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“How long is further notice?”

“Until I’m ready to leave.” Birdie folded her arms. “Are you already trying to get rid of me?”

“No, but I like to plan ahead.”

“Then plan on me being here until the snow flies…at least.”

Harlow covered her mouth to hide her grin. “Before I forget, Caleb Jackson asked me to remind you the city workers will be by around eleven on Monday morning to flush the hydrants.”

“And I invited him to lunch,” Birdie added.

David shot his daughter a puzzled look. “You want to have lunch with Caleb?”

“I don’t. Aunt Birdie does. I’ll be somewhere else.”

“He’ll be here around twelve thirty.”

Tink.Harlow snatched her cell phone from her lap. It was a message from Eryn, asking if she was interested in going downtown to listen to live music.

Harlow:Yes. Please.

Eryn:I’ll pop in around eight to get you.

Sounds good.She set her phone on her lap and followed her father and aunt inside. “Eryn and I are heading downtown later tonight.”

“I’m glad you’re getting out of the house. It’s card night. Lottie will be here with a dinner dish and cards around seven.”

“You have a date with Lottie?” Harlow eyed her father with interest.

David’s face turned bright red. “I-it’s not a date. It’s card night.”

“Sounds like a date to me,” Birdie sing-songed.

“It also sounds like you need to mind your own business,” her brother snapped.

“Touchy-touchy,” she tsk-tsked.

“You’re trying to turn nothing into something.” Despite her father’s insistence it was a casual evening together, Harlow had sensed an inkling of interest between him and his quirky British gardening lady.

“We play poker, eat casserole and then, weather permitting, we wander around to check out the gardens.”

“I bet you do more than check out gardens,” Birdie muttered in a low voice.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I was going to invite myself to dinner, but I don’t want to be a third wheel.”

“We can eat sandwiches at your place,” Harlow said. “I mean, if you don’t mind.”

“Good idea. Why don’t you invite Eryn? I haven’t seen her in ages.”

“I will.” Harlow texted a quick message, extending the invitation.

Eryn promptly replied:I’ll be there.

Harlow tapped out a confirmation. “What time Aunt Birdie?”

“Let’s plan on around six thirty. It will give us plenty of time to make ourselves scarce before date night starts.”