“It’s my friend’s, I’m just bringing him over because no one is at my house to look after him….Ernie give the shoe back…” she tried to persuade Ernie in a cooing voice. She felt a hand pull her gently aside.

“That’s not gonna work,” Shane stood in front of Ernie, her arms crossed under her chest. “Don’t even think about using those puppy eyes of yours on me, now little thief, give me back the shoe,” Shane said in a commanding voice. Ernie whined and let go of the shoe reluctantly. When Shane bent down to retrieve her shoe, she scratched Ernie’s neck.

“His name is Ernie,” Carmen corrected her.

Shane knelt down and scooped Ernie up in her hands. She bought him close to her nose and nuzzled little Ernie who was loving the attention. “You’re a boy aren’t you? I’m calling you Bandit cos you’re love to steal. That okay with you?” Shane’s voice was soft and low. There was a smile on Shane’s face as she put Ernie gently down on the floor. Carmen realised she hadn’t seen this side of Shane before, this affectionate, almost tender side of her.

“Oh yeah….When you’re a guest, you behave got that?” Shane turned back halfway and wagged her finger at Ernie. She held the sneaker up and inspected it closely and when she shut the door, Carmen couldn’t help laughing quietly at Shane’s lecturing of Ernie.

At noon, Shane went out in a hurry and she didn’t ask Carmen to go with her. Carmen took Ernie for a little stroll and bought some dog food for him. She got back and was getting ready to feed Ernie when the door opened. Shane was dressed in a cropped jacket and jeans. She had obviously been out to a meeting of some sort. From what information Carmen had gathered, a second album was in the works. She walked past the kitchen counter and put a packet on it. “What’s this?”

“Food for Bandit……Royal Canine Natural Blend…it’s supposed to be pretty good…..” Carmen was taken aback by this unexpected gesture and before she could thank Shane, she heard Shane’s last sentence. “There’s no reason why Bandit should suffer just because you’re poor,” Carmen had no idea whether that was an insult or a joke and she stared at Shane, dumbfounded. Shane chuckled at her expression and raised her hands. “Okay I’m sorry..just a joke…no offense…I used to be poor too,” With that, she shrugged off her jacket and entered the room, leaving Carmen wondering whether she was any closer to unraveling the mystery that was Shane McCutcheon.