Jewels in the Juniper - Dale Mayer Page 0,66

and then thought she might as well send the photos to him.

With that, she went back downstairs, pulled up a new email, and sent a message to Scott. She put Antique Bed and Frame in the subject line and then attached the pictures from her phone. Scott, I don’t think I ever showed this to you. Not sure how it was forgotten. I assumed it had no value, so feel free to tell me that it doesn’t, and I’ll be happy to move it to the dump.

She added a happy face emoji, signed it, and sent it off. With that done, she got up and did the dishes. She was restless though. And without a walk to Penny’s and Steve’s or Crystal’s houses these days, Doreen felt a little at odds. But she wanted to go for a walk today, as she hadn’t had a chance to get out and stretch her legs.

Chapter 23

Tuesday Late Afternoon …

Doreen cut herself a big wedge of cheese and snagged a second apple. She was being greedy perhaps, but she had burned up enough calories from her gardening work earlier today. Calling the animals to her, she headed out the front door and found herself walking right back down toward Heidi and Aretha’s house. It was foolish of Doreen to go in that direction, but the gardens were beautiful, and, if she could get some more plants, then she would. But, of course, she was walking, so there wouldn’t be much she could take with her.

As she sauntered down the street, she passed the big old house and smiled. It was such a beautiful, elegant home. She saw no sign of anybody outside working, but then it was evening. She walked past more houses, seeing beautiful gardens everywhere she went. It would be lovely to live in this corner of the world. There was just something timeless about it.

But nobody was out and about, no one to even say hello to. She turned around and headed toward home, the animals happy to go in any direction as long as they were out. When they passed Heidi’s house again, Thaddeus started making an odd clucking sound. As she looked down, she saw Goliath, weaving in and out of all the plants in the garden bed.

“Goliath, get out of there,” she urged. He just shot her a look and kept going. Mugs, his tail wagging like crazy, sat at her feet, as if to demonstrate how good he was being. She bent over and scratched him. Immediately Thaddeus cackled this weird ah-ha-ha-ha kind of a sound. She groaned. “I don’t know what’s the matter with you guys, but come on. Let’s go home. You’re a disgrace today.”

“Doreen?” called out a happy, cheerful voice.

She turned to look, and there was Heidi. Doreen smiled and said, “Hi, Heidi.”

“What are you up to?”

Preferring a white lie over sounding like an idiot, Doreen smiled and said, “Well, I headed out my front door to go for a walk, and I’m afraid these crazy animals led me here.”

“Oh, isn’t that lovely,” Heidi said. She bent down to pet Mugs. Then she saw Goliath in the garden, and her smile fell away.

“I’m sorry,” Doreen said. “I’ve been trying to get him out of there.”

“Maybe you should consider a leash,” Heidi said.

Doreen called Goliath, but he lay down in the mulch and just stared at her. She shook her head. “Normally he behaves himself,” she said, “but tonight he’s just being odd.”

Heidi nodded and said, “He didn’t go in the gardens last time, did he?” She looked around distracted. “Of course I might not have noticed, when I was so busy working.”

“No, he was sunning himself on the concrete driveway,” Doreen assured her. She felt uncomfortable because the animals were, indeed, misbehaving. Mugs now wandered closer and lifted a leg on the beautiful peonies. She tugged him back. “Don’t you do that.”

Heidi laughed. “Well, your hands are full. Have a good evening.” She waved and headed back inside.

A little disappointed, Doreen waved back and called Goliath again. When he refused, she snagged him in her arms, which started Thaddeus arguing because the multiple positions were dislodging him from her shoulder.

When she finally straightened up, he spoke sotto voce, “Are you done?”

She stopped and twisted to look at him. “Did you just say that to me?” she gasped.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha.”

“Don’t you do that,” she warned.

“Are you done? Ha-ha-ha-ha.”

Astonished and aghast, Doreen stormed off. When she got to the end of the block, she stopped to turn