Neighborhood Watch (17 page)

“They don’t have a little boy, honey. Not everyone has children.”

“She has a little boy somewhere. She said so.”

“What did she say?”

“She said . . . she said Bradley likes the big puppet doll, the one that looks like a pirate.

She said he always wants to play with it.”

“You mean Mrs. Slater said he used to want to play with it, right? Not wants.”

Jennifer shrugged.

“Where’s Mr. Sniffles?”

“Outside, doing his tinkle, honey.”

“Don’t forget to bring him in to sleep, too.”

“I won’t.”

Jennifer crawled into bed and Kristin pulled the blanket up to her chin and tucked her in.

She stroked her hair and smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek.

“Mommy?”

“What, honey?”

“Mrs. Slater is a nice lady.”

“I’m glad you like her, honey.”

“Can I really go see her again? Can I?”

“I suppose so. She said so.”

“I’ll bring Mr. Sniffles next time,” Jennifer suggested.

“I don’t think so, honey.” She sighed, put out the light and went to the living room to join Ted. He was sitting on the sofa, thumbing through the booklet of CC and R’s.

“Think it’ll make a good movie?” she asked. He looked up quickly.

“Most of this is good, you know. They’re not completely off the wall.”

“Did you see that woman? She’s memorized that whole book, and then she memorized

your letter, Ted. She memorized it!”

“I know.” He smiled and shook his head. “She’s a piece of work. I’ll admit that, but the others are just doing what they think is right to do. You never know what you would do until you’re in their seat,” he added.

“I know what I would do, Ted. I would remember that there are people living in the

houses, not marionettes.”

Before he could reply, the phone rang. He reached for the receiver on the side table.

“Hello.”

“Ted, Philip. I’m afraid the committee feels it can’t grant the variance. What we did agree to do is reevaluate the restriction at our next monthly board meeting. The residents will be so informed and they can give their trustees input or even attend the session.

You’re welcome to attend, of course; but for now, you’ll have to get rid of the dog.”

“That’s too bad,” Teddy said.

“It’s just a little glitch, Ted. Don’t let this discolor your view of the development and the value it has. You’re living in the best place and you got it at a more than reasonable price.

Most people would jump at the opportunity.”

“I realize that.”

“Just put that up against this little problem and you’ll see how insignificant all this is.”

“Right,” Teddy said.

“I’m sure you and Kristin will turn out to be some of our most highly respected and treasured residents,” Philip concluded.

“You don’t have to tell me what he said,” Kristin said as soon as Teddy hung up. “I’m going to sleep.”

“Kristin.”

She spun around.

“What if we defied them, Ted? What if we refused to give up Mr. Sniffles?”

“They can fine us first and then they can go to court and get a judgment against us. The court would have the police remove the dog, if necessary. It’s all here,” he said indicating the booklet. “Besides, that would make us look so bad to everyone else.”

She nodded.

“You mean, as bad as Angela Del Marco?”

“I guess,” he said. Kristin thought a moment.

“You know what I think you should do? I think you should get rid of the dog tonight. I don’t want to have to watch Jennifer play with Mr. Sniffles in the morning. Do that, will you, Ted.”

He looked at his watch.

“Pet store will be closed.”

“Just give it away. Give it to the animal shelter. Just get it out!”

“All right,” he said. “This is all my fault, Kristin. I should have read the restrictions and known.”

“You can believe that if you want,” she said. “As far as I’m concerned, they’re all a bunch of bastards.”

She walked away before he could respond. He sat thinking for a few moments and then rose and went out to get the puppy. It had curled up by the patio door and fallen asleep. It whimpered a bit and its body jerked with what Ted imagined were dog nightmares.

Probably misses its mother, Teddy thought and considered that to be a good explanation for Jennifer in the morning.

Teddy lifted the dog gently. It woke and immediately started to lick his hand. He

laughed, put it in the box bed, and carried the dog in the bed out to the garage. He placed the dog on the passenger seat and started the car. Then he raised the garage door and backed out.

He lowered his window at the security gate and Spier, who was on duty, approached.

“There’s an animal shelter about two miles or so off Route Seventeen, right?” Teddy asked.

