“Crack!” Kat shouted as she tumbled backwards onto her bum, her face and shoulders soaked by the garden hose that had just burst while she was turning on the faucet. “OMG this is not a good day!”
She had turned the inside water valve on and discovered 2 leaks. Then, while trying to adjust the faucet to find the sweet spot that would allow her to water the newly planted grass seed, whilst also not overflowing the bucket she had set below the tap, she had tripped over the old watering can that was cluttering the garage floor. And now an exploding garden hose. Kat got to her feet dripping wet, to discover that her neighbours had popped over for a visit and were quietly standing at the end of the driveway, waiting for her to notice them. Probably also waiting to see if she had gotten herself under control, thought Kat, and that she wasn’t about to shout again or throw the offending hose at anyone.
“Hello there!” Kat attempted a smile, dropped the hose, and stepped towards the elderly couple.
Marge’s eyes twinkled as she returned Kat’s smile, and Ian leaned forward genially to brush an errant leaf from her shoulder. “Nice day for an outdoor shower” he commented “having a wee problem with the hose, are we?”
“What’s one more problem?” Kat grumbled, before stopping herself from saying more. Honestly, what was wrong with her? She was slowly fixing the neglected house she had bought, loving its bones and its location. Some unexpected surprises were not unusual, and were often met with laughter or at least appreciation for the challenge of solving a hands-on problem. Something just seemed to be getting under her skin today, and Kat had a sense she might know what that issue was. Or, more accurately: who that problem was.
The lovely man at the park. Tall, dark haired, deep brown eyes that seemed to know Kat’s inner most secrets, and a happy puppy that loved to play with her own small furry friend. Speaking of which, where was Harper?
Marge and Ian were still standing by, waiting for Kat to come back to earth and stop wool gathering. “I am so sorry!” she exclaimed. “I seem to be unusually distracted this afternoon.”
Marge laughed out loud, and glanced at Ian “this has all the makings of a fine affair of the heart my dear”.
Kat startled, wondering how her neighbour’s piercing eyes could see her inner most thoughts.
Both Marge and Ian chuckled at Kat’s expression. “Best not to add more to the lass’ load right now my dear, stated Ian. Marge nodded. “Have you maybe misplaced your little dog my dear?” she asked Kat.
Kat stilled and suddenly realized that the soft happy-go-lucky voice of her dearest companion was no longer in her mind. Now completely panicked, Kat gasped “Oh no! Harper! I’ve been so consumed with my own problems that I completely ignored her! Have you seen her?”
“Dinna worry lass” Ian soothed in his lilting Irish accent, “she’s down the road playing with another dog. A friend of ours spotted her and snapped her onto his own leash. He phoned us just now, and asked us to let you know. He didn’t have your contact details or he’d have called you directly”.
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