Moonlight over Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love 6)

Evan? Earl?

“Easier said than done. I’m afraid my legs might give out on me. If that happened, I’d drop on the sidewalk and everyone would just step over me.”

“So you need to walk with someone you know. Like me. It would give you a little confidence to have someone to grab if you needed to.”

“You’re here to walk my dog. Not me. You’re a dog walker, not a human walker.”

“I walk some humans. Exceptional humans, like you. We can take Harvey together.” Harriet broke three eggs into a bowl and whisked them together with fresh herbs she’d grown on her windowsill. “He’d love the attention. Can you imagine him out walking with two women? What a boost to his self-esteem.”

“His self-esteem doesn’t need a boost. He already thinks he’s king. What are you doing?”

“I’m making you a delicious omelet. I’m not taking you walking unless you have food in your tummy.” Harriet tipped the eggs into a skillet and turned up the heat. “I’m adding a little cheese and spinach. Good for your bones.”

“My bones are beyond help. I don’t think I can walk today, honey.”

“Just a short walk,” Harriet coaxed. “A few steps. One block.”

Glenys sighed. “You’re a bully.”

“I know.” Harriet punched the air with her fist and Glenys laughed.

“You shouldn’t be wasting your time with a decrepit old lady.”

“I love your company and I love to cook. Since Fliss moved out, I only have myself to cook for and it’s boring.” Harriet tipped a perfect omelet onto a plate and added a chunk of crusty bread. “Now sit down and eat.”

“I hate eating alone.”

“You’re not eating alone.” Harriet cut a slice of bread for herself and tried not to think what it would do to her thighs. It wasn’t as if anyone but her was going to see her thighs. Suppressing that depressing thought, she reached for the butter. “I’m eating too.”

“So did you take your ankle to the doctor?”

“I went to the ER. And wasted their time as it turned out, because it wasn’t broken.” She took a bite of bread and made a mental note to bake some chocolate chip cookies for her next visit. Everyone loved her chocolate chip cookies. The original recipe had been her grandmother’s but Harriet had made a few small adjustments over time. It was as close as she had ever come to rebellion.

No I will not use one spoonful of vanilla. I’m using two, so take that.

Pitiful.

Glenys poked at her eggs. “That’s not a waste of anyone’s time. What if it had been broken?”

“My life would have been made difficult.” She thought of the array of people in the waiting room. It had been horribly crowded and it wasn’t even snowy yet. “I’m guessing that department gets super busy in the winter so I’m going to watch where I tread.”

“Tell me more about the sexy doctor in the emergency room who looked at your ankle.”

“I never said he was sexy.”

“Doctors are always sexy. Doesn’t matter how they look, just being a doctor makes them sexy. Was he dark or blond?”

“Eat your eggs and I’ll tell you.” She waited while Glenys ate a forkful. “Dark. Black hair, blue eyes.”

“The best combination. My Charlie had blue eyes. It was the first thing I noticed about him.”

“It was the first thing I noticed too.” That and the fact that his eyes had been tired. Not tired from lack of sleep, more tired from life.

Maybe that was what working in the ER did for you. It had to take a toll. It would have drained her, dealing with so many people in trouble. Handling all that pain and anxiety.

“Maybe it’s a sign.” Glenys took another small mouthful of omelet. “The start of a perfect relationship. Maybe you’ll be together forever.”

Harriet laughed. “Unless I break the other ankle, I won’t be seeing him again. And maybe he was sexy, but he didn’t smile enough for me. He was a little intimidating if I’m honest.”