Harbor Nights Read Free Page A

settled in now.” Norah stepped between two bushes making up the small hedge that separated the properties. “It was nice meeting you, and I hope your aunt gets better.”
    â€œShe’s getting out of the hospital tomorrow, and the pleasure was all mine. Good night, Norah.” Entranced, he watched as Norah made her way to the back porch and placed Zsa Zsa into her mother’s waiting arms. He could hear Norah’s mom coo and scold the dog all the way into the house. Norah gave him a wave and then followed her mother in.
    He released Flipper to go scout out the new and interesting scents that now permeated his parents’ backyard. He leaned against a wooden picnic table and felt the cool night breeze against his face as he studied the small cottage-style house next door. In the growing darkness, he watched as the exterior lights from Norah’s house were extinguished one by one. Somehow, it seemed fitting that the rose fairy with the spiked red hair and more jewelry than a gypsy queen had taken the light with her.

    Half an hour later, Norah was still putting away her grandmother’s good china into the dining room’s hutch. Her mother had unpacked, washed, and dried the good dishes before taking her shower. She had volunteered for the job of putting it all away since her mother was elbow deep in doggie shampoo and conditioner. Zsa Zsa was docilely standing in the kitchen sink, enjoying every stroke and rub of her mother’s fingers. The Pomeranian acted like she was at a five-star spa and resort.
    â€œYou’re spoiling her, Mom.” Norah repositioned the soup tureen so it would be in the center of one of the four glass doors on the cabinet.
    â€œBy giving her a bath?” Joanna Stevens gently poured another cup of lukewarm water over the sudsy animal. “You’d rather she smelled like decomposing wood chips and Lord knows what else?”
    â€œNo.” She placed one of the serving trays up behind the stack of dessert plates. The service for twelve, along with every companion dish known to mankind, barely fit in the antique cabinet. “I was referring to the amount of hygiene products you’ve bought her.” She glanced at the huge basket overflowing with doggie care items sitting on the counter next to a pink, fluffy bath towel. Her own bath towels were yellow, and she had purchased them on sale at Wal-Mart. Zsa Zsa got 100 percent Egyptian cotton. Her mother had the nerve to say the dog wasn’t spoiled. “She even has her own toothbrush and toothpaste.”
    â€œYou don’t want her to get tartar buildup, do you?” Joanna rinsed the dog one last time and then carefully placed her on the pink towel.
    â€œHeaven forbid that she’d have to get her teeth scraped and cleaned like the rest of us.” She wrinkled her nose at the soaking wet dog. Without her hair being all puffed out, Zsa Zsa looked like a drowned rat.
    â€œWhat’s with you tonight, Norah?” Her mother wrapped the dog up into a big ball of expensive cotton. Only Zsa Zsa’s miniature face was sticking out of the cocoon. “You seem tired. Maybe we’ve been overdoing it lately. There’s no need to get everything unpacked right away. We put a pretty big-sized dent in the boxes, and everything we absolutely need is away.”
    â€œI’m fine, Mom.” She gave her mom what she hoped was a convincing smile. “Just a bit embarrassed at being caught underneath the neighbors’ rosebush losing a battle of wills against a four-pound dog.” This time her smile was the genuine thing. She could still see the look on Ned’s face when she’d told him that Zsa Zsa had a fear of seagulls. Ned hadn’t known if he should help her get the dog out from under the bush or have her committed.
    â€œNed Porter seemed like a nice young man.” Her mother’s gaze was probing.
    â€œHe was very helpful.” She placed the bone