Read Online When the Cookie Crumbles by Virginia Lowell - Free Book Online
Authors: Virginia Lowell
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a place of my own again. That’ll be weird, but…hey, the good news is Struts said I could have my old job back.”
“That’s great!” Olivia wasn’t surprised. Struts Marinsky owned Struts & Bolts, Chatterley Heights’s garage. She was a gifted mechanic and a great boss. She recognized skill when she saw it. “It’ll be good to have you around again.”
“Don’t get all mushy on me. Bye.” Click.
Happily distracted by Jason’s news, Olivia strolled another block before she realized Spunky was retracing their morning route to the Chatterley Mansion. And no wonder. Duringtheir visit to the mansion that morning, Hermione Chatterley had slipped Spunky a bite of meat. Olivia had not objected, but only because she’d hoped for Hermione’s help to convince Paine to open the mansion to strangers. Naturally Spunky would head back in hopes of another tasty treat.
“I’m on to you, kiddo,” Olivia said to her determined little dog. “Let me remind you that I am bigger than you, and I’m not about to follow you back to that mansion for every walk from now to infirmity.”
Spunky paid no attention. He turned north onto Sycamore Street, which would eventually lead them past the mansion. When Olivia slowed her pace, Spunky strained at his leash until it pulled his front paws off the sidewalk. Olivia picked him up and tucked him under her arm. “You’re lucky I bought you a harness leash so you wouldn’t strangle yourself,” she muttered. Spunky let out a yap in response.
“Shush, boy.” Something in her voice made an impression on the Yorkie, who for once obeyed her command. They had come within sight of Chatterley Mansion, where Olivia saw a car parked in front. The car, a red Cadillac, looked familiar. As she crossed Frederick Street and headed north up Sycamore, she saw the driver’s door open. A shapely leg emerged, followed by the rest of Mayor Karen Evanson. Karen paused to straighten the jacket of her suit and fluff her hair before striding toward the Chatterleys’ front door.
Olivia’s first thought was to call her mother and tell her she was a genius. But she wanted to put some distance between herself and the Chatterley Mansion in case Karen glanced down the street while she waited for someone to answer the front door. Knowing Karen, she would corral Olivia into helping her manipulate Paine Chatterley. Going around the block was Olivia’s safest option.
“Sorry, Spunks, no forbidden treats this evening. We’regoing home.” As she bent to put Spunky down, he jerked the leash from her grasp. She grabbed at him, but he was too quick for her. Olivia sprinted after him, consoling herself that at least he was heading north, not toward the mansion’s front door. Spunky, though, had another surprise for her. He suddenly veered to the right and disappeared. Olivia realized at once that he’d found the alley behind the Chatterley Mansion. Perhaps it was merely a coincidence, but Olivia suspected he’d planned the whole maneuver.
Olivia followed Spunky into the alley, strolling, in case anyone was watching. At first, she couldn’t see the tiny dog ahead of her. Then she spotted him next to a short trash can behind Chatterley Mansion, his tail wagging at warp speed. Spunky was positioning himself for a jump. Before Olivia could capture him, his little hind legs and fluffy tail disappeared inside the can.
“Oh, Spunky…” Olivia peered into the can. Garbage filled about half of it, which might explain why it hadn’t toppled as Spunky leaped inside. A furry Yorkie face gazed up with delight, though not at the sight of his mistress. Between his teeth, he held a piece of red meat. To be precise, a small steak, cooked rare. “You are a bad, bad boy.” Olivia’s admonition had no effect, probably because she’d whispered it.
Olivia reached into the can and clutched the meat with her bare hands. As she tried to pull it out of Spunky’s mouth, he growled and backed up to the edge of the garbage
“That’s great!” Olivia wasn’t surprised. Struts Marinsky owned Struts & Bolts, Chatterley Heights’s garage. She was a gifted mechanic and a great boss. She recognized skill when she saw it. “It’ll be good to have you around again.”
“Don’t get all mushy on me. Bye.” Click.
Happily distracted by Jason’s news, Olivia strolled another block before she realized Spunky was retracing their morning route to the Chatterley Mansion. And no wonder. Duringtheir visit to the mansion that morning, Hermione Chatterley had slipped Spunky a bite of meat. Olivia had not objected, but only because she’d hoped for Hermione’s help to convince Paine to open the mansion to strangers. Naturally Spunky would head back in hopes of another tasty treat.
“I’m on to you, kiddo,” Olivia said to her determined little dog. “Let me remind you that I am bigger than you, and I’m not about to follow you back to that mansion for every walk from now to infirmity.”
Spunky paid no attention. He turned north onto Sycamore Street, which would eventually lead them past the mansion. When Olivia slowed her pace, Spunky strained at his leash until it pulled his front paws off the sidewalk. Olivia picked him up and tucked him under her arm. “You’re lucky I bought you a harness leash so you wouldn’t strangle yourself,” she muttered. Spunky let out a yap in response.
“Shush, boy.” Something in her voice made an impression on the Yorkie, who for once obeyed her command. They had come within sight of Chatterley Mansion, where Olivia saw a car parked in front. The car, a red Cadillac, looked familiar. As she crossed Frederick Street and headed north up Sycamore, she saw the driver’s door open. A shapely leg emerged, followed by the rest of Mayor Karen Evanson. Karen paused to straighten the jacket of her suit and fluff her hair before striding toward the Chatterleys’ front door.
Olivia’s first thought was to call her mother and tell her she was a genius. But she wanted to put some distance between herself and the Chatterley Mansion in case Karen glanced down the street while she waited for someone to answer the front door. Knowing Karen, she would corral Olivia into helping her manipulate Paine Chatterley. Going around the block was Olivia’s safest option.
“Sorry, Spunks, no forbidden treats this evening. We’regoing home.” As she bent to put Spunky down, he jerked the leash from her grasp. She grabbed at him, but he was too quick for her. Olivia sprinted after him, consoling herself that at least he was heading north, not toward the mansion’s front door. Spunky, though, had another surprise for her. He suddenly veered to the right and disappeared. Olivia realized at once that he’d found the alley behind the Chatterley Mansion. Perhaps it was merely a coincidence, but Olivia suspected he’d planned the whole maneuver.
Olivia followed Spunky into the alley, strolling, in case anyone was watching. At first, she couldn’t see the tiny dog ahead of her. Then she spotted him next to a short trash can behind Chatterley Mansion, his tail wagging at warp speed. Spunky was positioning himself for a jump. Before Olivia could capture him, his little hind legs and fluffy tail disappeared inside the can.
“Oh, Spunky…” Olivia peered into the can. Garbage filled about half of it, which might explain why it hadn’t toppled as Spunky leaped inside. A furry Yorkie face gazed up with delight, though not at the sight of his mistress. Between his teeth, he held a piece of red meat. To be precise, a small steak, cooked rare. “You are a bad, bad boy.” Olivia’s admonition had no effect, probably because she’d whispered it.
Olivia reached into the can and clutched the meat with her bare hands. As she tried to pull it out of Spunky’s mouth, he growled and backed up to the edge of the garbage
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