Free Games of the Heart (Crimson Romance) by Eva Shaw Page A

It won’t shock you to know I’d hoped for a male, even a snoring one, but a male pooch wasn’t not what I’d had in mind.
    • • •
    In less than two days’ time, I had gone from being miserably, pitifully lonesome to cohabitating with two of the sloppiest humans on the face of God’s green earth, plus a canine, in a condo that had shrunk to the size of a peanut. Speaking of Tuffy, he never walked anywhere, but sped like Satan himself was about to pull that little stub of a tail.
    The place was a pigpen. It might even stink. And the funny part? I could not remember being happier, most of all because my grandfather was smiling. As my Polish grandmother used to say, “Have fun now, Jane. Those dirty dishes aren’t going anywhere.” She was right. It had been too long since I’d had family that I didn’t recognize the emotion of joy when it landed on me like I’d landed on the newspaper reporter.
    Around me, of course, Harmony was still the kid who clammed up. Yeah, it was me, because with Gramps? She was Miss Motor Mouth, a real Chatty Cathy. They seemed to have their funny bones in the same location, joking like buds. Standing at the breakfast bar the next morning, I swallowed more coffee, not wanting to think that a few years ago, I was his only pal. I was now a grown-up minister, I told myself, and only half listening to Gramps sketch their plans for that day.
    “Janey, we’re goin’ to the doggie park. I just Googled them, and we’ve got a choice of four.” He pointed to the patio where Harmony and Tuffy were romping in the early morning heat.
    “How did Harmony think she’d be able to hide him from me? Didn’t matter. The dog was out of the closet so to speak. He’s shampooed, fluffed and … ” I finished the coffee. “Don’t you think he’s some kind of ratty terrier in that squirming body?”
    Gramps fished his keys off the counter and Harmony and the dog joined us. “After the park, we’re going to the super pet store for some super pet food for this super dog, maybe get him a new leash. Yeah, a new leash on life, that’s what this pooch needs, right, Miss Harmony? I understand, because he’s a lot like me, Jane. We’d probably better buy a comb. Unless it’s okay that he keeps using yours?” He turned to me, and I stuck my tongue out in reply. “Didn’t think so. Get his old leash, Harmony, will you? Oh, yeah, Harmony and I decided the dog needs a real name. Yep, it’s going to be Tough E. Angieski,” Gramps rattled on, spilling breakfast dishes in the sink, splashing water on the oatmeal that would turn to mortar. He high-fived Harmony before she dashed down the hall.
    “Our last name?” I did a double take from the mess in the sink to my grandfather’s face. While I was still sighing over the fact that I wasn’t going to have a new step-grandmother, giving a dog with our last name was creepy.
    “Lighten up, Jane baby,” he growled in a whisper and I snapped to, just like when I was Harmony’s age. “That’s what she wanted. She said you’d go postal, but I argued you’d be okay. She worries what think of her, you know.”
    “She likes me … ” I trailed off, thinking that she didn’t hardly say anything to me, didn’t initiate conversations. On the plus side, her dog’s fur was fabulous. My hairdresser would love this.
    I’d just finished the above lie to myself when Harmony walked back into the room. Gramps turned to her. “Ready for the park and the store, Miss Harmony?” And she nodded as Gramps said, “We’re off, and eventually will head to the market. We need snacks. Thought we might stop at the Senior Center to see if Petra’s there.” Gramps gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.
    “Harmony.” I smiled as brightly as a toothpaste commercial. “I think your dog’s new -name is perfect.” And with that I won a flicker of a smile. My day was made, at least for another twenty minutes.
    Tough E. Angieski yapped, making victory laps, then dashed to