Jingle Bell Bark by Laurien Berenson Read Free Book Online

through the opening and shut the door behind us. Compared to the brisk temperature outside, the air inside the house was stiflingly warm. I reached up and unwound my scarf, then unbuttoned my coat. Inside for only a moment, I was already hot.
    â€œI’m Betty Bowen,” the woman said. “Henry and I have been neighbors here for more than twenty years. John and I moved into this house as newlyweds all that time ago. Don’t think we ever expected to be here this long.
    â€œLots of people, they feel the need to trade up when they start a family, but we never did. Good thing too, since John didn’t live past his forty-fifth birthday, and Johnny and I ended up with a house that was mostly paid off so’s we didn’t end up on the street.”
    â€œJohnny?” I asked, even though I knew I probably shouldn’t.
    Betty Bowen reminded me of my next-door neighbor, Edna Silano. Edna was an older woman, living alone, who didn’t have that many people to talk to. Get her started and she would tell you her entire life story, beginning with her trip to America from the old country.
    â€œMy boy. That’s his picture there.” Betty gestured toward the mantelpiece. The wooden ledge was covered with framed photographs. At a glance, they seemed to chronicle the highlights of her son’s life. The most recent picture was a high school graduation shot. Alice walked over for a closer look. If they’d have been dog pictures, I might have done the same. Since they weren’t, I stayed where I was.
    â€œSo you must know Henry pretty well,” I said, trying to steer the conversation back on topic.
    â€œIt’s a terrible, terrible thing.” Betty sighed loudly.
    â€œWhat is?” I asked. Alice looked up.
    â€œWhat happened to poor dear Henry.”
    For a single beat, my heart stood still. I knew I should ask, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
    Alice managed for me. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œI’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you,” Betty said. “But Henry’s gone to his rest. That poor man died the night before last.”

5
    â€œO h no,” I said softly.
    Alice looked similarly stricken. “Henry’s dead?” she repeated.
    Betty simply nodded.
    â€œWhat happened?” I asked. “We just saw him on Monday. It must have been very sudden.”
    â€œIt was,” Betty confirmed. “And unexpected, too. He just keeled right over. I guess it was his heart that went. He was outside with those big dogs of his when it happened. Johnny came right in and called nine-one-one but there wasn’t a thing anybody could do.”
    â€œI’m so sorry to hear that.” There was a chair beside me. I sank into it gratefully. I hadn’t known Henry well, but he had seemed like a genuinely good person. “So you thought we were his daughters?”
    â€œThat’s right. Come to see about the arrangements. I’ve been expecting them for two days now.”
    â€œDo they live around here?” asked Alice.
    â€œNot even close. One’s in California and the other’s in Alaska, if you can believe that. Both all grown up and out on their own. They don’t spend much time around here. Henry’s been in that house a good ten years, and I can’t say that I recall ever meeting either one of them. I assume the authorities have notified them. And they damn well better show up soon because something sure as heck needs to be done about Pepper and Remington.”
    â€œAre they the dogs?” I asked. “The two Golden Retrievers we just saw?”
    â€œThat’s them. Henry loved those two like nobody’s business. Now they’re just sitting over there in that house waiting to see what’s going to happen to them next.”
    I stared at her, horrified. “You mean nobody’s taking care of them?”
    â€œI wouldn’t say that exactly. I’ve looked in