The Diamond Dad

'It's my first week here,' she confided to the children. 'I love them all so much that I'd like to take every one home with me.'

The place was overflowing with dogs, in cages that stretched in all directions. Smiling kennel maids passed down the lines with bowls of food. A tall woman in jeans;ind sweater appeared with six leads in her hand, calling, 'Who's next for walkies?'

'Some of them are never going to leave us,' Jane said with a sigh. 'They're too old, or there's something wrong with them. So we try to make this a home for them.'

The atmosphere was cheerful. Every dog was an individual to be called by name with a friendly pat and a smile. But they were unwanted by the world. Most still had the desperate eagerness of those who clung to hope, and they barked and bounced to attract attention. Others sat in the resigned silence of creatures who'd been passed over too often.

'I want them all,' Cindy said plaintively.

'I know,' Faye sighed. 'It's heartbreaking, isn't it? But we can only have one, darling.'

Jane took several dogs out of their cages to be properly introduced. Cindy hugged them, but none seemed to be exactly what she was looking for.

'I'll know when I find it,' she said in answer to Garth's query.

'How?' he persisted.

'I'll just know.'

'I remember hearing you say that in exactly the same tone,' Faye reminded him. 'You'd just got your first builder's yard and you were choosing a foreman. You picked the strangest looking man because you just knew he was ideal.'

'And I was right, wasn't I?'

'Oh yes,' she said with a smile. 'Your instinct was always right.' She spoke amiably because the sun and the pleasant atmosphere were affecting her mood. Garth was behaving well, holding Cindy's hand and attending to her. Whatever his motives, Cindy was so happy at this moment that Faye would have forgiven him much.

He'd done something else, too, that had put him in her good books. Seeing her come downstairs in her buttercup-yellow shirt and fawn trousers he'd observed, 'You've lost weight. About twenty pounds I'd say.'

'Only fourteen,' she said regretfully. 'But I'm fighting for another seven.'

'Go for it! You look terrific.'

Since she'd struggled and fought for her weight loss, she appreciated this more than she would have admitted. Kendall's reaction, 'But you were fine as you were', though kindly meant, had been lacking something. Now she knew what it was.

'Oh, Daddy, look!' the little girl said suddenly. 'Poor doggy! He's so sad.'

The biggest St Bernard Faye had ever seen was regarding them soulfully. His great jowls hung from his face, and his eyes were those of one who carried weighty burdens with dignity. When Cindy called to him, he came eagerly to the wire of his cage.

'I want to hug him,' she told Jane earnestly.

'Is that wise?' Faye asked as Jane unlocked the cage. 'He's ten times her size.'

'Don't worry, he's the gentlest dog we've got,' Jane assured her.

'St Bernards are always gentle,' Adrian said. 'They're docile and obedient, and veiy intelligent. That's why they're used for mountain rescue.'

'Where did you get that?' Garth asked, for it was clear the boy was quoting.

'From Ken,' Adrian said. 'He knows a lot about them.'

Garth's face clouded but he said no more. Cindy was hugging the huge dog, who received her caresses eagerly. Benevolence beamed from his eyes, and he uttered a bark of approval that almost deafened everyone.

'His name's Barker,' Jane said, uncovering her ears, 'because that's what he is.'

As if in confirmation Barker promptly boomed again.

'His owner died six months ago,' Jane told them. 'He didn't have any family, and it's hard to find him a new home, because he's so big.'

'He's lovely,' Cindy enthused, burying her face in the thick, brown and white fur.

'Yes, he is,' Adrian said, stroking the huge head gently.

'Hey, kids, come on,' Faye said in alarm. 'He's too big for us, as well. We can't have him in our little house.'

'Why not?' Garth demanded. 'There are fields at the back where you can take him for exercise. He looks a terrific dog to me.'

Barker offered a paw, which both the children solemnly shook.

'Daddy, he wants to shake hands with you,' Cindy said.

Under Faye's incredulous eye, Garth took the huge powder puff offered to him. 'Pleased to meet you, sir,' he declared.

This was obviously the right response for both children, who beamed. Garth ran his hands over Barker's vast frame and offered him a biscuit, which vanished with the speed of light. Another went the same way. The next moment Barker's head was resting in Garth's hands, his eyes suggesting that this was his first food for a month.

'He likes you, Daddy,' Cindy said, delighted.

'Yes, I think he does. Hey, you're a splendid fellow, aren't you?'

Barker agreed, his eyes fixed on the biscuits.

Faye was growing more nervous. 'Don't encourage them,' she told Garth. 'It's out of the question.'

'Why is it, if they want him?'

'In that little house?'

He glanced up and her suspicions were confirmed. 'I know what you're up to and it won't work,' she told him in an undervoice. 'Garth, I'm not going to be manipulated like this.'

He moved aside with her, out of the children's hearing. 'Why must you always think the worst of me?'

'Eight years of marriage.'

'Ten,' he said at once.

'Only eight that counted.'

His eyes gleamed sharply, but he didn't retort.

'I know what you're doing,' she persisted, 'and you've got to stop.'

But Cindy was pulling on her hand, pleading, 'Mummy, Daddy, I want Barker.'

'Darling, he's far too big,' Faye said urgently.

'No, he isn't, he's just right,' Cindy said. 'I love him, and he loves me, and he wants to come with us.'

'Of course he does,' Garth said, refusing to meet his wife's eyes. 'You can't disappoint him now.'

She was speechless at his sheer lack of scruple. Under the guise of being kind to his daughter, Garth was arranging matters his own way, as always.

But when they reached Kelly's office it seemed he was due for a setback. While the children played outside with their new friend, Kelly said, 'You shouldn't really have met Barker, but Jane's still new here. He's a permanent resident.' 'But why?' Garth demanded. 'He looks fine to me.'

'He's a lovely dog, but also a very old one. Generally the larger the dog, the shorter the life. Barker's ten, and many St Bernards die at ten. It would be better to choose a younger animal. It's not too late.'

But it was too late, as the children's glowing faces confirmed. Through the window they could be seen climbing over Barker, who cheerfully accepted their attentions. Faye made a last attempt to change their minds, but their response was to tighten their arms around their new friend and look mulish.

Kelly made a start on the paperwork. 'He doesn't actually become yours for another month,' she said. 'First I must visit you and see how he is. If your home doesn't seem suitable, then I'm afraid I have to take him back.'

'Don't worry. He'll have the best of everything,' Garth assured her.

While Kelly left them a moment, Faye said angrily, 'That's the worst thing I've ever seen you do. He isn't going to live long. But you don't care if they're hurt so long as you get your way.'

'Faye, Cindy's happy.'

'Because she thinks this means her father loves her.'

'Are you saying I don't love my children?'

'Maybe you love Adrian, because he's your son. But Cindy's always been an afterthought to you. How is she going to feel when Barker dies?'

'I'll get her another dog.'

'Another one won't be the same.'

'I'll get one who looks just like him.'

She looked at him in pity. 'You don't understand a thing, do you?'

Kelly returned before he had to answer. The formalities were completed, and they were free to take Barker home.

Garth's big car suddenly looked much smaller when it had to accommodate a hundred and twenty pounds of dog. He took up most of the back seat, with Cindy and Adrian squeezing into whatever was left. When he woofed, Garth and Faye had to rub their ears.