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“You reht her schnauzer in today asks me

I steal a glance at the electronic chart that Matilda opened on my tablet for me before the woht at the club even though it’s barely ten in the

Short red dress, strappy heels, and a makeup job that would make Delia jealous My sister, in all her infinite studious wisdoree in che with the products she puts on her face

“Marilyn,” I say the name of the person listed on the chart in front of me “Marilyn O’Shea”

That brightens her face instantly “You remember me”

I do

I reed awk at their display of engages

I excusedto do with anything but giving myself a reason to leave the store

Marilyn wasn’t impressed when I didn’t return to her side She flew out of the store thirty minutes later with one question

She dropped to one knee on a busy sidewalk and asked me to ask her to marry me

I refused all of it

She left in tears

I went for a drink

That was the end of our story, or so I thought

Since Tilly is standing in the corner taking in this trip down memory lane, I smile “How have you been?”

“Good,” Marilyn ansith a sigh “You?”

“Fine” I glance at the schnauzer, who has fallen asleep on his back on the exauy?”

“It’s his ear” She sucks in a breath and arches her back to jut out her chest “He keeps scratching the right one, or maybe it’s the left one”

I’m not about to be sidetracked by her tits That happened efor a warm body

“When did it start?” I move to examine the schnauzer’s ears

The pup doesn’t ht I do the same to the other ear

“When did what start?” Marilyn questions with her back still arched

Tilly clears her throat “When did Mr Peppers start scratching his ear?”

Marilyn shoots her a look that is meant to shut Tilly up It’s another reminder of why it was so easy to walk away after our brief relationship

“Oh, right” Marilyn taps a red-tipped fingernail to her forehead “A day or two ago, I guess”