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Mily to stock up on flour and baking soda She was unloading groceries fro at full speed up the driveway Pretty spry for an eighty-year-old who’d recently had a hip replacement

“What on earth!” Mrs Manley laughed “All that co down!”

“No, thank God for that,” Miot woken up”

“Oh, honey, it wasn’t your fault I mean, you had no control over those armadillos Of course, it ful convenient that Zeke had to come out, too”

Mirateful that so many first responders showed up, because, I mean, you never know”

What was Mrs Manley getting at?

“And now the two of you are back together! So all’s well that ends well And I don’t for a minute believe you schemed up this whole damsel in distress routine Men!” She winked at Mimi “They do love helpless women, don’t they?”

Mimi could feel her blood sizzle

“You think I staged that whole scene last night to get my husband out here?”

“Oh, honey, don’t get upset I’ only to wave before she went back inside her house

Baking phase one began after that Mih until her knuckles felt raw Then the kids h

ad co on how to tell them the story, but of course, they already knew

Claire was mortified “Mom, please tellthe nasty by the side of our house”

Caleeful “I think it’s awesome I wish I’d been here to see it I could have taped it and put it on YouTube” He gave Toby a hug “And this guy! Dad said it was his barking that woke you up, so noe know he’s a good watchdog!”

“Yep, Toby’s the best So…your dad told you?” Mimi would love to know exactly how Zeke had recounted that little story