“Yes, sir. I can call and tell them you’re coming. An older couple runs it and they don’t hear people come up to the shelter this time of night sometimes. They live in the rear.”

“Thank you.”

Spier nodded at the puppy.

“Didn’t think you could keep a dog here, sir,” he said.

“I didn’t realize the guard had noticed when I brought him in,” Teddy said.

“We noticed during door rounds that you had a puppy.”

“I see. You guys don’t miss much, do you?”

“Try not to, sir. It’s why we get paid so well,” he added nearly smiling. Then he returned to the booth and opened the gate. “I’ll call the shelter,” he said as Teddy drove out.

At least they take good care of us, he thought. When he returned, Spier stepped out and asked if it all had gone well.

“Yes, thank you. How long have you been a security guard at Emerald Lakes, Harold?”

Teddy asked him.

“I was the first, sir. There are five of us now, splitting shifts, with Chuck Ryan subbing now and then.”

“And what’s been the most serious breach of security since you’ve been here? Nothing more serious than a puppy, I hope.”

“I don’t know if I could say, Doctor Morris. All our monthly reports are on file with the board of trustees. Why don’t you read them and decide,” Spier replied.

“I might,” Teddy said and drove in wondering why a security guard would be so cautious about the things he said to the residents.

The next morning Kristin realized there was no good time for getting rid of Mr. Sniffles.

Jennifer was so devastated, Kristin almost kept her home from school. Teddy talked her out of it.

“It’s better if she doesn’t lay around and pout, Kristin.”

“Why did Mr. Sniffles have to go back to his mother? Why, Daddy?” Jennifer pursued.

“Well, you would be sad if you were taken from Mommy, wouldn’t you?”

Jennifer nodded.

“So, don’t be selfish.”

“Oh, Teddy. Blaming her?”

“I’m just using reverse psychology,” he muttered.

“You’re just trying to rationalize away something you know is an injustice,” she said bitterly. “You’re using reverse psychology on yourself.”

“He was too little yet, Jennifer,” he said, ignoring Kristin.

“Will he come back when he’s older?” she asked quickly. Teddy looked at Kristin, who had a tight smile of satisfaction. She wasn’t going to bail him out.

“We’ll see,” he said.

“That’s giving her false hope,” Kristin whispered.

“They’re meeting on the restriction, Kristin. Maybe our appeal will get them to change it.”

“Maybe it will snow in hell,” she said.

“Jesus.” He grabbed his jacket. “I’m going to work,” he muttered and charged down the hall to the garage.

“I miss Mr. Sniffles,” Jennifer said, sadly looking toward the patio.

“Me too, honey.”

Kristin got her to go to school, believing Teddy was right. For most of the day at least, she would be occupied. Late in the morning when Kristin had just settled down to tinker at the piano, the door buzzer rang. She opened it to confront a young delivery man from Smith and Wilson’s Pet Shop.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Delivery, ma’am.”

“What is it?” He held a large box in his arms.

“Aquarium,” he said. “I’m here to set it up for you.”

“Aquarium? I didn’t buy any aquarium.”

“It’s a gift, I guess. Card’s in the box with the fish food, gravel, and greenery. Where would you like this? It would look real nice on that shelf there with the plants behind it,”

he said nodding at the flower box. “Kind of blends in. Ma’am?” he said when she didn’t respond.

“What? Oh. Yes, I suppose so.”

He smiled and entered the house. She stood back and watched him take the aquarium out of the box. It was a fairly good size.

“Got some nice fish for you, too,” he said. “Guppies and goldfish, of course, and some angelfish and black Mollies. Oh. Here’s the card,” he said plucking it out of another box.

“I’ll just get the fish and start filling your tank.”

“Thank you,” she said, stepping back to take the card out of the envelope.

Dear Teddy and Kristin,

I know this doesn’t compensate, but I thought it might help with Jennifer during the transition.Please accept it and my apologies for an unpleasant event. Let this be the last glitch.

Sincerely,

Phil Slater

Her first impulse was to send it all back and say something like, “Sorry, it doesn’t fit our personal CC and R’s,” but she knew how Teddy would react to that. Then she thought

about Marilyn Slater and how nice she had been to Jennifer. Her suspicion was Marilyn got Philip to do this. Jennifer would be amused by it and it might very well help ease the situation. Reluctantly, she admitted to herself that it was a nice gesture.

