“You told me you find it difficult to talk to strangers.”
“I do, but in this instance we bonded over our concern for Madi. Did you know Judy has a Shih Tzu?”
“A—what?” Was that a disease he hadn’t heard of?
“A Shih Tzu—it’s a breed of dog.”
“No. I didn’t know that.” Ethan flung his coat across the nearest chair. “I’m learning from you every day.”
“Turns out she’s finding it hard to walk it herself, so I’ve promised to take him out as I’m in the building anyway with Madi.”
“So apart from being Mrs. Crouch’s new best friend and picking up some business along the way, what else happened?”
Harriet hesitated. “Judy wasn’t super happy about the howling.”
“I’m not super happy, either.” Ethan gave Madi a look, and she looked right back. He was learning that dogs had particularly expressive faces. “She howled for most of the night.”
“Oh no!” Harriet sounded appalled. “The poor thing.”
Ethan leaned against the kitchen counter, not sure whether to be amused or exasperated. “Don’t I deserve a tiny scrap of sympathy?”
“Were you anxious and frightened?”
He held her gaze. “I was terrified. I cried all night. Shivered and sobbed like a baby.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Somehow I can’t picture that.”
“Well, maybe not sobbed, exactly, that would have required energy and I didn’t have any. I don’t know why. Oh wait, it was because I had a dog howling in my ear when I should have been sleeping.”
Harriet knelt on the floor and hugged Madi. “Were you scared in a strange place? Were you uncomfortable?”
“I can assure you she slept in maximum comfort in the middle of my king-size bed. Someone needs to teach her to share.”
“The topic of where to sleep in a king-size bed isn’t generally covered at dog obedience.” Harriet stood up. “You shouldn’t have let her sleep on your bed. That’s bad.”
“Tell me about it.”
“You’re teaching her bad habits.”
“She came to me with those habits fully formed.”
“She should have slept in her crate.”
Ethan folded his arms. “And if you have any useful tips on how to persuade her to do that, I’m listening.”
“Did you try soothing her with your voice?”
“I tried everything short of pouring her a whiskey and singing her a lullaby.”
Harriet gave him an exasperated look. “How did she end up on your bed?”
“I opened the crate and she ran. She clearly has some sort of inbuilt radar for supreme comfort.”
“Why didn’t you speak to her firmly and take her back?”
“I did. Several times. But she started howling, and having to move apartments because my neighbors hate me is a high price to pay for a few nights helping my sister. I had to be fit for work today so in the end I left her where she was.”
“In the middle of the bed?”