Sell Low, Sweet Harriet by Sherry Harris

Author:Sherry Harris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2019-10-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Alicia’s husband, Walter, opened the door of their townhouse seconds after I pressed the doorbell. Maybe he was waiting for someone or maybe he was lonely and had seen me walking across the courtyard toward his door, not that he would recognize me. His eyes were red rimmed and had a lost look that made me want to run away. Walter’s dark hair was in one of the shortest crew cuts I’d ever seen, which was saying a lot since I’d been around military members for over twenty years.

I held up ajar of dog biscuits that I had bought on the way to base this morning. “I brought these for your puppy.” It seemed like a better thing to bring than food. First of all, his neighbors had probably sent so much food he’d wouldn’t be able to eat it all. And second, food seemed like a reminder that he would have to eat alone. Dog biscuits were a reminder that he wasn’t.

“I’m Sarah Winston.”

“Walter Arbas.” He stuck out his hand and we shook.

I pointed to the dog biscuits. “They’re organic. From a place in Connecticut.”

A chocolate Labrador puppy came scampering toward us. Walter grabbed its collar, but the puppy strained toward me, on its back paws, its front ones pawing the air.

“Why don’t you come in before Norton escapes.”

I stepped into the small foyer and handed Walter the dog biscuits. A staircase was straight ahead. The painting of a wine bottle on a picnic table that Alicia had painted at Paint and Wine hung on the wall. To the left was a living room and then a space most base people used as a dining room. But here it was part eating space, part workout space, with a treadmill in the corner and free weights scattered around. Walter closed the door and let loose of Norton. He scampered over and put his paws on my knee. I rubbed his ears, murmuring the silly things people say to their dogs like Aren’t you a handsome boy.

Walter grabbed some newspapers from one side of the sectional sofa. “Have a seat.” He crumpled the newspaper and stared down at it like he wasn’t sure what to do with it. Then he stuffed it between the couch and an end table. Walter sat in a chair across from me, facing the window, and ran a hand over his short military cut hair.

“Do you want something to eat?” He gestured toward the kitchen off to the left of the dining room. “I’ve got so much food.” Norton plopped down by Walter’s feet, resting his head on one of Walter’s shoes. He leaned down and patted Norton. “He gives me a reason to get up in the morning. I guess that’s why we got him.”

“No. Thank you.” I paused. “I’m so sorry.”

“You knew Alicia?” His eyes lit briefly.

“We volunteered at the thrift shop together. But I didn’t know her well.” I wasn’t sure what had even made me want to come over here. Some instinct to comfort.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.