Read Online Heather Horrocks - Who-Dun-Him Inn 02 - Inn the Doghouse by Heather Horrocks - Free Book Online Page A

forehead. “Hey, bug, I’m going to bed. I’m so tired, I can hardly stand.”
    “Hard day at work?” Grandma asked, sporting her karate outfit with a black belt I was pretty sure she hadn’t earned.
    “Just trying to get caught up.” Liz turned to Zach. “Will you forgive me if I don’t go tonight?”
    He nodded. “You can go to bed, Aunt Liz. Grandma will go.”
    “Grandma has a date,” announced our grandmother.
    “Oh, really,” I said. “Who with? Old Man Myers?”
    “No. With a much younger man.” She looked up. “And here he is now.”
    I was surprised to see Lonny entering the Inn. He greeted us.
    “You expect us to believe you’re dating Lonny?” Liz managed to lift an eyebrow. “Wearing that getup? And why are you wearing a black belt?”
    “It’s a free country and it’s Halloween. I can pretty much wear whatever I want.” She turned to Lonny and pulled him in for a friendly hug.
    “Are you ready to go, Zach?” Lonny asked. He was dressed as a bird in a cage. I’m not sure how he managed it, but he was wearing a bird costume over his coat. The entire cage was constructed around him.
    I started to laugh. “How did you even fit that thing into your vehicle?”
    He looked injured, but I knew he was faking it. “This is going to win the costume contest.”
    “I have no doubt.” I reached through the bars of the cage and squeezed his arm. “You look good. I just have one question.”
    “What?”
    “Polly want a cracker?”
    He shook his head and turned to my grandmother. “When are you going to let me join you in karate class?”
    “You want to go with me?” Grandma looked delighted.
    “Sure. Why not?” Lonny asked. “I want to learn how to kick some butt, too.”
    “It’s on Wednesday nights. So not until next week.”
    My son said, “Better go buy your butt-kicking costume.”
    “Zach!” I protested.
    “My butt-kicking costume is pronounced Gi in Japanese,” Grandma corrected.
    Liz hugged Lonny before turning to us all. “Have fun.”
    “You’re not going?” Lonny asked.
    Liz shook her head and simply said, “Not tonight.”
    “See you later, then.” Lonny turned to us. “Hey, Cruella, looking good.” He started humming the Disney song, too.
    “Thanks,” I said, rolling my eyes.
    Outside, it was only forty-five degrees, so I was glad we all wore costumes that allowed for coats underneath.
    As we climbed in Lonny’s older model Ford truck, Zach said, “Mom, can we go to Germy’s house to trick-or-treat?”
    “A puppy won’t fit in your bag, Zach.”
    “I know, but I could just hold one. For a minute.”
    “Oh, sweetie, we can go over there, but I’m serious about a puppy. I can’t have one here. Not with all the guests coming and going, and having to house train it.”
    “Mom.” Zach looked up at me seriously. “I will house train the puppy. I will feed it. I will take care of it. You don’t have to do anything. I promise .”
    I looked down at my adorable seven-year-old son, freckles spraying his cheeks, his brown eyes hopeful. Those he got from me, while the determined chin came straight from Robert. I didn’t know how much longer before I would cave to adorable son pressure. “And we need to get to Paul’s neighborhood to trick-or-treat with the girls.”
    “Mom—” he began.
    “No puppies,” I said softly.
    Disappointed, he half pouted. “Okay. Come on, Charlie,” he called to his imaginary dog to jump up on the seat with him.
    I sighed. I wasn’t cut out to play the tough parent, and was about to cave when Lonny nudged me. “He’ll be okay.”
    I looked at my friend. “You think?”
    He nodded. “Be strong.”
    I laughed. “Thanks.”
    His smile was as hopeful as Zach’s smile had been. But he didn’t ask for another date—or a puppy.

 
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    Thursday, November 3
     
    IT ALWAYS AMAZED ME HOW one small thing could change everything that followed.
    Three days after Halloween, one of those small things