She went to the phone to call Teddy.

“You’re kidding,” he said. “That is really nice of him.”

“Maybe it’s his way of relieving his own guilt,” Kristin said.

“Maybe we should just say thank you. He didn’t have to do that.”

“You say thank you.”

“I will. Jeez, I can’t wait to get home and see it. How big did you say it was?”

“One thing is for sure, Teddy,” she replied smiling at the opportunity, “it’s not more than six feet in length, three feet in width and three feet in height.”

Even he had to laugh.

“Memorized it already? See. Nikki Stanley isn’t so weird after all,” he said.

“Oh, yes she is, Teddy. Yes, she is.”

After she hung up, she went to look at the completely installed aquarium. She had to admit it was pretty, and interesting to watch the fish. When Jennifer returned from school, she was crying.

“What happened, honey?” Kristin asked as soon as she greeted her.

“They said Mr. Sniffles was dead. They said he had to be killed for coming here.”

“Who said that? Who said such a horrible thing?”

“Graham and Heather.”

“Nikki Stanley’s two creatures. It fits. No, honey. Mr. Sniffles is not dead. He’s back with his mother and his brothers and sisters.”

“Will he come back, Mommy? Will he?”

She sighed. Sometimes, little white lies are better.

“Yes,” she said. “Someday he will. But come inside. There’s a surprise,” she added and took her hand.

When Jennifer saw the aquarium and the fish, her eyes brightened and she stopped

crying. She sat in front of the glass case and watched the fish for over an hour. Kristin told her she would be the one to feed them, too. She was no longer crying over Mr.

Sniffles.

One way or another, Kristin thought as she watched her child change from a mourner to a happy little girl again, they get what they want here.

One way or another.

8

BY THE END OF THE WEEK, Kristin thought life at Emerald Lakes had finally settled

down for Teddy, Jennifer, and her. The incident with Mr. Sniffles was over and done.

Jennifer, occupied with her tropical fish and with her new playmates, stopped asking about the dog. On Friday, Teddy came home bursting with good news. His medical group had picked up the laundry employees and Hank Porter had been clearly informed that it was mainly because of the nice things the owners had heard about Doctor Morris. Now, a second business was knocking on the door.

“Hank’s thinking about us buying out a neighboring group and he’s been talking to some government people about us picking up government contracts. We made the right move, honey. Boy, did we make the right move,” Teddy said. He suggested a celebration and once again asked her to look into the baby-sitting services recommended in the directory.

She called Jean Levine.

“Oh, I’m so glad you phoned me. I thought you were angry about what happened with

your dog and blamed me for it.”

“I don’t blame anyone in particular,” Kristin said. “It’s a matter of collective guilt.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not important. What I’m calling about are baby-sitters. I thought you would know.”

“Oh, yes, I do. We use either Steffi Thomas or Laurie Porter. They’re both very reliable and, if you look in the directory, both have four stars by their names.”

“Yes, what does that mean exactly?”

“They’ve received the highest recommendations.”

“Who does this, finds out all this stuff and assigns the stars?”

“Nikki, mostly. I’m supposed to help, but by the time I call someone for feedback,

Nikki’s already done it.”

“Dedicated individual,” Kristin said dryly.

“Oh, yes. Nikki’s made the development her life.”

“How . . . nice. Sorta like a woman becoming a nun.” Jean trickled a laugh. “All right.

I’ll call one of those two. Thanks.”

“We might lose a resident,” Jean said quickly, anticipating Kristin’s ending the

conversation.

“Oh?”

“The Del Marcos.” She lowered her voice. “It’s just a rumor now, but I heard their

marital troubles are more serious.”

“How do you hear these things?”

“A little bird,” Jean said laughing. She changed her tone of voice quickly to add,

“Angela lodged a formal complaint against our security people, you know.”

“Angela lodged? What about her husband?”

“He didn’t join in the complaint. That might be one reason for their problems. Anyway, Nikki says the development has a way of weeding out those who don’t belong.”