‘It is true.’
‘I’m still learning the theory rather than the practice, though.’
‘You’ll get there.’
He said it so easily that Alice found herself believing him, and believing in herself.
‘He likes to watch you when you eat, but he’ll sit down if you tell him to. He’ll just carry on staring at you after he does.’ It was Christmas Eve, dawn only just breaking over the little village, which meant the view was still soaked in pre-night, post-morning blue. Alice was talking Marco and David through Bear’s long list of quirks, care instructions and anything else she could think of to delay leaving for the airport. ‘I leave lots of bowls of water around for him, including one downstairs at night even though he’ll probably want to sleep up in one of your rooms with you. Is that okay?’
‘Yes, that’s fine,’ said Marco, who was in the eye-watering Christmas jumper and yet still snuggling close to Bear’s warm fur. There was something about the softness of Bear’s coat that demanded to be constantly touched. He was a true comfort blanket.
‘He might actually jump on your bed in the middle of the night, which is a surprising way to wake up, but then he’ll just want to flop down next to you. Well, on you. It’s nice, but you can tell him to get off if he’s at all annoying.’
‘Marco will enjoy the company,’ David joked.
‘We’re going to be just fine,’ Marco said, his voice confident and reassuring. ‘We’ll have a very merry Christmas. Do you think he likes my Christmas sweater?’
‘I think he loves it,’ Alice answered. ‘Thank you both again for doing this. I feel bad leaving you with him when you should be relaxing.’
Marco stood up and put his hands on her shoulders. ‘Don’t feel bad. Take a break, visit your parents. We are so happy to be looking after a big Bernese, you have no idea.’
‘Will you let me know that he’s okay?’
‘I’ll send you a thousand photos a day.’
‘Do you think he’ll miss me?’
‘He’s going to miss you a lot,’ Marco replied, looking into her eyes. ‘So much, but it’s Christmas Eve, and you fly back on Boxing Day. He’ll cope without you for two nights.’
‘We’re going to keep him completely distracted and occupied,’ David said, as Marco picked up her bag for her.
Alice knelt down and nuzzled into Bear, who stood in front of her pressing his huge furry head into her chest while she rubbed behind his ears. ‘Have a very merry Christmas, Bear. I’ll be back in two sleeps. I hope you have a brilliant time with the other boys.’
Bear lifted his head and beamed at her, his big brown eyes looking right into hers with such wide innocence. She stroked his cheeks, marbled with white and rust fur, and he stretched his head forward to sniff her face as close as he could get. Finally he pulled his head back, and wrapped a wet mouth around her arm which was his version of a Swiss kiss.
Tears threatened the back of Alice’s eyes when she stood and waved goodbye to the dog.How ridiculous, she tried to tell herself.
David produced a dog biscuit from his pocket and Bear’s attention was pulled away. He stood on his hind legs, his paws on David’s shoulders, to eat it from his hands. Marco, and Alice, then left the chalet.
Out on the snow they crunched their way towards the station. After the Zurich trip she’d managed to park back at Lauterbrunnen, so she didn’t have far to go this morning. ‘You don’t need to carry my bag down there if you want to get back,’ Alice said.
‘It’s my pleasure,’ he answered. ‘I wanted to check how you were really feeling.’
‘It’s silly . . . he’s just not been on his own at night since I took him in. I hope he sleeps okay.’
‘Him, or you?’
‘A little of both,’ she confessed.
‘Is there anything else on your mind?’ They kept walking while Alice thought about how to answer his question.
‘Here I’m in a snow globe. Back in England I feel exposed.’
‘I understand that. Is there anything about going back you are looking forward to, that you can focus on?’
‘I really want to see my parents, and I’m looking forward to the familiarity and traditions. Those things just keep getting gnawed away at by that feeling of going back to the place that on the other hand brought so much misery.’ They reached the station. ‘I am such a Debbie Downer. Sorry. Merry Christmas Eve, Marco.’
‘You are no downer, you are human. I don’t have the answers, but I hope your journey goes well, and I hope you enjoy your family, and I hope you come back on Boxing Day feeling better.’
