It's a he?"

"I don't know."

"Well, I can't get a visual from this angle."

Oh please.

"It's not important."

"Dog! I want you to come with me. Come along, dog!" Richard commands and it's working.

"He's following you."

I can't believe it.

"Seems to be working!"

"Good job, Richard!"

Richard and the dog are disappearing into the pool-house. Well at least that's solved, I mean he couldn't sit here all day could he, I think while hanging up. After a minute the phone is ringing again – Jean. I had totally forgotten about that call.

I've thought about the whole dog situation for the last two hours. I mean what would I've done if Richard hadn't been there – am I really that dependent on him? I think I'll better look after them – the least I can do. And he doesn't seem to be at work – his car is here. He shouldn't miss work because of it – because I can't take care of a dog. Yes I'm going over. I'm getting my cloak – it's still freezing outside and head over to the pool-house. I'm knocking at the door.

"Emily. Hello." Richard says after opening the door.

"Hello. I saw your car in the driveway and was just wondering if everything was okay." I say while going inside – it really looks comfortable now.

"Everything's fine. Thank you. I've put off my morning appointments to sort of stabilize the canine situation. She's been fairly calm."

"Oh, it's a she?"

"That has been ascertained."

"And there's no I.D. tag?" I say while looking at the dog which is lying in front of the fireplace.

Somehow I'm enjoying this – at least we have something to talk about.

"A gross oversight of its owners. I found its exact breed, though, which may come in handy."

"Oh, wonderful!" I say, clapping my hands together.

"Let me, uh, bring up the website .'Dog Breed 411 dot com'." He says while sitting down behind his laptop and typing a little.

I'm amazed that he's able to handle this – I know nothing about these kind of things. But it looks really impressing.

"Isn't that clever? It's amazing the information available on the computer these days." I say.

"Oh, it's wonderful. There are websites you'd be interested in, too."

"Oh, I wouldn't know how." I say giving an insecure laugh.

"Well, it's easy. Whatever you're interested in, you just type it in - the DAR, or Louis Vuitton or Franz Schubert - and you're off and running."

"That easy?"

I can't believe that.

"That easy."

"There she is!" I say pointing at a picture of 'our dog' at his laptop.

"Mmm. A long-haired Jack Russell terrier."

"I'll start calling the neighbours and tell them we have a long-haired Jack Russell terrier."

At least I can do something now.

"A female."

Suddenly the pictures on his laptop have changed.

"What's all that luggage?"

"Ah, that is the Louis Vuitton website. I thought you might like to peruse it." he says while standing up so that I can sit down.

That really looks interesting – I didn't know that this was possible.

"Isn't that something?"

"You use that mouse there to move around." he says pointing at some weird thing next to his laptop. And what for a name is that?

"A mouse? How fun!" I say laughing – this time it's a real laugh.

It is fun. You can look at nearly everything. Richard is standing behind me – I don't want to leave.

"And the DAR has a – what do you call it?"

"A website?"

"Yes – a website – they have one, too?"

"Of course – nearly everything is on the internet these days – perhaps even you."

"Me?" I say incredulously.

"Well when they've put up a members list you're certainly on it."

I nod – amazing.

"And how do I get there?"

"You have to type the URL in."

"Oh – well perhaps you should do that – only if you have time of course." I quickly add - not having the slightest knowledge what an URL might be.

"Well I have time and you can do it yourself – just do what I'm telling you."

He's showing me everything and it really isn't that difficult – at least not with him by my side. But what was ever difficult with him by my side? Don't get emotional Emily – we had difficult times – hell we have the most difficult time right now. However when he unintentionally touches my shoulder a shiver is going through my body. Oh my – I better leave now.

"Well I think I should start making those calls – thanks for showing me this – it really was a great thing to discover."

"Perhaps you should buy yourself a laptop – then you can discover this whenever you want." he suggests.

"Oh well I don't know – without any help – and I've lived for over 60 years without it – I don't think I need it."

I definitely have to leave – I can't even talk in complete sentences anymore.

"So if you need any help with the dog, just let me know." I say while turning around to leave.

"I will. Goodbye Emily."

"Goodbye Richard."

While going back to the house I'm thinking about our meeting. This was the closest physical contact we had for a long time – and it did have an affect on me, I can't deny that. On him however – I don't know. But then I couldn't see his face and I was way too occupied in hiding my own feelings. Well, I definitely still feel something for him. And the dog – maybe it was fate. At least it gives us a reason to talk.

Coming inside I'm going to the phone and start to make those calls. I guess it's best to start with Margaret Whitson – she knows everyone around here. After the polite small talk I'm coming straight to the point.

"Margaret the reason of my call is, that today I found a dog on our patio – it was just sitting there and I wonder if maybe you've heard that someone is missing a dog?"

"No, I'm sorry Emily – I haven't heard anything. But I'll pay attention and let you know as soon as possible. How does it look like?"

"Oh it's a white long-haired Jack Russell terrier."

"Alright – well I can ask around a little."

"That would be great, thank you Margaret."

"I'm sorry Emily, but I have to go now, I promised Laura to come over."

"That's okay and well, it would help to just put the word out there that we have a dog. In case anyone hears of anyone looking for one."

"What was the colour – white?"

"That's right. A white long-haired Jack Russell terrier."

"Okay – I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, Margaret. I'll be here all day."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Richard just came in – I wonder what he wants – I left him a few minutes ago, but well I told him to come if he'd need anything.

"Margaret Whitson?"

"I figured a call to the neighbourhood busybody was the first order of business. How's it doing?"

"Well, it seems to be asleep now, but I am lacking a proper bowl for its food."

"I think I can help you with that, follow me."

We're walking into the kitchen.

"What are you feeding it?"

"I've got some leftover stew. I'm going to pick chunks of meat out of it."

Leftover – from what? Don't tell me you're eating stew.

"Stew? Richard, tell me that that man of yours isn't feeding you stew?" I say turning to face him.

"Well, he probably offered. He said it was a recipe passed down by some dead relative."

"Stew? That may be what killed his relative."

"I didn't think of that." he says laughing a little.

"Promise me you'll make him prepare proper food for you. Please. That's what he's paid for." I say while searching for an appropriate food bowl.

"I promise, Emily."

Ah – and now I've found one.

"Here we go."

"Ah, looks perfect."

I give it to him.

"And it's chipped, so just toss it when you're done."

"Thank you, Emily."

"You're welcome."

We're looking at each other.

"And the stew is history."

"Good."

He slowly turns around – I can't but smile after him. He really listened to me. And someone who wouldn't know that we're separated, wouldn't have noticed anything. We're honestly able to talk to each other without any fighting. I don't think that I want this dog-owner to be found anytime soon. Apparently we just need a safe topic to talk about, and everything works out fine.

This night I have to think of my New Year's thoughts and I wonder if maybe I was wrong. What is New Year anyway – it's just a day. Other cultures don't even share the same day to celebrate the new year. I mean it doesn't mean you have to start something new – maybe you should just look out for the old… to repair what's broken. But how?

I don't know exactly, but I can feel that we're on a good way. And for what seems to be the hundredth time I'm reaching for Hope's letter to maybe discover something new in there – but no. (I know it by hard by now anyway, so that's no surprise). When I'm putting it back into my night-stand I again look at the collage the girls made me. Yes, perhaps New Year isn't about leaving things behind, but just for starting over. I really hope that dog will be here for some more time.

I hope you liked it – reviews are as always appreciated, but this time especially since I'm not very motivated at the moment. I don't even know why. So please change that.