“I will.” He looks at his watch and starts as he does. “It’s almost ten? I need to get going.”
I watch as he jumps up and heads into the kitchen, looking around. “I know I took my shoes off…”
“I saw them in there,” I call out as I hop up and join him. I point under the dining table. “There.”
Austin slips his shoes on and then looks out the window that faces his house and the hedge. “Man, you really don’t have a view because of that hedge, do you?”
“You’re so observant.” I grab his coat and shove it his way. “Unless we want to ruin this call for peace, you should get out of here before we start arguing about the hedge.”
“I don’t have time for that today.” He grips the door handle and looks at me. “Thank you for letting me in last night, Bex. I am going to be different. Not just try to be, I will be, but I just ask that you give me some grace while I figure it out. After all, we’re working closely together now and we live…” He rolls his eyes. “I don’t have to tell you where we live.”
“No, you don’t.” I nod toward his truck. “You’d better go. And brush those teeth first, too, you hear me?”
Do I delight when his mouth drops open? Not then, but when his hand flies to his mouth so he can do a breath check, that’s when I giggle.
“Go. And let me know what happens with the tenants, okay?”
He gives me a salute as he jogs out the door and heads to his truck, leaving me in a swirl of confusion. Like dealing with Clark Kent when you find out he’s Superman.
Who was that guy?
I don’t have to think about it too long; my phone, which is in the living room, starts chiming, signaling a call. It’s an unknown number, but I’m feeling like throwing caution to the wind today and pick it up while Harley threads herself in and out of my legs.
“Hello?” I manage in between pats on Harley’s back.
“My name is Felicity and I’m the pet sitter for Harley. I picked up a message this morning that she’s been coming to your place?”
I eye Harley, my stomach dipping. “Yes, she’s right here now, in fact. Stayed here last night.”
“Oh man, that dog. She keeps running away, but it sounds like she keeps coming just to your place.” The woman sighs heavily in my ear. “I’m so sorry, if you tell me your exact address, I’ll come over and get her now.”
I rattle off my address and fight the sadness inside. I mean, I wanted to find Harley’s owner so they could be reunited, but why does it have to hurt my heart to give her back?
“Great,” Felicity says. “I’ll be over soon. That dog. To be honest, I’m not sure she even likes her owners.”
“What makes you say that?”
“She never listens to them when they give her commands, but she listens to me. I’ve been working with her more on her training while her people are away looking at homes in Florida. They’re moving soon, so I’m on a time crunch to get her more obedient.”
“I guess with her sneaking over here it’s not helping.” I ruffle Harley’s fur, letting my fingers dig into its thickness. “Well, we’ll be here.”
I hang up, a fleeting wave of depression washing over me. I knew this was a possibility, but at least Harley reminded me that I love dogs like I do. And it’s a mystery now solved. I know the dog’s name, gender, and the story of the owners.
I let my eyes wander, looking out the window toward Austin’s.
One mystery solved, now there’s only one more to go.
ELEVEN
Austin
Sitting in the parking lot outside of the gym where my brother is a member, I begin to question my being here. I’d gone to great lengths to find out from Georgie via text last night where he’d be this morning, and now I’m feeling like a right stalker.
Glancing at the binoculars in my lap, I can’t blame myself either.
My fingertips drum the steering wheel and I tap my foot to the beat. She said he goes in around nine-thirty and is out by eleven at the latest. I’d made sure to show up at ten-thirty. I’d even circled the parking lot to make sure his car was here, and I was rewarded. Now I wait.
I’d spent part of the time on the phone, calling a few of the tenants like Bex asked me to do. She was right: the three people I’d managed to chat with, including Mrs. Rosenblatt, were all happy to hear from me. From leaky faucets to updates on grandchildren, I was treated to a gamut of life news. And for once, I didn’t mind it not being all about me.
