She was about to head back upstairs when she heard the buzzer.
It had to be someone who lived in the building, otherwise the doorman would have called.
In the time she’d been staying here the only person who had arrived directly at the door was Judy when she’d come to complain about the noise.
She glanced at Madi. “If that’s a neighbor telling me you’ve been barking again you are in trouble.”
Madi wagged her tail happily.
Harriet opened the door.
A woman stood there, her hair sparkling with snow.
“Hi, I—” She broke off, clearly bemused to see Harriet. “Did I get the wrong apartment? I was looking for Ethan.”
Harriet’s heart plummeted.
In everything Ethan had said, it hadn’t occurred to her that he was dating anyone right now.
But why wouldn’t he be?
Reminding herself that his love life wasn’t exactly her business, she remembered her manners and opened the door. “This is the right apartment. Come in.”
“No need. I don’t want to disturb anything—” The other woman seemed intrigued rather than jealous and Harriet wondered why she seemed so relaxed.
“You’re not disturbing anything. I’m Harriet, the dog sitter.” She felt she had a responsibility to make that clear. Whatever this relationship was, she didn’t want to wreck it.
“I’m Susan. Ethan has a dog?” Susan’s eyes popped. “We are talking about the same Ethan? Tall. Too handsome for his own good. A touch on the arrogant side but with a heart of gold?”
She couldn’t have come up with a better description herself.
“Yes. And it’s not his dog. It’s his sister’s dog.”
“Ah. That makes a lot more sense, although even I’m surprised he agreed to take on a dog. Ethan doesn’t love disruption in his life.”
Harriet thought about how often he’d called to see how his niece was doing. “Maybe not, but he loves his sister.”
“And that,” Susan said, “is the heart of gold part. I admit I’m disappointed. For a moment there I thought you were the reason he’s been smiling more at work lately.”
Ethan had been smiling?
“I’m looking after the dog because, as you say, he doesn’t like disruption in his life. So you don’t need to be worried at all.”
“Why would I be worried? Oh—” Enlightenment dawned on her face and she gave a slow smile. “No. I’m a colleague, that’s all. We work together. He didn’t seem himself today and he hasn’t answered his phone since he left the hospital so I wanted to check on him, because I know he lives alone.”
Harriet wondered why that news would make her feel l
ighter.
“Did you say you were a doctor?”
“I am. Why? Are you sick?”
“No, but Ethan is.” Harriet opened the door wider. “He’s barely moved since he arrived home and he has a fever. I assume it’s the flu, but I’m worried it might not be because he got sick faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. Could you take a look at him?”
Susan walked into the apartment and stripped off her coat. “Show me to the patient. Is he irritable and cursing you?”
“No. He’s been well behaved.”