Page 22 of The Man Next Door
Chapter6
BY THE TIME ZONA HAD FINISHEDdealing with the spilled water and her mother’s frustration, she felt like she’d been chained and dragged by wild horses over a rocky mountain trail. Sleep. She needed sleep. And sleep she did, the dreamless dead sleep of a woman whose life roller-coaster ride had taken one final turn too many and who wanted off.
Come morning she was back on the roller coaster, calling in to work and leaving a message for her supervisor explaining her need for the week off. Then giving Louise a pain pill and helping her to the bathroom.
And speaking of bathroom, Darling needed to go out. Zona had a poop pick-up bag in hand and Darling leashed up and ready to go when she opened the door to hear a raised male voice coming her way from the new neighbor’s house.
“Shit!” said the voice. It wasn’t a shout, but it was loud enough for her to hear.
Darling was prancing and whining next to her, but she pulled him close and peeked out the front door. There stood the new neighbor next to his truck. He was dressed in work boots, jeans, and a T-shirt that showed off those beautifully sculpted pecs and arms. Ready for work. Ready to start the day.
Until encountering the present Darling had left the night before. Which Zona had completely forgotten about.
If only Darling had at least done his doggy business on theman’s lawn, he wouldn’t have stepped in it. Or seen it. He certainly should have seen it there on the driveway. The phone in his hand was a big clue as to why he hadn’t. He’d probably been texting on his way to his truck. Not expecting to encounter a mess from a dog he didn’t own on his driveway.
He inspected the bottom of his boot, then lifted his head and looked her direction. His scowl felt like a laser beam shooting right at her and she ducked behind the door and quietly shut it.Way to foster good relations with the neighbor.
“We’ll walk later,” she said to Darling, and escorted him out the back door into the backyard for his bathroom break.
Darling bounded out and got busy marking his territory. He’d be fine out there for a little while, she decided, and went back to check on her mother.
As she went, she wondered if there was a way she could try to blame the poo present Darling had left next door on some mysterious dog from some other house. Probably not, since Darling was the only one living on their street.
She’d have to go over later and apologize. But first she had her mother to deal with.
She found Louise perched on the edge of her bed, leaning on her crutches and scowling. Her hair looked like a rat’s nest.
“Just shoot me now,” she grumbled.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Zona said. Her poor mother.
“Oh, don’t listen to me. I’m just grumpy,” said Louise.
“You have every right to be,” Zona assured her.
“In some ways, yes. But it really could be worse. I didn’t break my nose. Or my neck. I’m still alive.” She looked sadly up at Zona. “I’m sorry I’ve tipped your life upside down.”
Zona couldn’t help but laugh. “My life was already upside down, and I did a pretty good job of tilting yours when I moved in.”
“Nonsense. I’m happy to have you. And I’m grateful you’re here. I’m just sorry I’m adding to your troubles.”
“I guess we’re equally sorry,” Zona said, and managed a smile. “We’ll get through this, and we’ll be fine. Now, which would you like first, a sponge bath or breakfast?”
“Breakfast,” Louise said. “But first, the potty. My big, exciting life.”
Yeah, they were both living the life.
Zona had just assembled ingredients for an omelet when she heard the stump-stumping of Louise’s crutches. She looked so different from how she’d looked when Zona had dropped her off for her big adventure. Maybe Zona’s bad luck was rubbing off on her mother.
“Are you going to have an omelet, too?” Louise asked. “I have a feeling you’re going to need your energy.”
What Zona would have liked was a big, fat Cinnabon cinnamon roll. Pricey treats were now a thing of the past.
“Yes,” Zona said. “And toast.” Toast with jam. It wasn’t the same as a cinnamon roll, but it would have to do. Maybe she’d attempt to make cinnamon rolls while she was home.
“Toast,” Louise said, and sighed. “I should be eating fancy pastries and fresh pineapple.”
“Who knows? You could have ended up with some stomach bug on the ship and been eating nothing but dry toast,” Zona said, trying to spin the situation.
