Harper scooted away from Mitch, then patted the space between them.
Bunny jumped up and sat next to Mitch, looking up at him.
Mitch smiled and scratched the dog on the head. “Hi, sweetie.” He looked at Harper. “She is a nice dog.”
“Maybe they’d let you take her for a little run around the building. Just to see how it goes.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Mitch stood. “What do you think, Bunny? Would you like to run with me?”
Bunny hopped down, looking eager to go.
Mitch kept a firm hold on the leash. “We’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here.” Harper checked odds and ends on her phone and, ten minutes later, Mitch and Bunny came through the door.She put her phone away to give Bunny some love. “Did you have fun?” She looked at Mitch. “How was it?”
Mitch nodded. “She kept up. I don’t think she’d have any issues tagging along on my morning runs. She’s great. I just don’t know about that name.”
The guy who’d brought Bunny in reappeared in the open door. “How was your time outside? How are you getting along?”
“Good,” Mitch said. “Do you think it would be a big deal to change her name?”
“Up to you,” the young man said. “Bunny came in with that name and she does seem to know it. Although her full name is Bunnicula?” He shook his head. “I guess it’s like a kid’s book or something?”
Mitch seemed taken aback by that. He stared at the young man. “Bunny is short for Bunnicula?”
The young man nodded. “Yep. Weird, right?”
Mitch shook his head like something funny had just occurred to him. “Go ahead and get the paperwork started. Bunny’s coming home with me.”
The young man smiled. “Fantastic. I’ll get right on that. See you at the front desk whenever you’re ready.”
Mitch stooped down and picked Bunny up. She licked his face. “Well, you’re a Ripley now, kid.”
Harper stood and joined him. “What was that all about? It seemed like you weren’t sure about her, then all of a sudden you had to have her. What gives?”
He scratched one of Bunny’s ears, holding her close. “Do you know the book,Bunnicula?”
“Sure. It’s about a vampire bunny that sucks the life out of vegetables.”
Mitch was all smiles. “It was one of my favorite books as a kid. My mom read it to me all the time. It’s probably why I write what I do now.” He kissed Bunny on the head. “The name stays.”
Chapter Eight
Joyce was knackered. There was no other word for it. Beryl had to feel the same. They took the lift to the main floor of the guest house, where Beryl promptly dropped her purse on the kitchen counter and herself onto the couch.
Joyce set her purse next to her sister’s. “That was a day, wasn’t it?”
“It was. Tremendous fun, but I am done in.” Beryl toed her shoes off and smiled. “Actually, it was rather exciting, wasn’t it? I could do that again.”
“You just said you were done in.” Joyce went into the kitchen and put the kettle on. Tea would be simple. Maybe eggs and chips. Or beans on toast.
“I am, but today was brilliant. Honestly, it was the most fun I’ve ever had. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Wouldn’t you?”
Joyce got teabags and cups out of the cabinet. “I suppose I would, yes. If I could do it with you.” The kettle clicked off, indicating the water was ready. She made the tea and brought it over, setting the cups down on the coffee table. “It was nice to do something together like that, wasn’t it?”
“It was wonderful.” Beryl let out a happy sigh. “Oh, Joycie, you live the life, you do. All these famous friends and this houseby the water and that dear, sweet Ruthie. I wish I could stay forever.”
“Why don’t you then?”
