Chapter 22

“I’m just not used to all these stairs.” She runs hot water. “Some woman brought three boxes from the bank. She’d been crying. I could tell. They’re by your office bookcase.”

How awful that Andy’s assistant was given this unenviable cleanup before being tossed back into the secretarial pool. She secretly loved Andy. She would stay as late as he, unasked. I’m sure the packing peanuts inside are still damp with her tears.

Mom scoops up the matching silver dog bowls that say Gertrude and Noel.

“Leave those, please.”

“Just going to wipe them out, honey.”

I hand her a paw-shaped card I’d opened. “Everyone from the dog groomers signed it.”

She sets aside her soapy cloth. “That’s sweet.”

Then I offer the window envelope that was in the same stack of mail. “Here’s the bill they sent separately.”

She polishes Gertrude’s bowl. “Remember when I took up dog grooming? When I became Werewolf Mom?”