Emily Hart watches as her fiancé, Max Turner, his face twisted with anger, kicks Maggie, the little dachshund that has accidentally stepped a muddy paw onto his white trainers. Bullet, the terrier, wants to protect the tiny dog but receives a heavy leather leash slapped across her snout. In that instant Emily finally understands why her cats and dogs detest Max.
Emily sits by the window, lost in thought. A cold winter evening settles over the rows of terraced houses, the streetlights flicker on, but she feels indifferent to light or dark. She has a flat in a decent part of Manchester, a good nursing job, and a life that isnt worse than anyone elses, yet love constantly slips through her fingers. The clock ticks; all her schoolmates are married with children, while she remains alone.
She wonders if a pretty, sensible girl like herself is doomed to stay single forever. What makes me any different? she muses, glancing at her furry companions who crowd around her, ears perked in sympathy.
Emilys parents die young, one after another, and she grows up under her grandmothers care, determined to become a medic. She finishes school, applies to medical school but fails the entrance exam, ends up in a paramedic training course and now spends long shifts on the ambulance. Her beloved grandma, Margaret, has moved into a house in a suburban culdesac so Emily can finally have a chance at a personal life, but nothing seems to click.
As a child Emily longs for a cat and a dog, but her mother is allergic to fur. The truth reveals itself when a gleeful Emily brings home a teenage kitten named Biscuit; the very same day her mother suffers a severe asthma attack. The kitten is taken to grandmas house.
After the parents pass, a stray cat she names Whiskers shows up near a rubbish bin. Emily also wants a dog, but grandma refuses, fearing the responsibility.
Now Emilys household consists of five loyal, affectionate animals that make life bearable. Bullet is found as a skinny, fleainfested pup shivering outside a supermarket in the frost. The youngster tries to slip into the warm interior of the shop, but the security guards chase her away. Emily scoops her up in a bag and hurries home.
Bullet is a quickwitted, energetic girl, darting about like a jet plane, which earns her the nickname Bullet. She instantly befriends Whiskers.
Soon a tiny dachshund named Maggie appears. The owners of the neighbouring house move into a new flat and decide the little dog would only damage their fresh flooring and furniture, so they abandon her in the courtyard during a snowy night and drive off. The limping, clever pooch realises shes been left behind; for a week she cries and circles the building, trying to slip into the warm entrance hall until Emily learns of her plight from local dog walkers. Emily takes Maggie home and treats her chilled ears. Maggie proves the perfect domestic dogcalm, sensible and tidy, much like a wise lady.
Maggies ears get cold from time to time, so on frosty walks Emily wraps her in a warm knitted scarf. The dachshund looks absurdly adorable, waddling down the lane like a miniature, stern housekeeper.
One early morning, hurrying to her night shift, Emily steps out of the lift and a snowcovered lump rolls towards her feet, turning out to be a frantic, frostbitten cat seeking shelter. She ushers the cat into the lobby, feeds it two cheeseandham sandwiches, and pins a note to the wall: Please dont shoo the cat away! Ill be back after my shift. Emily, Flat15.
She names the feline Agatha, borrowing her own middle name, and the cat instantly assumes an air of authority. Agatha, a large, dignified cat with lofty ambitions, quickly settles in and becomes the defacto commander of the household. The whole menagerie falls in line, obeying her strict cleanliness rules, even at night when she patrols the flat, checking every corner.
Later, Emily rescues a tiny, silent kitten from the park, naming him Milo. Two crows almost snatch him, but she saves him. As an adult cat Milo remains modest and gentle, never fighting. All five former strays live together peacefully, careful not to upset their owner.
Emily knows her menagerie might not impress every potential suitor, especially those who prefer a tidy, animalfree home. Her grandmother sighs, warning her: Emily, lovebirds today love their space. Two dogs and three cats might be a turnoff. Emily replies, Then that man isnt the one for me, Gran.
She meets Alex Turner, a fellow paramedic, when they start working together. Their sixmonth romance ends because Alex cant stand pets. The breakup doesnt break Emilys heart.
Soon Max Turner reappears a handsome, charismatic swimmer, regional champion, who courts Emily, helps walk Bullet and Maggie, and even talks about marriage. Yet the animals begin to avoid him. Bullet snaps at Max, Maggie hides behind Emily, growling, while the cats keep their distance and Agatha hisses at him.
