NovelEnglishWhen Maja and lan returned to Greenfield Gardens, lan was already buzzing with excitement, eagerly dialing Tyler's number.
"Hey, you know about Abner, right? He..."
After hanging up, he immediately called Fitch.
"Dude, you won't believe what Abner..."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, and after a careful glance at the screen, Fitch realized it was indeed lan
calling.
He had mistaken it for Tyler initially.
Before Fitch could chin with a warning about Abner's potential retaliation, a loud "Ow!" cthrough the line.
"Maja, why the heck are you pulling my ear?"
"Enough, lan. Why can't you just leave Abner alone?"
Unable to listen any longer, Fitch hung up the phone.
He wasn't in the mood for lovey-dovey stuff, no matter the brand.
He was alone in the mansion. His gaze fell upon two certificates left on the coffee table, brought back from the civil affairs office
and never put away since.
Feeling as if scorched, he scooped up the two red booklets and ascended the stairs.
Ozzy was at the door, barking with joy at his return, tail wagging furiously.
Although there were now two dogs in the mansion, it was clear he favored Ozzy, the scruffy little mutt.
Picking up his furry buddy, he scratched under Ozzy's chin, eliciting a contented sound as the tail wagged even more vigorously.
The nanny nearby was a bit on edge; the sudden addition of two dogs to the house was one thing, but Fitch's affection for one of
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtthem was another revelation.
Fitch used to despise such creatures, deeming them unclean.
Yet now, a single dog hair clung to his expensive suit fabric, seemingly unnoticed as he played with Ozzy.
"Mr.Haskins, perhaps it's best to put him down now; it's tfor his bath."
A twinge of reluctance flickered in Fitch's heart.
"I'll wash him; you take care of the other one."
"Mr.Haskins, there are quite a few things to watch out for when bathing a puppy. I'm worried he might inhale water, and the
temperature has to be just right to avoid a chill."
Fitch relented, handing Ozzy over just as the doorbell rang.
Looking down from the staircase, he saw the housekeeper open the door to receive a parcel.
"Mr.Haskins, it's for you."
Descending the stairs, Fitch took the package.
Small and unassuming, it revealed an even tinier dog tag upon opening.
Engraved on the front — Ozzy.
He flipped it over — Fitch, Zoey.
A date was inscribed between them, with a tiny heart in the middle.
Fitch's heart felt sliced open.
Zoey had ordered this tag shortly after finding Ozzy, and only now had it been delivered.
0Ozzy's barking filled Fitch's ears, yet his mind felt strangely empty, as if something was drifting away, far and far off.
His phone rang again, the familiar n"Sharon Haskins" flashing on the screen.
Before, Sharon had been urging him to meet young ladies from their social circle, but Fitch had bluntly admitted he was already
married.
Sharon, believing he wasn't bluffing, had been pestering him about whom he'd married.
"Sweetheart, I'm not worried about anything else. But this sudden marriage, without letting anyone prepare, aren't you going to
have a wedding? Not even tell friends or family?"
"No need."
"Who gets married like this? Are you avoiding meeting people on purpose, just to pull one over on me?"
"Mom, | really am married, and I'd rather we drop this topic from now on."
Sharon was taken aback by his sharp retort, unsure of what to say next.
Fitch had always been calm, never raising his voice like this.
Was he upset?
She muttered a few more words and hung up.
It was then that Fitch realized his own emotions were amiss.
Clutching the dog tag, he returned upstairs.
Ozzy was happily splashing in his little bath, but when the nanny attempted to use the specialized blow-dryer, the tiny dog,
frightened by the noise, began to whine.
Just as the nanny was about to call for assistance, she spotted Fitch standing in the doorway.
"Mr.Haskins?"
When had he arrived?
Fitch stepped forward, crouching down, and gently covered Ozzy's ears.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Is this better?"
Now the sound was muffled.
The nanny felt a sudden unease; the man's presence was overwhelming.
Yet this commanding figure was now tenderly shielding a puppy's ears.
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