And she’s not alone.
Exiting the car, I take the steps two at a time up my front steps. “What are you doing here with that thing?”
“Oh, hello. Good evening to you too, Grumpy Griffin,” Nan jokes.
“Stop calling me that.”
She shrugs. “I just call it like I see it.”
“If I’m so grumpy, why do you keep showing up at my house?”
“It’s a nice one. Pretty views. Lovely neighbors. Quiet. You know.” She rattles off each thing while counting with her fingers.
I narrow my eyes. “You have the same views on your side of town. See that mountain.” I point in the distance. “You can see that same one from your porch.”
She lifts a shoulder but says nothing.
“What are you doinghere, Nan?”
Her face lights up as she pets the mutt’s head. “I’m dog sittin’.”
“The neighbor’s dog?”
“Yep.” She holds the dog up by its front paws, and I take a step back.
“Come on. Isn’t Reggie so cute?” she coos.
“That fucking dog’s name isReggie?”
“Reggie is short for Reginald.” Nan covers the dog’s ears as if it has feelings. “Don’t curse in front of little ears.”
I throw my head back and groan in frustration.
“His mom got a new job in town and is attending a brief orientation. You know how we work around here,” she emphasizes. “We offer little training and like to throw newbies right into the flames. So I offered to watch this little cutie for a bit.”
“That thing is not cute.”
“Ignore Mr. Grumpy Griffin, little guy,” she says to the dog with a cutesy tone. “He’s the meanest on the block. And you’re the cutest thing here.”
“I’m the only one on the block.”
“Not no more,” she huffs.
“So why are you here and not on her porch? Or sitting out by the lake?”
“What if the dog drowns, Griffin? And besides, she doesn’t have a large porch. And I counted about seven nails sticking out on the railing while the dog took care of his business. No, thank you. But don’t you worry”—she squiggles a finger in the air—“she’s planning to fix her up real good one day. She’s going to make it bigger too.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Can she do that?”
Nan barks out a laugh. “I doubt it. She’s a city girl through and through. I mean, did you see the Benz? Whoa, nelly. Fancy pantsy,” she jokes before her laughter dies down. “But hey, I’m interested in seeing her try.”
I roll my eyes.
“You gonna let us in or not?” Nan asks. “We’re hungry.”
“Fine. But that thing stays out here.”
“He’s hungry too,” she whines.