One evening, while Emily prepares dinner, she steps onto the balcony and sees Max, his face twisted with rage, kick Maggie after she accidentally steps on his spotless trainers with a dirty paw. Bullet tries to intervene and receives a hard leather leash across her face. Emily darts into the courtyard, snatches the leash from the smiling fiancé, and, with a fierce grip, lashes it across his hands.
Emily, what are you doing? It hurts! Max protests.
You think it hurts me? How dare you strike my animals! she shouts. Im tired of you treating them like nothing.
Max snarls, Im just teaching them not to trample my shoes.
Emily screams, Leave and never come back!
Max laughs cruelly, Who wants to live in a pet zoo? Youre raising freeloaders! His laughter echoes as Emily watches her hopes crumble.
For a year Emily believed Max was her destiny, never truly seeing past his charming façade. When a year passes, she almost resigns herself to loneliness, until a real spark lights up. She meets DrAlexander Yates, a trauma surgeon on night duty, who brings a crashvictim into the emergency ward. Their eyes lock; Emily feels a jolt, as if struck by lightning. She had never believed in love at first sight, thinking it existed only in books and films, but now shes convinced.
Alexander, using his position, obtains Emilys phone number and calls her the next evening. They begin dating. His tall, quiet demeanor tells Emily hes serious. She is thrilled but also fearful that history might repeat itself. She decides to hide her animal troupe from Alex, promising herself shell marry him and then reveal everything, come what may.
Six months later Alex introduces Emily to his sister Sophie and her husband, and they drive to his parents countryside home, where Emily meets her grandmother. Alexs tidy onebedroom flat seems immaculate, but Emilys frequent family visits and vague stories about sick relatives and flu no longer hold up. She must choose: confess the menagerie or keep the lie.
She finally decides. Emily gathers all her pets and, together with her belongings, takes them to her grandmothers house. Bullet and Maggie have visited before; the cats adore the attic, and they get along with Biscuit, so Emily feels relieved. Grandma objects: Emily, you cant do that. Alexander is a respectable man, and youre starting with deception.
Emily pleads, Grandma, I cant live without them. What if he leaves because of them? I have no other choice.
Grandma sighs, Fine, but you must come every day when youre not working. It wont end well, love.
Each day Emily visits her furry family, and Alexs suspicions fade. He eventually proposes, presenting a heartshaped amethyst ring. I dont have a lavish dowry, Emily jokes, but I have you.
They file the marriage paperwork, and the wedding day looms. After a night shift Emily promises her grandmother shell be back by evening to buy a wedding dress, pick a restaurant menu, and visit the jeweller with Alex. Exhausted, the bridetobe and groom finally arrive home after lunch, still needing to decide guest numbers and catering.
Meanwhile Alex, trying to throw away an empty box, pulls out a trash bin overflowing with cat and dog food packets. Where did these come from? he asks. Never mind, Emily replies, steering the conversation elsewhere.
At that moment a postwoman arrives with a pensioners letter. She rushes inside, leaving the gate ajar. Agatha, Whiskers, and Milo dart outside, while Biscuit stays inside. The pets form a quick circle before bolting back in. Bullet leads the pack, with Agatha keeping order, ensuring none lag behind. Passersby stare at the unusual parade, especially at the zebra crossing. Bullets sharp memory guides them home to Emilys flat, where Maggies scarf flutters, drawing smiles from onlookers.
Alex hears scratching at the door, followed by meowing. He opens it, astonished as a proud dachshund in a red sweater, a larger dog, and a troupe of cats tumble in, all covered in fresh snow.
What on earth is this? he exclaims.
Emily rushes out, covers her face with her hands, collapses onto the shoe rack, and silently weeps. Emily, are those all yours? Alex asks.
Yes, they were at my grandmothers, she sobs.
Bullet and Maggie start barking at him, while Agatha hisses threateningly. You said you had no dowry, Alex mutters.
He lifts his coat, walks to the car, and drives away. Emily calls her grandmother to soothe her worries, refusing to let the truth ruin the day. She feels empty, ashamed of the lies, her face swollen with tears.
Hours later a knock sounds. Alex stands at the door, carrying bags of expensive pet food. He smiles, sets the parcels down, and says, Dont lock the door, Im coming in. A few minutes later he returns, holding a dachshund in a tiny red jumpsuit. This is Nica, and this is Mara, he says, pulling out a ginger cat from under his jacket. They belong to Sophie, but I thought they could join your crew.
Years pass. Emily Hart and Alexander Yates often laugh about the chaos that once threatened their wedding. Who knows what might have happened if the dowry hadnt been a handful of pets? Their lives remain intertwined, forever marked by the day the animals marched into the doorway.
