Page 113 of The Man Next Door
“I guess it’s time to go in,” Zona said.
He nodded, gave Darling a rub behind the ears, and then turned toward his own house.
Bree was barely out of her car before she started her third degree. “What’s going on, Mom?”
“Our neighbor is helping me train Darling. He needs it.”
Bree narrowed her eyes and Zona suddenly felt like a teenager lying to her mother. She turned toward the house. “Come on, Darling.”
“Just dog training?” Bree persisted, following them both in.
“Just dog training,” Zona said. “And the price is right. It’s free,” she added, figuring that ended the conversation.
Louise was in the living room, streaming a Hallmark movie.
“How come you’re not watching your crime show?” Bree asked and bent to kiss her cheek before plopping on the couch next to her.
“I’m taking a break,” Louise said. “Your mother’s orders,” she added, and frowned at Zona. “How was the dog training?”
“Darling is making great strides,” Zona reported.
“So is our neighbor,” said Louise. “Hamburgers, hiking, dog training.”
“Youarehanging out with him,” Bree accused. “Mom, what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that it’s nice to know our neighbor isn’t a murderer,” Zona said, shooting a meaningful look at Louise.
“Murderer?” Bree repeated.
“Ask your Gram about that,” Zona said.
“Never mind. It was a slight misunderstanding.”
“What kind of misunderstanding?” Bree wanted to know.
“Darling dug up a bone on his property and Gram thought he’d chopped up his girlfriend and buried her in the flowerbed. Called the cops and everything,” Zona tattled. There, two could play the tattletale game.
“OMG. Truth?” Bree looked positively gleeful.
“It was an honest mistake, and I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” Louise said stiffly.
“So I’m mending fences, that’s all,” said Zona. “There’s nothing going on.”
“Yet,” said Bree. “You’re gonna fall for him, I know it. I swear, I’m the only one in this family with a working brain.”
“Our brains work fine, and that’s enough of that, young lady,” Louise scolded.
“Sorry,” Bree muttered.
“And never mind us,” said Zona. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing,” Bree said with a shrug. “My life sucks. At least my savings is growing.”
Zona had planned on inviting her daughter over for Sunday dinner and presenting her with a check for her first semester of school. Louise had one for her also. But there was no time like the present.
“We have something for you. What do you think, Mom? Should we give it to her now?”
“No time like the present,” said Louise.
